30Amp plugged into 50Amp?

[5ER]

Question, has anyone used the "50Amp male to 30Amp female" adapter dogbone when hooked up at camp ground? The protection for the 30Amp cable should be your 30A breaker inside trailer. The reason for wanting to do this is because having two 30A breakers in series has allowed the outside breaker to open before the inside breaker and then you don't know if the campground lost power until you go outside and check at the post. It is also easier to reset without having to go outside.

[drsmart]

We've stayed at a campground (in our previous 30 amp trailer) that only had 50 amp sites available. They loaned us the adapter. As you have said, the trailer inside power panel should provide a 30 amp limit and should trip if that is exceeded. If the trailer breaker is faulty and allows much more than 30 amps, your outside cable may start to melt at connection points such as the 30/50 adapter. Ask me how I know.

Dave

[5ER]

Dave, I would think that the adapter was well used if it was being loaned out and was shorting out more so than you having a bad main breaker.

[H. John Kohl]

Since the 50 amp pedistal breaker is normally by procedure turned off each time a camper leaves the site the breaker is used like a switch.
I "ASSUME" the constant switching action could weaken the 50 Amp breaker and cause it to trip before your 30 Amp inside.

[NCFischers]

John is right. Using circuit breakers as switches can tend to make them weak.

[mhs4771]

Back to the original question: Yep you can use a 50 to 30 Dog Bone. Have one and used it often with our previous TTs. Still carry it and it came in handy recently at the Vermont Samboree as we have a very long run to reach the power pole.

[ols1932]

quote:Originally posted by 5ER

Question, has anyone used the "50Amp male to 30Amp female" adapter dogbone when hooked up at camp ground? The protection for the 30Amp cable should be your 30A breaker inside trailer. The reason for wanting to do this is because having two 30A breakers in series has allowed the outside breaker to open before the inside breaker and then you don't know if the campground lost power until you go outside and check at the post. It is also easier to reset without having to go outside.

Do it all the time.

Orv

[Wheelhouse]

Correct me if I am wrong. The 50 amp cord to 30 amp adaptor only uses 1 ground and 2 hot leads as opposed to the 50 amp using 1 ground and 3 hot leads. This will keep the 3rd hot lead from being used and keeping your unit safe from a amperage overload. 30 amps is all we ever use when hooked up and have no problems. If and when we get the 2nd A/C unit, we will then have to use he 50 amp service or a serpate cord for the 2nd unit plugged into 15/20 amp outlets at the parks with the 30 amp plug. Hope this helps.

[snfexpress]

50 amp = 2 hots (out of phase), 1 neutral and 1 ground. 30 amp = 1 hot, 1 neutral and 1 ground.

50 amp to 30 amp =a hot, 1 neutral and 1 ground to 1 hot, 1 neutral and 1 ground.