50 amp Service..

[paverdave]

If your not going to be using 2 AC, should you still rent a 50 amp RV space...They seem to always be more money. Never had a trailer with the 50 amp, always 30 amp service. Thanks..Dave

[Kimber45]

If you only have a 30 amp camper a 50 amp site would be pointless i believe. I have my first 50 amp unit on order and am used to 30 amp rv's. Must spots I camp only have 30 amp service so I will be going the other way and hoping it is never hot enough to need both air's.

The only time I ever had an issue was cold weather camping trying to run two small electric heaters to save propane. I kept popping breakers. Had to plug one into camper and the second I ran a cord to the pedestal and plugged into the regular 110 outlet.

[paverdave]

Originally Posted by Kimber45

If you only have a 30 amp camper a 50 amp site would be pointless i believe. I have my first 50 amp unit on order and am used to 30 amp rv's. Must spots I camp only have 30 amp service so I will be going the other way and hoping it is never hot enough to need both air's.

The only time I ever had an issue was cold weather camping trying to run two small electric heaters to save propane. I kept popping breakers. Had to plug one into camper and the second I ran a cord to the pedestal and plugged into the regular 110 outlet.

Thats where I'm at too.....The new trailer will have 50 amp service, so if not using 2nd AC 30 amp service should be fine...Thanks

[davel1971]

If you will be using AC at all, 50 amp is nice, but not necessary. With 50 amp, you can run 1 AC, the water heater on electric, and the microwave, all at once with no worries at all. You could barely run 2 out of those 3 at once on 30 amp without risking a blown breaker.

[brookstone345sa]

Maybe use this

[brookstone345sa]

Maybe use this
Attachment 132026

It doesn't give you 50 amps, but it gives you 45

[Iwritecode]

It's really personal preference. I figure if you paid for a trailer that uses 50 amps, you might as well use it to it's fullest capabilities.

We are seasonal but we went from a 30A site to a 50A site and love it. We run both of our ACs all the time and never really worry about having to shut off one thing to use another like we used to.

[doc73]

My next trailer will be 50amps. I do not run out of my 30 but I like the idea of a second AC or just a bit more room for growth. More and more campgrounds are getting older and older, not keeping up with power maintenance. I have been finding more and more issues with my PI kicking in due to faulty wiring. 50amp sites, while still on the same bad wiring, tend to be used less and have less general wear issues. They might still have bad wiring but at least the box might not be worn out causing connection issues.

[Zoom]

What most don't realize is with a 50 amp connection you actually have 100 total amps available. If you use a 30 to 50 adapter you will have only 30 total amps split between two 50 amp connections. If you use the adapter that has the 30 and 15 amp connections you will get 45 total amps only if the campground has not just pulled the 15 amp breaker connection at the ped off of the 30 amp circuit feed. Most campgrounds will power multiple sites from one common feed so the 45 amp will work if all campers at the site is not pulling maximum current.

[Kimber45]

Originally Posted by brookstone345sa

Maybe use this
Attachment 132026

It doesn't give you 50 amps, but it gives you 45

I have purchased one. lost of discussions on this forum as the weather they work. General thought is if the pedestal is GFI protected the adapter will not work. I'll let you know first time i go out after the snow melts.

[rockfordroo]

Originally Posted by Zoom

What most don't realize is with a 50 amp connection you actually have 100 total amps available. If you use a 30 to 50 adapter you will have only 30 total amps split between two 50 amp connections. If you use the adapter that has the 30 and 15 amp connections you will get 45 total amps only if the campground has not just pulled the 15 amp breaker connection at the ped off of the 30 amp circuit feed. Most campgrounds will power multiple sites from one common feed so the 45 amp will work if all campers at the site is not pulling maximum current.

I believe if you have a 50 to 30 amp adapter, you will get 30 amps from ONE of the two 50 amp circuits. Since your 30 amp is only a single circuit, it cannot be set up to split between the two 50 amp circuits, or you would be "shorting them together."

Most adapters use one side or the other of the 50 amp circuits; although I believe someone makes one that allows you to chose which one you use.

[dcheatwood]

If only using 1 AC you do not need 50 amp. I get 30 often for Fall, winter and Spring camping. Only need 50 during summer heat.

[bubbles]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

I believe if you have a 50 to 30 amp adapter, you will get 30 amps from ONE of the two 50 amp circuits. Since your 30 amp is only a single circuit, it cannot be set up to split between the two 50 amp circuits, or you would be "shorting them together."

Most adapters use one side or the other of the 50 amp circuits; although I believe someone makes one that allows you to chose which one you use.

With a 50 (male) to 30 (female) you will get 50 amps to the single RV 30 amp buss. As said a 30 (male) to 50 (female) will get you 30 amps (total) to both 50 amp RV busses.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by rockfordroo

I believe if you have a 50 to 30 amp adapter, you will get 30 amps from ONE of the two 50 amp circuits. Since your 30 amp is only a single circuit, it cannot be set up to split between the two 50 amp circuits, or you would be "shorting them together."

Most adapters use one side or the other of the 50 amp circuits; although I believe someone makes one that allows you to chose which one you use.

Actually the manufactured adapters that connect a 50 amp RV to a 30 amp outlet, use a jumper to connect both legs (L1 and L2) of the 50 amp RV to the single 30 amp leg (L1). Since the 30 amp only has the one leg of 120 volts, then using the jumper shares this single 120 volt leg between the two legs of the 50 amp RV...and thus you are limited to a total of 30 amps (but it all stays 120 volts)

Since the L1 and L2 in the 50 amp RV are both powered via the 30 amp L1, everything in the 50 amp RV is powered, just at a total of 30 amps for everything....where it would normally be 100 amps total via being connected to a proper 120/240 volt 50 split phase outlet.

This schematic, which has the adapter wiring on the far right, will better help you visualize how the jumper works.



A 50 amp RV, has two legs of 120 volts feeding it via a 120/240 volt 50 amp outlet as per this schematic:



However, just about all 50 amp RV's utilize each 50 amp leg separate in the RV's bus bar, so everything stays 120 volts. The RV is powered by TWO fifty amp 120 volt legs for a total of 100 amps, as per this schematic of the RV's electrical distribution panel:



So when you use a 30 amp male to 50 amp female adapter, the adapter jumps the one and only L1 over onto the L2 side...so both sides are powered via the L1 and it's still all 120 volts (since the L1 only has 120 volts).... but now you are limited to a total of the 30 amp outlets 30 amps.

This is the reason I am envious of true 50 amp RV's connected to a 120/240 split phase outlet....whereas a 30 amp outlet can many times only provide enough power to one air conditioner and your choice of either one other appliance on at the same time (as in a microwave, second air conditioner, hair dryer, electric water heating element, space heater, fireplace)........ a true 50 amp outlet allows for all the aforementioned to be on at the same time, with room to spare for a disco ball and indoor bowling alley (if equipped). LOL

[formerFR]

in our experience with a 50a coach is that a 30a pole is not a deal breaker by any means, especially if you have to pay 'extra' for a 50a pole, and you're not using too many heavy draw appliance(air conditioners, electric heaters, etc) in the temperate climates or areas of the country.
we've found that in most northern states and Canada rv parks and campgrounds rarely have 50a service because it's not nearly as necessary as in the southern states due to hot weather.

yes, you will have 30amps versus the maximum 100amps(double pole 50a breaker is supplying TWO 50a lines to your coach), but rarely is it an issue unless you are trying to microwave popcorn while someone is blow drying their hair while you have an air conditioner running while the water heater is working and the battery charger is in Bulk mode... and then someone flips on a light and trips the shore power breaker.
other than that, use the 30a if you want to...

also, yes, the 30/15 to 50a dogbone adapters provide a 45amp service IF the 15a plug is NOT a GFCI type. but, I've found that sometimes when I want to try to use this, I find another 15a plug somewhere nearby that is not a GFCI type, where I can run an extension cord to it, if allowed.
or
you can just use an extension cord from the GFCI outlet into your coach and plug items directly into it, such as fans, device chargers, etc... to limit your needs on the 30a side.

and they also make a DUAL 30a to 50a dogbone, in case you can pull from TWO 30a sites, such as a neighboring site that is vacant... it gives you up to 60amps of service.

[325BH]

Originally Posted by paverdave

If your not going to be using 2 AC, should you still rent a 50 amp RV space...They seem to always be more money. Never had a trailer with the 50 amp, always 30 amp service. Thanks..Dave

50 amp service is 240/120 volt. 30 amp service is 120 volt only. Barring some unusual RV, all 50 amp rigs only use 120 volt... however that means you have two legs of 50 amp 120 volt which equates to 100 amp.

The difference between 30 amp service (3,600 watts) and 50 amp service (12,000 watts) is huge.


People think 50 amp is only for running a second air conditioner. It is much more than that. You can run everything in your camper at the same time. I have friends that have 30 amp rigs and they cannot run their air conditioner along with too many other things, like a hair dryer or microwave, etc. I have a 50 amp rig. I can run 3 air conditioners, hair dryer, microwave and most any other thing I want without a problem.

The 30+15 dogbone would work except for the fact most pedestals are somewhat up to code and have a GFCI receptacle for the 15 (or 20) amp.

[BandJCarm]

These discussions make me scratch my head.

If you have a 30 amp camper, you use a 30 amp plug into a 30 amp receptacle, and that's that.

If you have a 50 amp camper, then plug to the 50 amp receptacle and use whatever you want.

If you have a 50 amp camper, and there is only a 30 amp receptacle, then use a dogbone and plug to it, and use what you can. This is what we did in August at FROG and it worked just fine.

I don't understand any of the other options at all. IMHO, it's one of those three.

[Flybob]

Originally Posted by brookstone345sa

Maybe use this
Attachment 132026

It doesn't give you 50 amps, but it gives you 45

But not guaranteed. Many campgrounds will run three 30A sites on an upstream 100A breaker either in the main panel or an aux panel. If the other two sites on your 100A breaker are also using both the 30A and 15A outlets, you will most likely trip the 100A breaker. The major down side of this is that the 100A breakers are usually in a locked panel requiring the Ranger or campground manager to reset it. At a min you will have two unhappy neighbors. In addition the 50A pedestal actually provides two 50A legs.

[formerFR]

maybe so,

but

if you're in Texas in August, and only have a 30a pedestal, then you start to get 'creative' in order to be able to run BOTH of your a/c units on larger coaches... as well as all the other items you need, such as TV, receivers, device chargers, water heater, battery charger, etc.. all needing power at the same time.

'dogbones', or electrical adapters, give you these options when the power supply PLUG is not quite what you need for your situation. larger 50a coaches need these more often, but even 30a RVs need options when only a 120v residential outlet is available... even a 30a RV can't run everything at the same time on a smaller 15a circuit, so having adapters for the situation makes your 'camping' experience better.

[325BH]

Originally Posted by BandJCarm

These discussions make me scratch my head.

If you have a 30 amp camper, you use a 30 amp plug into a 30 amp receptacle, and that's that.

If you have a 50 amp camper, then plug to the 50 amp receptacle and use whatever you want.

If you have a 50 amp camper, and there is only a 30 amp receptacle, then use a dogbone and plug to it, and use what you can. This is what we did in August at FROG and it worked just fine.

I don't understand any of the other options at all. IMHO, it's one of those three.

If you have a 30 amp camper, you use a 30 amp receptacle... unless 50 amp is available and you want to guarantee you can use your full 30 amps. With overextended campgrounds, sometimes circuits can handle their "advertised/rated" current. Getting 30 amps out of a 50 amp circuit is pretty much guaranteed even on the shoddy campgrounds.

If you have a 50 amp rig you use a 50 amp receptacle... unless you feel you don't need the extra current and are trying to save money (I personally don't get this argument, however I know people that do this).

I have a 50 amp rig but have dogbones for connecting to 30 AND for leveraging two 30 amp receptacles (if available) to get 60 amps. Not as good as full 50 amp service (which is 100 amps), but better than 30. This is legit and safe by the way.

We all get creative to run our stuff!