50a vs 30a - why do I need 50a?

[dpam]

Our monty is a 50a electrical system. We have the standard Montana/Hickory Edition monty (one AC). I got tired of hauling out the 50a cord whenever we needed to connect to our Honda generator, so I bought a 50a/30a adapter that fits into the 50a connection at the back of the trailer and with a 30a/15a adapter pigtail I'm able to connect to the generator without the 50a cord. I then bought a 30a electrical cord and now all we seem to use is 30a service, but I'm wondering if I missed something. If our monty seems to run sufficiently on 30a why would Keystone set it up with 50a. Is there some reason that I need to haul around a 50a cord that I don't know about?

Appreciate your thoughts.

[bncinwv]

Each person's situation is different, and I am glad the designers took a worst case approach. I am glad they have the 50 amp feed even though all others do not need it. Namely since I can run two air conditioners, washer, dryer, watch television and pop microwave popcorn all at the same time that the fridge is on electric as is the hot water heater and the ice maker and the basement fridge are running as well. Try that on 30 amps!! There is nothing at all wrong with using 30 amp and the lighter cord where there is only need for 30 amps. I have been in parks with only 30 amps and I also use the lighter 30 amp shore cord in those situations. I just have to do without the popcorn!!!!
Bingo

[Art-n-Marge]

It sounds like you have a minimal configuration rig. The rig is marketed and meant for more. For example, a 2nd air conditioner, a washer/dryer, even a dishwasher if so inclined. They put 50amp capability in there from the factory, because it would be too expensive to retrofit a rig with more power. If an owner doesn't need all the extra power they can do what you did.

If you were in a hotter climate (like me) where the A/C never turned off and you still wanted to watch TV, and microwave your meals while DW is curling and blow drying her hair, you'll be glad 50amps is available. I will need a second A/C because of the heat and that's why I bought the Monty that has 50amp capability. Regardless of how others might think that we are camping and should leave the luxuries at home, we are not. We are RVing (living in a mobile home) and we want to have the creature comforts of a stickhouse, so we need 50 amps.

When we had a 30 amp trailer, sometimes we wished for 50 amp. But if you have a 50 amp, you can always use less.

On edit: I forgot to add, I now run a second generator which allows 30 amps with a dual cord. Eventually, I may get a 3rd genny with a triple cord and be able to run 50 amps via generator if I start doing luxury boondocking. That oughta keep the bears away - and the deer, and the skunks, and the neighbors and the friends...

[drsmart]

We're new to 50 amps as our previous SOB was 30. There are times we camp when it's cold outside and use electric heat. We'll be heading south soon and on route I'm sure it'll be a bonus when we have two space heaters plugged in, the convection microwave is running, the hot water tank is heating and you want to make a coffee. As long as we don't draw too much power through a 15 or 20 amp breaker inside the Monty, we should be fine . No way we could have done that on the 30 amp system. I'll also be doing what you did and picking up a short 50/30 adapter that will connect directly to the trailer. http://tweetys.com/rv50to30ampadaptor.aspx

[dpam]

Thank you for the explanations of your personal requirement for 50a service. I guess I'll hang on to the 50a cord in case we decide to add a washer and dryer, etc. We recently retired, so I guess once we start living in RV Parks more in hot climates we may need 50a more often.

[Jdrobone]

Dave,
All kinds of history on this thread if you search the archives.
Jerry

[drknapp]

Dave,

I've done the same as you have. I only have a single air conditioner and no washer/dryer. I use a 30 to 50 cord and just keep the 50 amp cord in my garage at home. I figure if I am safe until I add more electrical appliances like the second air conditioner. So far I haven't had any problems.

[c214dick]

At some of the state parks and older campgrounds, 30 is all that's available. When the weather is nice, I appreciate only using my 30 amp cord instead of the anaconda 50 amp. When it gets to be 90+ I appreciate having 50 amp when available so I can run the second a/c and still use my electric hot water heater.

[CamillaMichael]

As others have commented, our first rig had 30 amp service and it seemed that every time we had to use more than one item at a time a circuit breaker was going off...not so with our 50 amp service in our Montana. After experiencing both, I would not even think of going back to 30 amp service...not matter how much of an effort it is hauling that five hundred lb cable around!

[7.3Ford]

David,

With 50Amp Connection, you are really getting TWO 50AMP circuits (100 AMPS Total). With 30AMP service that is all you get, so you can't have the fireplace on and run the microwave at the same time on 30AMP service, it will blow the pedestal breaker. Water heater and microwave won't work either. Sounds like you adapter is giving you 30AMP + (15 to 20 AMP) on the other leg, so you are getting 45 to 50 AMPS, but that is not the same as 50AMP services, since it has 50 AMPS on both circuits.

[stiles watson]

We are full time, full service RVers. When we are forced to use 30 amp service, the breaker gets popped every time. Washer/dryer (stacked units), coffee maker, microwave/convection oven, electric skillet, blender, crock pot, and two A/C units. We use 50 amp service.

[BB_TX]

I have both a 50 amp cord and a 30 amp cord. If we are camped where the weather is cool and will not need AC, I use the 30 amp cord. But if hot enough for AC, I drag out the 50.
In some state parks where only 30 was available, I have tripped the pedastal breaker running AC and some other appliances at the same time.

[bigmurf]

Full time for 6 years now with 30 Amps. No washer/dryer, 15000 A/C. We do know how to manage power.

[ols1932]

quote:Originally posted by dpam

Thank you for the explanations of your personal requirement for 50a service. I guess I'll hang on to the 50a cord in case we decide to add a washer and dryer, etc. We recently retired, so I guess once we start living in RV Parks more in hot climates we may need 50a more often.

Believe me, if you do any amount of living in your rig, you'll be glad sometimes to have that 50-amp cord. With 50-amps, you really have 100 amps (50 on each leg). We run two electric heaters in our rig when hooked to 50 amps and my wife can run her hair blower at the same time.
However, you can also do a lot with 30 amps as long as you manage usage properly. You'll learn quickly. Most of us did!

Orv

[branmo6x]

Why is the 50 to 30 amp adapter so expensive? Other adapters are
in the $20 to $30 price range. I can carry a lot of cord for 70
bucks.

[Bill-N-Donna]

Hang on to that 50 amp cord! Even if you don’t use it it’s too expensive to replace if needed. There may come a time when you will use it.

[richfaa]

As stated we really have two 50 amp legs. We do have a 30 amp cord left over from a 30 amp camper and use it when 50 amps is not available. We like to use what we need when we need it.Last week it was hot and humid here in Florida. Both A/C running, hot water and fridge on Electric and maybe W/D in use.Use the micro wave or coffee maker when you wnat to.... Try that on 30 amps only...

[sreigle]

We use the 50/30 and 30/50 whenever we don't think we'll really need 50 amps. I don't like lugging out that monster cord, either.

[2Wanderers]

I have two air conditioners but only use the 50A supply cable when I know I am going to use both ACs. I use a 50A surge arrester, but use a 30A to 50A adapter on the front end of it when using the 30A supply cable (I want to make sure no more than 30A goes through a 30 amp cable.) When I use a 20A source, such as a dedicated 20A circuit outlet or a generator with a 20A outlet, I had to make an adapter for the 20A to 30A connection using a 20A male plug and appropriate gauge wire. I thought a simple 15A to 30A adapter would work on a 20A outlet, but found out the internal wiring in the adapter was only good for 15A. Makes sense, but sometimes we don't always identify the correct weakest link. Result, a lot of heat and an adapter burnt out. I was lucky it didn't result in a fire. Not Good

[dpam]

2 Wanderers,

I have a few questions on how you safely use a 50a surge protector on a 30a circuit. Please confirm if my assumptions are correct.

1. Your 30a to 50a adapter has a male end for the 30a end and a female end for the 50a. You plug the 30a male end into the 30a female plug on the pedestal, and then plug the male 50a surge protector end into the female end of 30a/50a adapter.

2. You have a 50a to 30a adapter with a male 50a end that plugs into the surge protector and you then plug your 30a cord into the female 30a end of the adapter.

3. You have a pig tail 50a to 30a adapter that connects to the twist coupler on your trailer and it has a 30a male end that plugs in to your 30a cord.

Are my assumptions correct?
You are able to use a 50a suge protector for both a 50a service and a 30a service?
If my assumptions are correct does the 50a surge protector provide you the required protection for a 30a service?

Sorry for all my questions, but my objective is to do exactly what you described in your post, but I would like to ensure that I have all the correct components.

Please advise

Regards,

David