Why 30 amp instead of 50?

cekkk · 06-09-2011, 01:56 PM

Camping with my club this weekend I noticed two of the rigs with 50 amp service were plugged into the 30 amp female at the box. I didn't ask them, but why wouldn't they just use their 50 amp cord whether needed or not? My best guess is they might leave it rigged for 30 so that they're covered if 50 isn't available, but what do you all think?

29BHS ECO · 06-09-2011, 02:08 PM

The configuration of the 50a male connector will not go into the 30a female

cekkk · 06-09-2011, 02:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19H F250

The configuration of the 50a male connector will not go into the 30a female

But adapters are available, just as the 30 amp won't plug in to your 120v at home. You hang an adapter on it, as they did with their 50 amp. The question was WHY would they use the 30 instead of the 50.

Gibby3275 · 06-09-2011, 02:16 PM

Ok. I know nothing about electricity (except that it hurts). I am colour blind and tend to stay away from wires.

My trailer has 50amp wires. What is the big draw back of being plugged into a 30amp service? Will I notice a difference?

I only have one A/C.

cekkk · 06-09-2011, 02:36 PM

Gibby, I did hear one guy say he had run both ACs off 30 amp but I'm thinking only one compressor would operate at a time. If I had 50 amp service I wouldn't screw around with the 30 adapter without a good reason, which is what I'm trying to learn here.

Gibby3275 · 06-09-2011, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cekkk+

Gibby, I did hear one guy say he had run both ACs off 30 amp but I'm thinking only one compressor would operate at a time. If I had 50 amp service I wouldn't screw around with the 30 adapter without a good reason, which is what I'm trying to learn here.

But what if only 30amp service is available?

Double Eagle · 06-09-2011, 03:49 PM

the only reason I could think is that a 50AMP plug was not availible at the pedistal so they adapted down to the 30AMP plug, other than that I can not think of a reason to use the 30AMP plug if 50AMP is availible.

**norty1** · 06-09-2011, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gibby3275

But what if only 30amp service is available?

If you plug your 50a trailer into a 30 a service with the proper adapters, you will have power to everything in your breaker panel but the capacity available will only be 30a. This means you will have to use current conservation. Like not run but one AC at a time. Maybe run your gas water heater or turn it off while the MW or coffee pot is being used.

Terry · 06-10-2011, 09:28 AM

One thing a lot of people dont realize is that there is a HUGE difference between 30 and 50 amp service. It is not just 20 more amps, but in reality you could call it 70 more amps of power.

A 50 amp connector is actually two 50 amp feeds at 120 volts, where a 30 amp connector is single 30 amp feed at 120 volts. Because a 50 amp connector contains two 120 volt legs, it can also be used to power 240 volt appliances - seldom used on RVs, but is on occasion (I have an Incinolet toilet that is 240v).

When you have a camper with 50 amps and two AC units, most of the time you have all your main power and one AC going to one leg and your second AC going to the other leg. That is why when you use a 30 amp adapter, only one AC will even function. They do make a 50 amp cheater that has one leg going to the 30 amp and the other leg going to a 15/20 amp standard socket. Those work most of the time, but you still have to be careful.

Hope that helps in the understanding of the 30 vs the 50 amp power connector.

David472 · 06-10-2011, 09:36 AM

tafische,
Thank you for that explanation. Well said.

**norty1** · 06-10-2011, 10:08 AM

When I use my 50a rig with a 30a adapter, I can run either AC at a time. I have never tried both at the same time and don't plan to.

nylyon · 06-10-2011, 10:08 AM

Maybe they used the 30A cord because the 50A is so heavy and they didn't plan on needing 50A

yddad45 · 06-10-2011, 08:47 PM

On my 330rlts when plugged up to 50 amp I can run both A/C's, on 30 amp only one will work.Even with the 50 amp service plugged up, I still had the breaker trip twice on pedestal on my first outing, but I did not have the lights dimming on me which I have in the past with the 30 amp service. I will always use the 50 amp when possible and cannot think why someone would not want too.

T-Cossart1 · 06-10-2011, 09:14 PM

kinda off subject but with the tt is there anything wrong with using the 50amp service insted of the 30amp?

example: when i was on vacation last month in florida at fort wilderness when i hooked up i used the 30amp plug and noticed that it was having trouble keeping 110v when the a/c was on so i moved to the 50amp with the 50 to 30amp reducer im not sure if it really helped any but seemed to maybe get me a little closed to 110v when the a/c was on.

sorry i hijacked the thread but figured it would be easyer to ask on here then start another one about almost the same thing

Thanks: TC

usmc616 · 06-10-2011, 09:44 PM

If given the choice I prefer the 50 amp hookup over the 30 amp hookup. Usually the 50 amp hookup has been less used and has a tighter fit, less chance of arcing.

**norty1** · 06-11-2011, 05:51 AM

If 50a is available, I would use it. Some cg's charge extra for 50a service but if I need it, it is worth it.

cekkk · 06-11-2011, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by norty1

If 50a is available, I would use it. Some cg's charge extra for 50a service but if I need it, it is worth it.

I think that just may be the answer as to why they hooked up 30 rather than 50. Why pay more if you know you won't be needing the extra amperage.

Denise · 06-11-2011, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T-Cossart1

kinda off subject but with the tt is there anything wrong with using the 50amp service insted of the 30amp?

sorry i hijacked the thread but figured it would be easyer to ask on here then start another one about almost the same thing

Thanks: TC

LOL... no worries. You're fine; this thread is about 30amp and 50amp

yddad45 · 06-11-2011, 04:25 PM

You must understand that Rv parks have a very unstable current draw, A/C cycling off and on, 12 v converters, etc and mostly R/V parks have a bad power factor because of this very unstable current draw. You find in alot of RV parks there voltage is on the low side of the scale especially on a 30 amp service because the 30 amp services are so loaded. If you can do something as simple as moving your plug to the 50 amp plug that alone should help as your shore power voltage should be more stable,current draws are alot more stable on the 50amp plug. I would recommend doing it when possible.

cekkk · 06-11-2011, 06:59 PM

yddad45, let me make sure I understand so I don't screw up my wiring. You are saying that it's better for our 30 amp wired tt to be plugged into a 50 amp female via a 30 to 50 adapter where possible? Also, I found the following on another site, it's three years old:
heres a thought, a standard camper could be wired for 50 amp, 120 volt service pretty easily, meaning just using one leg of the 240 volt service, would just require a heavier lead from the breaker panel, a 50 amp single pole breaker, and nothing more, wonder why this has never caught on?6000 watts versus 3600 watts, a sizable increase without replacing the breaker panel!!
What do you think of that idea?

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