50A questions

I wonder if it would be possible to chose the most expensive, easiest damaged equipment, and feed it thru the 30 AMP SP? Feed the SP off 1 leg of the 50 AMP?

The reason most RV have 50A power is typically because they have 2 AC units. At best, with 30A you will be able to run one of them.

I can't say I have seen one, but an RV with 50A service MIGHT have a 240V water heater.

While it might not meet NEC "code", connecting both legs of a 50A load (your RV) to one leg of a 30A supply should not cause any harm or danger. 240V appliances will not work, but will not be harmed. If you exceed the 30A supply, it will trip its breaker.

nickthehunter wrote:

Me Again wrote:
OK, here is the deal. If you plug your new trailer into a 50A outlet with neutral missing, you burn up most of your AC devices with 240V across them...

Um No it won't. A missing neutral will not cause an otherwise properly wired 120V device to see 240V.

Spend some time studying how RV 50 amp service works. It has two hot leads out of phase with each other. The return neutral is a shared single wire.

http://www.myrv.us/electric/Pg/open_neutral.htm



It is a code violation to have the same phase on both of the hot legs.



Anyone with a RV with 50 amp service should have a good EMS in the circuit and installed electrically as close as possible to the RV electrical panel, that will protect you from a camp ground source, power cord issue, plug issue issue, input receptacle or a powered cord reel issue.

Chris

your going to need a big generator for one thing

RobWNY wrote:
Here's the surge protector that I bought. $109 Link
I don't know about out West but in the Northeast, campgrounds are starting to prohibit 50A RV's from staying in 30A sites. Not all but it seems to be the trend. I ran into this problem last summer when I tried to book a site at a KOA near Pittsburgh.

I recommend something with EMS in the model number

nickthehunter wrote:

Me Again wrote:
OK, here is the deal. If you plug your new trailer into a 50A outlet with neutral missing, you burn up most of your AC devices with 240V across them...

Um No it won't. A missing neutral will not cause an otherwise properly wired 120V device to see 240V.

Take 2 circuits on opposite sides, say 2 AC units. They are both tied to the neutral. When both units are on, without the neutral, the AC units will be in series across 240V. Not quite the same as each unit seeing 240V, but not good!

Edit/ I guess I should add that if the 2 devices are not equal then they won't see equal voltages. Say one is a small light and the other an AC. The AC would see most of the voltage.

RobWNY wrote:
Here's the surge protector that I bought. $109 Link
I don't know about out West but in the Northeast, campgrounds are starting to prohibit 50A RV's from staying in 30A sites. Not all but it seems to be the trend. I ran into this problem last summer when I tried to book a site at a KOA near Pittsburgh.

Be interesting to see what they'd say if all 50a spots were taken and 30a spots were available. Turn them away and leave an empty spot, or take the money?

Lyle

Me Again wrote:
OK, here is the deal. If you plug your new trailer into a 50A outlet with neutral missing, you burn up most of your AC devices with 240V across them...

Um No it won't. A missing neutral will not cause an otherwise properly wired 120V device to see 240V.

bobbyg123 wrote:
I guess what I should have asked is this. Can I simply use a 50A to 30A adapter and plug into my 30A surge protector?

Yes

It's very important to fully understand the differences in the systems. A 50A connection is NOT 20A bigger than a 30A one, it's 100A. Confusing right?

A 30A connection will be OFF if the neutral fails.
A 30A connection is 120V and can not give 240V.

If you need more, just ask...