Function of 30 amp with 50 amp breaker

[randye]

Hi all I have a friend that has a trailer that the shore cord is for 30 amp hook up and the park is only 50 amps. She has the 50 to 30 amp dog bone. Her question is will it hurt her trailer to be plugged in to the 50 amp for the six months she will be working their? Thanks for the advice.

[Art-n-Marge]

No. The shore power is capable of supporting UP TO 50 amps, but if you plug something in that only draws up to 30 amps, then that's all that will be provided. No harm no foul.

It's the other way around that's a concern. If you are only plugged into a 30 amp power pedestal and you try and draw more than that (like both A/Cs, the micowave and a washer/dryer), then something will shut down and a circuit will probably reset somewhere and it will probably be the pedestal itself.

[randye]

Thanks Art that's what I thought, but wanted it confirmed by someone else. We are now for anyone who wants to know working hard to open the Grand Canyon National Park on the North Rim, thats the Utah side. If you find yourself, around the area come up and visit, ask for the Maintenance Manager and they will page me. Thanks again for the advice.

[psomers]

quote:Originally posted by randye

Hi all I have a friend that has a trailer that the shore cord is for 30 amp hook up and the park is only 50 amps. She has the 50 to 30 amp dog bone. Her question is will it hurt her trailer to be plugged in to the 50 amp for the six months she will be working their? Thanks for the advice.

You will probably be ok as it is done all the time but be aware of a potential problem. First if your camper has a 30 amp main breaker there should be no problem. But if your camper relies on the power post for protection you need to be careful. A 30 amp camper is fully capable of pulling more than 30 amps. Just turn on water heater on electric, AC, hair dryer and coffee and that is more than 30 amps. The problem is 30 amp wire is 10 gauge, to pull 50 amps you need 6 gauge. More than 30 amp on 10 gauge wire overheats.
Again, if you have 30 amp main breaker in camper; and I think most do; no problem.

[DQDick]

Might want to add a 30amp EMS. She'll need some sort of surge protector anyway.

[bigred715]

When you have a 50amp EMS and need to plug into 30amp service, can it be done? State parks and some smaller parks have only 30amp service. Want to protect my trailer and not always use 50amp heavy cord.

[NCFischers]

A 50 amp EMS will work fine on 30 amps.