Power hook up at home

[Wes_Kellie]

We have the 3857BR. My question is how do I hook up to power at home if I don’t have a dedicated 50 amp plugin? I have the power cord that came with the camper along with an adapter that converts 50 amp to 30 amp then 30 amp to a 110V outlet. I also have the 50 amp surge protector. In order to reach the closest 110 outlet, I have to connect to a 100’ 10 ga extension cord. Can I use this to power the basics minus the AC units?

[BB_TX]

If the outlet is 20 amps you can even run one A/C if you want as long as you don’t run much else. If only 15 amp then you can keep the battery charged and a few low amperage devices.

[mlh]

I have a receptacle that’s over 300 feet from my shop. It’s on a no 8 cord and can run everything except the AC. The microwave will occasionally pop the 20 amp breaker. You are certainly good to go with the small stuff.
Lynwood

[DutchmenSport]

I did it exactly that way for years, except mine were 30 amp trailers. I use a 100 foot utility cord and the adapters. Never had an issue.

House we live at now, I actually have 2 - RV 30 amp outlets now, and 1 - RV 50 amp outlet. I can almost start an RV park if I wanted!

[Wes_Kellie]

Do y’all use the surge protector?

[Daryles]

Originally Posted by Wes_Kellie

Do y’all use the surge protector?

Always

[mlh]

Originally Posted by Wes_Kellie

Do y’all use the surge protector?

No but I should.
Lynwood

[DutchmenSport]

Originally Posted by Wes_Kellie

Do y’all use the surge protector?

Yes, always; at home and when camping. I have a 30 amp Hughes Autofoamer for when plugged into 30 amp, and my Progressive 50 amp EMS for when plugged into 50 amp. Both work well.

If I'm running on my generator(s), I do not use my protectors. The generators are the protectors. Besides, if attempting to use them with the Hughes or the Progressive, there is no true ground. The devices will keep power from going to the camper. So, when running the generators, there is no need for the surge protectors / EMS / Autofoamers.

[Wes_Kellie]

I greatly appreciate y’all’s reply on this. I just wanted to be sure I didn’t screw anything up. I plugged in to an extension cord and ran it to an outlet inside the house that has very little on that circuit. I’m running everything including AC.

[LuckyDog23]

We can’t store our new trailer at home due to HOA rules - we are in a temp living situation, but I can tell you what we did with our 33 ft motorhome with 30 amp service. Our coach was just on the other side of the garage wall from our buss bar. It took combing two 15 amp breakers into one, adding a junction box in the wall and about 5 feet of Romex inside conduit, through the wall to a covered rainproof box. Got all at Home Depot. We lived in the coach during a total remodel of the house and never had an issue. We have some friends with a similar itasca and they just used the 20 amp setting and used a regular extension cord and could keep power on for refer and lights, but no AC.

[rohrmann]

Originally Posted by Wes_Kellie

We have the 3857BR. My question is how do I hook up to power at home if I don’t have a dedicated 50 amp plugin? I have the power cord that came with the camper along with an adapter that converts 50 amp to 30 amp then 30 amp to a 110V outlet. I also have the 50 amp surge protector. In order to reach the closest 110 outlet, I have to connect to a 100’ 10 ga extension cord. Can I use this to power the basics minus the AC units?

Hopefully you have at least 120 volts on that outlet. If not, by the time you reach your rig, you will have seriously low voltage. Residential voltages provided by utilities in the US have not been 110 volts for well over 50 years.

[BB_TX]

Originally Posted by LuckyDog23

……..
, but I can tell you what we did with our 33 ft motorhome with 30 amp service. Our coach was just on the other side of the garage wall from our buss bar. It took combing two 15 amp breakers into one, adding a junction box in the wall and about 5 feet of Romex inside conduit, through the wall to a covered rainproof box. …………...

I am curious how you combined two 15 amp breakers into one.

[rohrmann]

Changing a 15 amp breaker to a 30 amp breaker would be the easiest way to do it to feed a 30 amp outlet.

[mlh]

Originally Posted by rohrmann

Hopefully you have at least 120 volts on that outlet. If not, by the time you reach your rig, you will have seriously low voltage. Residential voltages provided by utilities in the US have not been 110 volts for well over 50 years.

That’s strange because here in South West Va we have 120 volts, 122 to be exact.
Lynwood

[BB_TX]

As Bob said, 110 vac was a very old standard not used for for many years. It was raised to 115 vac also many years ago. And then standardized go 120 vac I think in the early 70’s. Today power companies are supposed to supply power at 120 vac +/- 5% (or 114 to 126 vac). Ours also runs a pretty steady 122.

Old habits are hard to break and lots of people still call it 110.

[Foldbak]

Ya at 65 I might say 110, 115, 120 but its all AC line voltage. What ever year it is lol

[GYPSY SOUL]

We installed a 50amp at home, as well as our pole barn for when not in use. I have used the adapters down to a 20amp plug at a quick overnight stay when needed.

[LuckyDog23]

Originally Posted by BB_TX

I am curious how you combined two 15 amp breakers into one.

The 30A was twice as wide IIRC. It took up the space of two skinny ones. Don’t live there anymore and we had to take it out when we moved. I never thought to take photo. I should have said 15A spaces.

[Bourbon County]

Originally Posted by rohrmann

Changing a 15 amp breaker to a 30 amp breaker would be the easiest way to do it to feed a 30 amp outlet.

PLEASE don't do this! PLEASE don't "combine" or parallel 2 15 amp breakers! Current divides in a parallel circuit and you've effectively made a 30 amp breaker out of 2 15 amp breakers. This is a code violation and a fire hazard. Typically 15 amp circuits are wired with 14 gauge wire which is only rated for 15 amps, absolutely not 30. If you can confirm the circuit is wired with 10 gauge wire at minimum, it's no problem. It's highly unlikely the wire is adequate size. No matter what kind of protection you have your RV plugged into, they do absolutely nothing to protect anything upstream of the outlet. Make sure your homeowners insurance is current and you have fresh batteries in the smoke detectors.