50 amp won't work............30 amp does????????

[6.7 CTD]

Found out this past weekend that my 50 amp connection at the local campground won't work but the 30 amp plug in with the adapter will.

When 50 amp is plugged in , one of the breakers won't stay on.........if you re-set the one that is tripped........it trips a different one.........re-set that one and it trips the first one again.........always the same 2 breakers........one is a 20 and one is a 15.

When plugged in to 30 amp it works fine............any Ideas as to what is going on???????

Thanx,

Roger

[OntMont]

There is a 15 amp breaker on one leg of the 50 amp supply?

That sounds like the problem right there. When you plug in with the 30 amp adapter, you are probably only using the 20 amp breaker, but even that is less than the 30 you should have. I think you have a badly wired campsite. Likely, that 15 amp breaker ought to be a 30 amp breaker.

[bsmeaton]

Roger,

I don't think I would use my camper as a test light, or it will be your appliances and electronics giving you the green or red meter reading.

I would unplug and have them check the pedestal first.

[6.7 CTD]

I usually don't get the same site every weekend , so I will see what happens next time at a different site..........it may be the campground..........3 weeks ago I tried to use 50 amp and it wouldn't do anything at all.........30 amp on the same pedestal worked fine though.........these sites are in the same row , so , maybe it is the problem..........this time will be in a different row...............we'll see how that goes.

[BB_TX]

Are you saying that you have a "Y" adapter that lets you plug into a 15 amp outlet and a 20 amp outlet to match up to your 50 amp cable?
If so, then it sounds like maybe they may have one of the plugs wired reverse polarity of what it should be or improper grounding. If you don't have one, get one of the small cheap plug in circuit testers that has a set of 3 lights on it to tell proper polarity and grounding.

[TLightning]

Do you have a surge guard? If not, you might consider getting one...before some of your electronics get fried.

[ggranch]

It sounds like the park wasn't wired properly. There should only be the 50, 30, and either a 15 or 20 amp breaker in the pedistal. The 50 should be a mated pair that operates from a single throw and operate only the 50 amp recepticle. The 30 should be a single with a single throw, ditto the 15/20. There should be one 50, one 30, and one 15/20 amp outlet. Ozz, if your in here, jump in, or Rich. You guys know more about this stuff. Bob

Ps - the 50 uses 4 wires, one common, two hot, and one ground.

[6.7 CTD]

yes ggranch.........that is how it was at that site...........one 50 amp , one 30 amp , and one 20 amp regular 110 type plug in..................they all had their own single breaker.

bbtex........no , not the "y" adapter .........the 50 amp plug from my HEAVY cord plugged right in to the 50 amp socket......and with the dogbone adapter it plugs right in to the 30 amp socket.........hope this clears up the confusion.


Roger

[stiles watson]

Gee, I gotta test the circuit before I plug my rig into it. Comparatively, testers aren't that expensive.