50 amp to 30 amp - Page 2

**JFlightRisk** · 06-24-2019, 09:17 PM

I'm guessing the cable is 10 ga. wire. That'll handle a lot.

W Kearney · 06-29-2019, 12:39 PM

When we had a 30 amp RV we always plugged into a 50 amp unless they charged for for 50 amp. A friend who is a electrical engineer and worked on airplane engines ... said, the 50 amp plug in will give you a full 30 amp in the RV ...the RV will not allow more than 30 amp through to damage anything. The 30 amp does not give you a full 30 amp in the RV. Worked well for us ... my brother is also doing this with their 30 amp rig. So get that adapter.

namusmc65 · 06-29-2019, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shadester

I would assume if they 50 amp there, they should also have a 30 amp socket there. So you should be fine. Only time i needed an adapter is going from 50 to 30.

Never assume. Some parks are going to 50 amps only. I don't know why, but I have run across this twice this past year. Fortunately I take 50 amps, but some of the 30 amp rigs were having problems coming up with adapters.

Forelyndogs · 06-29-2019, 01:42 PM

Sounds like you've got all the right answers. Just remember, you can use a 50Amp circuit for your 30Amp RV, but cannot go the other way. Especially if you want to run the a/c.

Hollander Mutthaulers · 06-29-2019, 02:28 PM

I keep adapters in my handy box by the door so my 30A can be used with 50A and at home and in some little city parks, 20A. We have a small trailer that does not need much electricity but we do not run the A/C on 20A or coffee pot and electric heater simultaneously on 20A or 30A. Not sure if I ever used the 30 > 20 yet, but feels good to have it around. So far our cheap Walmart single-piece adapters have worked well, but if I had a bigger unit with more electrical features I would be more selective about quality.

Gadget13 · 06-29-2019, 02:34 PM

Hi folks. I’ve only hooked up once to 30 amp service. Always dry camped. If I only have a 50 amp site, what adapter do I need?

Bob Pope · 06-29-2019, 08:27 PM

I ran into that problem, with a worn 30A receptical, after 2 weeks of steady AC use my plug got hot and you could see the discoloration on the hot prong where it was loose in the receptical and arcing. I switched to the 50A adapter and no more problems with over heating.

**JFlightRisk** · 06-29-2019, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gadget13

Hi folks. I’ve only hooked up once to 30 amp service. Always dry camped. If I only have a 50 amp site, what adapter do I need?

You will need a 50 amp male, to 30 amp female adapter. The dog bone style is the better one to buy. Available at most RV places, or online.

Gadget13 · 06-29-2019, 09:07 PM

Thank you

80 Cruiser Rod · 06-30-2019, 04:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gadget13

Hi folks. I’ve only hooked up once to 30 amp service. Always dry camped. If I only have a 50 amp site, what adapter do I need?

Go back to the begining of this thread, I posted a picture and a link to Amazon.

WIBadger · 07-01-2019, 01:35 PM

The question posed by the OP has been answered (see, for example, post #6).

I noticed, however, a few comments that I believe warrant further clarification.

Post #14 stated, in part, "Only potential issue with using the 50 amp outlet is your cord is only rated for 30 amps, in a rare accident the cord becomes shorted could pull 50 amps before the pedestal breaker would trip. Once the power is inside your RV your protected by your 30 amp breaker."

Post #20 stated, in reply, "I guess that could be possible, but it would be a really rare situation that a damaged/shorted cable would trip a 30A breaker but not a 50A one. A direct short is a direct short in the majority of cases."

Finally, Post #22 stated, in part, "When we had a 30 amp RV we always plugged into a 50 amp unless they charged for for 50 amp. A friend who is a electrical engineer and worked on airplane engines ... said, the 50 amp plug in will give you a full 30 amp in the RV ...the RV will not allow more than 30 amp through to damage anything."

When you have a 30amp RV and adapt "up" to a 50amp outlet, be very aware that you do NOT have a 30amp breaker at the pedestal/post to protect your power cord, or your RV and equipment! Because you have an oversized 50amp breaker protecting your plug-in outlet, you can overdraw your maximum current (aka amp flow) level very easily. Be extremely careful if you adapt "up" -- the potential for fire increases dramatically!

Upshot: A 30amp RV can be adapted "up" to a 50amp outlet, but it is important to know the power usage (or limit it). In other words, be mindful of what's being used and when. Posts #14 and #20 address the potential danger, but explain it via a shorted cord (we should, however, check our cords from time-to-time). Post #22 is wrong. As explained, there could be serious damage to the RV if not mindful of usage.

jrclen · 01-11-2020, 08:17 PM

Your 30 amp camper will not pull any more than 30 amps through your cord. If it tries, your 30 amp main circuit breaker in the camper will trip. So no worries there, the cord can be protected at either end to keep it from overheating. A "short circuit" will trip the 50 amp breaker in the pedestal just as quick as it will trip a 30 amp. An "overload" will possibly damage the cord but that can't happen due to the 30 amp breaker in the camper. So there are no worries in using the adapter. I'm an electrician.

80 Cruiser Rod · 01-12-2020, 05:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrclen

Your 30 amp camper will not pull any more than 30 amps through your cord. If it tries, your 30 amp main circuit breaker in the camper will trip. So no worries there, the cord can be protected at either end to keep it from overheating. A "short circuit" will trip the 50 amp breaker in the pedestal just as quick as it will trip a 30 amp. An "overload" will possibly damage the cord but that can't happen due to the 30 amp breaker in the camper. So there are no worries in using the adapter. I'm an electrician.

So with all you said as far as current protection in campers asper circuit breakers, many of the plug protectors campers use to connect to a pedestal are over kill?

jrclen · 01-12-2020, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 80 Cruiser Rod

So with all you said as far as current protection in campers asper circuit breakers, many of the plug protectors campers use to connect to a pedestal are over kill?

Only as far as over currant protection. But for under or over voltage, surge protection, miss-wired pedestals, open neutrals and other problems, those protection devices are good insurance.

Gord60 · 01-12-2020, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrclen

Your 30 amp camper will not pull any more than 30 amps through your cord. If it tries, your 30 amp main circuit breaker in the camper will trip. So no worries there, the cord can be protected at either end to keep it from overheating. A "short circuit" will trip the 50 amp breaker in the pedestal just as quick as it will trip a 30 amp. An "overload" will possibly damage the cord but that can't happen due to the 30 amp breaker in the camper. So there are no worries in using the adapter. I'm an electrician.

WELL SAID, all forum members have to be aware of a lot of false info, from some who post/reply. Go ahead and step down from 50 amp to 30 amp and don’t worry about it. I always also go above and beyond and protect my rig with a EMS plugged in at the pedestal.

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