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Old 06-14-2018, 03:50 PM   #1
dlscott185
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Campground prohibits 50amp to 30amp connections

For the first time ever, I was told a campground we were making reservations at would not allow me to plug my 50 amp cord into their 30 amp pedestal using my adapter. She said they have problems with the 30 amp being overloaded and burning up the plug on the post. I argued and explained that I understood the issue that I can't run both air's or microwave and coffee maker at the same time, but she was insistent.

I did some research, and found this entry on a KOA website. It does a pretty good job of explaining why it can be a problem.
http://rvservices.koa.com/rvinformat...trical-101.asp

And I thought I understood electrical wiring and circuit breakers.

I learned something new today.
 
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Old 06-14-2018, 04:24 PM   #2
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That article is saying exactly what has been discussed on this forum. Only run one A/C at a time, turn the water heater and fridge to gas only, and be very careful to not run any other high wattage appliances at the same time the A/C is running. On our old 25 foot SOB fifth wheel, with it's 30 amp system, even then we had to be careful to avoid tripping the breaker, A/C and the microwave or a hair dryer at the same time. So it doesn't really matter if it's a 30 amp or a 50 amp plugged in to a 30 amp outlet, you can still overload it.
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Old 06-14-2018, 04:51 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rohrmann View Post
That article is saying exactly what has been discussed on this forum. Only run one A/C at a time, turn the water heater and fridge to gas only, and be very careful to not run any other high wattage appliances at the same time the A/C is running. On our old 25 foot SOB fifth wheel, with it's 30 amp system, even then we had to be careful to avoid tripping the breaker, A/C and the microwave or a hair dryer at the same time. So it doesn't really matter if it's a 30 amp or a 50 amp plugged in to a 30 amp outlet, you can still overload it.
I agree and that was my argument with the campground owner. But she insisted I couldn't use a 30 amp adapter or she would kick me out of the campground.
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Old 06-14-2018, 05:03 PM   #4
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Considering that more and more rigs are 50amps or in some cases more, this campground may find themselves wishing they had spent the money to upgrade their electrical system.
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Old 06-14-2018, 05:23 PM   #5
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The campground we use in the winter is in the process of upgrading their power posts. They have quite a few 50 amp/30 amp/20/amp posts but they still have some 30 amp/20 amp posts. The power company is making them upgrade their power system and they are putting in more of the 50 amp hookups. As has been stated here, most of the units being built anymore are 50 amp units and the older campgrounds are not keeping up with this along with the sizes of their sites. Our snowbird campground is opening up more of their sites to be pull throughs and making them actual double length sites now. Sure does make things easier for those with the Class A's and fivers when getting into a site. I'm really glad to see this and I really wish the National parks would get into this also.
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Old 06-14-2018, 06:17 PM   #6
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No problem find another camp ground.
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Old 06-14-2018, 06:33 PM   #7
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I can’t argue with anything in the article except the statement that a 50 amp rig connecting in a 30 amp park is like three RVs hooking up. Maybe 1 1/4 RVs if the breaker trips on the high side. A 30 amp rig runnng an A/C, microwave, and WH on electric can easily trip a 30 amp breaker just as a 50 amp rig doing the same.
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Old 06-14-2018, 07:11 PM   #8
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Agree with Lynwood.
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Old 06-14-2018, 07:53 PM   #9
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When making reservation on the road we always ask for pull through, full hook ups, 50 amps. We may relent on the pull through and take a back in IF it is long enough.If we can not be satisfied keep looking till we find what we want.
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Old 06-14-2018, 08:40 PM   #10
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I agree pull thru 50 amp full hookups these rv parks are running very close to the knuckle I feel sorry for them. Just my 3 cents.
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Old 06-14-2018, 09:39 PM   #11
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We see a lot of new RV owners out there that don't have a clue when it comes to how things work in there RV and not just electric.
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Old 06-14-2018, 10:11 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dlscott185 View Post
I agree and that was my argument with the campground owner. But she insisted I couldn't use a 30 amp adapter or she would kick me out of the campground.
I guess you are supposed to run on batteries.
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Old 06-15-2018, 07:00 AM   #13
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Just wait till the state and federal government get hold of this information!! We won’t be able to use any 30 amp sites with our 50 amp RVs! And of course they won’t restrict the 30 amp units from using the 50 amp which will leave us with no sites at all!!

Best we can hope is that this finally pushes the much needed upgrades to all 50amp!!
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Old 06-15-2018, 10:09 AM   #14
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And I am one of those new RV owners who doesn’t have a clue, but I am trying hard to learn. :0
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Old 06-15-2018, 10:34 AM   #15
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Got to feel for the campgrounds when folks try to draw 100 amps out of that 30 amp source. The times I have had to use a 30 amp hookup, we used nothing in the way of ac, microwave, etc and still saw it sag due to the age of the park wiring.
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Old 06-15-2018, 06:07 PM   #16
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Camco makes a 50 amp to 30 amp and 20 amp adaptor. Combines 30 amp and 20 amp plugs on pedestal for 45 amps instead of 50. Just Google Camco 55025
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Old 06-15-2018, 06:35 PM   #17
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Originally Posted by Hblick48 View Post
Camco makes a 50 amp to 30 amp and 20 amp adaptor. Combines 30 amp and 20 amp plugs on pedestal for 45 amps instead of 50. Just Google Camco 55025
Those will not work if the 20 amp outlet is a GFCI protected outlet. And modern code requires that. Might find an older park with standard outlets to use one though.
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Old 06-15-2018, 09:36 PM   #18
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Ok, my dealer preaches there is no 240V in RV's. Only 120V.

I went to the KOA site referenced in the first post here and followed him OK until he said that 50 amp was 12000 watts, 50 amps X 240 volts = 12000 watts.

What I have in my Montanna is 50 amps X 120 volts = 6000 watts. I have 2 hot legs of 120V @ 50 amps each so, yes I have 50 amps X 120 volts = 6000 watts X 2 = 12000 watts. But each receptacle and appliance in my RV is only connected to one hot leg or 120V. There are no receptacles or appliances connected to both hot legs as in a 240 V application.

I think this site explained it well:
http://www.myrv.us/electric/Pg/50amp_Service.htm
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Old 06-15-2018, 10:50 PM   #19
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We have been to numerous KOA parks in the past several years and have had to plug into 30 amp outlets using the 30-50 dogbone many times, and have never had an issue with the park management saying it was not allowed. Just for our information so we can avoid this park, which one is it? And where?
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Old 06-16-2018, 05:42 AM   #20
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Hi

Here is the problem.

Provided the receptacle and the plug used are clean and wired properly and protected with the proper circuit breaker using a 15, 30, Or 50 amp receptacle will not cause the plug or receptacle to become damaged.

The problems happen when one or more of the following is present.

A corrode receptacle
A corroded plug
Too large a circuit breaker for any of the 3 amperages
The camp ground has added receptacles beyond the design limits of the primary wiring then changed the main breaker to make it hold the load.

So we all know that running more appliances than the 15, 30, or 50 amp service can provide will trip the circuit breaker. This is the case without damage to the service provider. The breaker at the service pedestal may become damaged to the point it will not carry the load it should.

Bottom line is:

Don’t plug in to any power service that has a discolored receptacle.

Don’t continue to use your plug or adapter if they are discolored.

If in the process of disconnecting you find either eng of you power cord or the dog bone adapters to be more than just warm to the touch repair or replace them.

I periodically open the ends on my power cord and my 50 am 50 foot extension cord and make sure the wire connections are tight and if I find corroded or discolored terminals I replace the plug or receptacle.

Remember the circuit breaker is there to protect the wire so don’t ever replace a circuit breaker with a large circuit breaker.

I work on both Ac and DC power services these are the problems I most commonly find.

Phil P
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