50 amp to 30 amp

[80 Cruiser Rod]

This is a simple question to most of you here but not for me. I have made reservations for a site that has 50 amp service but my camper is set up for 30 amp service. I know there are adaptors for this but I'm not sure which one I need. Are they all the same? Should I go with a certain brand?

[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.

[norty1]

I like to buy better brand names. I would shop around, they are found online at at rv supply stores, even Walmart may have them in the camping section.

I would stick with the ones that have a short piece of cable between them rather than a one piece adapter.

If you have a Marinco screw on adapter on your rig, you will need one that adapts to that connector.

Even if you find you don't need it as the previous poster stated, it's something good to have in your magic box of electrical connectors and adapters.

[Stingray75]

We’ve bought a few different makes for use in our campground. The $10 units from eTrailer work as well / last as long as the $20 units with brand names on them. As mentioned, a good thing to have in your bag o tricks. We’re learning the the 4 prong 50a outlets last longer than the 3 prong 30a so our long term plan is to go with 50a.

[80 Cruiser Rod]

So I'm guessing this is okay for what I need?

[blujay40]

Originally Posted by 80 Cruiser Rod

So I'm guessing this is okay for what I need?

Yes, that will work fine. As mentioned above though, I have yet to see a hookup that offers 50 amp service not also have a 30 amp plug as well as one or more 20 amp plugs to boot but never hurts to be prepared. Sometimes, you may find that the 30 amp plug is worn and doesn't have a snug fit so using that with the 50 amp plug is also sometimes a better solution anyway.

[80 Cruiser Rod]

Thank you everyone, you all have been a great help!

[Sundancer330]

Since so many campground electrical systems are older and not maintained properly I always use the 50amp outlet with the adapter for my 30amp needs. The 50amp is not used often and most are in much better shape

[norty1]

Often the CG has a different rate for 50a sites, even if you use an adapter.

[Scott91370]

Originally Posted by Sundancer330

Since so many campground electrical systems are older and not maintained properly I always use the 50amp outlet with the adapter for my 30amp needs. The 50amp is not used often and most are in much better shape

This. I bought a 50-30 adapter because I've seen several people post about how the 30a were used so much sometimes they just don't work properly for whatever reason. I figure for the few bucks it was I might as well have it. Now I only use the 50a unless I'm at the house.

[JFlightRisk]

Speaking of 50 amp, but no 30amp, we did run across a campground in PA that had the weirdest site electric. Seems every other site only had 50 amp service, and no 30 amp. My BIL needed the 30, and his site had only a 50, was on the site next to us which DID have 30 only, and he didn't have an adapter. The girl in the office lent him one to use for the week. She had a box full of them. The name was Silver something, can't remember.

[80 Cruiser Rod]

Well, I have one in my access box just in case now.

[Jagiven]

Originally Posted by blujay40

Yes, that will work fine. As mentioned above though, I have yet to see a hookup that offers 50 amp service not also have a 30 amp plug as well as one or more 20 amp plugs to boot but never hurts to be prepared. Sometimes, you may find that the 30 amp plug is worn and doesn't have a snug fit so using that with the 50 amp plug is also sometimes a better solution anyway.

I have used my 50 to 30 amp adaptor a few times. Last time was at a CG during extremely hot weather and they where having issues. My site was the only site with a 50 amp outlet. I plugged in there and had no issues for the rest of the weekend.

[wags999]

Originally Posted by JFlightRisk

Speaking of 50 amp, but no 30amp, we did he run across a campground in PA that had the weirdest site electric. Seems every other site only had 50 amp service, and no 30 amp. My BIL needed the 30, and his site had only a 50, was on the site next to us which DID have 30 only, and he didn't have an adapter. The girl in the office lent him one to use for the week. She had a box full of them. The name was Silver something, can't remember.

not unusual, most campgrounds are daisy chained...every other campsite is wired on the same main breaker. One is 50 next could be 30 etc. 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.

Happy camping

[RetiredOne]

Originally Posted by norty1

Often the CG has a different rate for 50a sites, even if you use an adapter.

How would they know which outlet you plugged into? The 50 is right next to the 30 in the pedestal in many places I've seen.

[wags999]

Originally Posted by RetiredOne

How would they know which outlet you plugged into? The 50 is right next to the 30 in the pedestal in many places I've seen.

It is determined by the power your RV needs not which plug your plugged into. Its fairly easy to determine the power needs by the size of the rig.

[80 Cruiser Rod]

Originally Posted by RetiredOne

How would they know which outlet you plugged into? The 50 is right next to the 30 in the pedestal in many places I've seen.

The style of configuration of the prongs on your plug will match 30 or 50 amp service. Both plugs are different.

[RetiredOne]

Originally Posted by wags999

It is determined by the power your RV needs not which plug your plugged into. Its fairly easy to determine the power needs by the size of the rig.

I know that, but that wasn't the point of my question.

The style of configuration of the prongs on your plug will match 30 or 50 amp service. Both plugs are different.

I'm aware of that too. My response to Norty was that he said they charge more for 50A sites. If you roll in there with your trailer or Class C that requires 30A, but when you open the pedestal, you decide to plug into the 50A outlet instead with an adaptor, how will the CG actually know which outlet you're using?

[kayakterp]

Originally Posted by wags999

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.

Thank you for clarifying, I thought that I had read some time ago there was a potential danger from plugging a 30 into a 50 (via an adapter) but couldn't recall what it was, any other hazzards in that instance?
Thanks in advance

[RetiredOne]

Originally Posted by wags999

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.

Happy camping

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.

The other thing about the cable, I would think they would use a cable, even on the 30A coaches, that's rated higher than 30A, basically a safety factor, to handle any surges. Makes me wonder, need to go check the imprint on my cable to see what the actual wire gauge is.....