What happens if you plug a 50 Amp RV into 22V welder plug

jeepman71 wrote:
I am currious, if my rv were a 50amp system and I plug into a 220V welder or dryer outlet what will I find? What different circuits or equipment would likely be damaged?

Let's assume that this rv is a very late model like a 2012.

I don't have to worry because mine is only a 30amp.

DON'T DON'T do it unless it has 4 poles or hole in the outlet. YOU MUST have a NEUTRAL period.

sdetweil wrote:
Ok, I'm the guy that found out. RV 50 amp into 60 amp Welder service with no neutral..

big Pop when the A/C tried to come on. wish it was a circuit breaker.. no such luck.

something smells near the converter/breaker panel. not wire smell, electronics smell. maybe blown converter.

obviously the smaller ground couldn't take the load. maybe it will be a blown ground wire. (probably wishful thinking).

far as I can tell everything works (on 110 adapter to 50amp plug) except the fridge electric circuit. lights, fantastic fans, 110 outlets. haven't tried slides or leveler yet.

I will disconnect all power today and pull the breaker panel out to look at the wires behind.

diagnosis advice welcomed. will also run a separate 6/3 circuit.

so far I have not found any damage anywhere. everything has been tested but the A/C's. I removed the fuse panel/distro center and all the circuit breakers. They all look good, no damage found, no discoloration, etc. No wire discoloration. No smell focalpoint.

the converter is running fine, and with everything 12v on at once no issues have been found.

I have run a proper 6/3 with ground 50amp, 110v service line now, but given the problems, I am waiting for a circuit tester/surge suppressor to arrive to validate the circuit. (this tester will go with me from now on as I hear a lot about power pedestal issues).

smkettner wrote:

KMLsquared wrote:
I might be mistaken but I did not think the utility even provided a neutral?

Yes standard single phase service provides 240v and the transformer center tap as the neutral. The main distribution panel needs to have its own earth ground.

This guy knows what he's talking about.

Some good, and not so good, responses here.

The RV 50 Amp service is limited to 50 Amps of current total from each branch as supplied by the service entrance.

The supplied voltage is split phase 240 Volts - each voltage is 180 degrees out of phase with each other and equal in amplitude.

This is accomplished by the transformer neutral which center taps the 240 volts and provides the return path back to the service entrance - the neutral always carries the difference current between the 2 branch currents.

If no neutral exists, and if the 2 loads are unbalanced in reference to their current draw, then each 120 V branch will assume an unknown voltage due to loading with the sum of the 2 voltages equal to 240 volts. This is very bad...

The ground connection back at the service entrance is not designed to carry current and will not balance the voltage when the neutral is disconnected.

You must run a 4-wire circuit or you run the risk of serious equipment damage and/or shock...

greende wrote:
Sorry this happened to you. I don't have any words of wisdom except to begin checking everything with your multimeter and add up the damage. Stay in touch and let us know. To my knowledge the combined neutral & ground together is no longer recommended for new installations like Dryers and welders but someone who has bought a new welder recently may be able to confirm this. If you had a four wire welder outlet, an RV would run off it with the appropriate adapter as the ground & neutral are separate.

thanks.. my welders are all 3 wire. as are the air compressors.

I find this interesting as the common and ground are bonded at the panel. but there was nothing on the common leg for the rv service.

Sorry this happened to you. I don't have any words of wisdom except to begin checking everything with your multimeter and add up the damage. Stay in touch and let us know. To my knowledge the combined neutral & ground together is no longer recommended for new installations like Dryers and welders but someone who has bought a new welder recently may be able to confirm this. If you had a four wire welder outlet, an RV would run off it with the appropriate adapter as the ground & neutral are separate.

Ok, I'm the guy that found out. RV 50 amp into 60 amp Welder service with no neutral..

big Pop when the A/C tried to come on. wish it was a circuit breaker.. no such luck.

something smells near the converter/breaker panel. not wire smell, electronics smell. maybe blown converter.

obviously the smaller ground couldn't take the load. maybe it will be a blown ground wire. (probably wishful thinking).

far as I can tell everything works (on 110 adapter to 50amp plug) except the fridge electric circuit. lights, fantastic fans, 110 outlets. haven't tried slides or leveler yet.

I will disconnect all power today and pull the breaker panel out to look at the wires behind.

diagnosis advice welcomed. will also run a separate 6/3 circuit.

goukcats wrote:
Kinda on the same subject... I am having a box & wiring installed for a double pole 220 outlet for a hot tub. I already have a 30 amp plug for my 5er but was wondering if I could use the same wire (hot tub wire) also for a 50 amp RV box. I assume I couldn't use both at the same time but would that work? Thanks...

If you're feeding the hot tub with a 50 amp breaker you could do it with some electrical management. You probably would need to turn the temp down to be sure you didn't draw too much power. 50 amps is 50 amps no matter where it goes. Your electrician would have to decide if it meets code, however. Good luck.

Kinda on the same subject... I am having a box & wiring installed for a double pole 220 outlet for a hot tub. I already have a 30 amp plug for my 5er but was wondering if I could use the same wire (hot tub wire) also for a 50 amp RV box. I assume I couldn't use both at the same time but would that work? Thanks...

Since I was not there to see what he actually did I cannot say exactly what happened. However my friend in another state who works in home construction supply business wired up his own 50 amp RV recepticle and when he plugged his brand new Class A motor coach in it blew up the converter, all the appliances including the TV and other items. $$$$$$$$$$$$$ Be sure what you have before plugging in. The pictures in the above posts are very good!!!