We are pretty new to RV camping and usually stay at campsites with full hookups. This weekend we are taking the dogs to an agility trial, and the confirmation I just received says we are in a 20 amp site. I understand we can't run an air conditioner on 20 amps, but I am wondering if we need to buy an electrical conversion thing to be able to plug in. I am sure this question is pretty basic and shows my ignorance, but I would rather not arrive at the venue and have no way to plug in. Generator in such close quarters is not friendly.Oh, and the confirmation also said: "Please bring water wyes and extra electrical stuff if you have it." I have not a clue as to what he means by that...Thanks in advance for any help!Kathy

You can run one AC but not too much else at the same time. Just reset the circuit breaker if you happen ti trip it.. No big deal.

You will need an adapter from your plug to adapt to a standard 20 amp plug. The plug(20 amps) is the same style plug in your house. I carry one just in case, and can only think of using it a couple of times. We switched the water heater to gas, the refridge to gas and only ran the battery charger and tv, micro type of things on the 20 amp.

you're probably going to encounter "shared" hookups...one water spigot for every X campsites. X is usually two but can be more. one municipal park (now closed) that we used to frequent had 6-8 water bibs on a pipe. folks would lay up to 50' of water hose to reach "their" bib from their campsite. if they're telling you to bring a "Y" that means there is either one bib for two campsites or a large number of campsites fed by a smaller number of bibs. the 'Y' will allow two hoses to be connected to a single bib. any garden supply shop like home depot, lowes, ace hardware, etc. will have these. I prefer the metal ones. more unusual would be sharing an electrical post with more than one other campsite but we always carry an extra 50' of 30-amp cable with us just in case. any RV supply store will have a 20-amp adapter for your 30-amp cable. if you have a 50-amp coach you'll need a 50-amp female/30-amp male adapter and then a 30-amp female to a 20-amp male adapter. like karl malden used to say...don't leave home without it.

The water wye is a device that has one female connection to go onto a water spicket and two or more male connections to attach hoses to. Common item from Walmart or any hardware store in the hose department. It is good to have one in the rig at all times. I use it to attach separate hose for washing windshield.water wyeI would suggest getting different adpaters while you are looking. If your rig is thirty amp, get a 50 to 30 adpater and a 30-20 adapter. I

Some RVers don't use power when camping. However, price of the camp ground should be cheaper when not much is offered.

20 amp campsite | Good Sam Community

23 Replies

AllegroD
Nomad
Jan 01, 2014
The 30 to 15 should work fine.
KWinzer
Explorer
Jan 01, 2014
Dutch_12078 wrote:
The correct adapters are a common item in the RV section at most Walmarts, if that's more convenient for you.

Apparently not the one near us.! We were able to get the 30/15 though, so I hope we are all set.

Happy New year and thanks for all the help!
Dutch_12078
Explorer III
Dec 31, 2013
The correct adapters are a common item in the RV section at most Walmarts, if that's more convenient for you.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Dec 31, 2013
And in Elk Grove this weekend I don't think you'll need your AC's. Just open a window.
JnJnKatiebug
Explorer
Dec 31, 2013
msmith1199 wrote:
No that is the wrong one. This is what you need: Click here

I carry two of those. One has the ground on top and the other has the ground on the bottom. My experience is the receptals are sometimes installed upside down and if your adapter is pointed up it is hard to keep it plugged in.
KWinzer
Explorer
Dec 31, 2013
Thanks, I checked and Camping World is said to have in stock. DH missed because it says 30/15...
BobandShaz
Explorer
Dec 31, 2013
The more we read the l o n g e r the shopping list gets.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Dec 31, 2013
You could also use this one: Click Here but I'd probably get the one with the length of cord on it because sometimes the 15/20 amp receptacles may be in hard to locate places, and also it looks like the one linked here may put a lot of weight on the plug and may pull out easier.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Dec 31, 2013
KWinzer wrote:
msmith1199 wrote:
Looks like you're in San Jose. Just curious, where have you found a campground that only has 20 amp power? I have never seen such a thing. Is this some type of temporary thing set up just for the dog trials, or is this a regular RV park? I've been to many RV parks that will have a 20amp receptacle in the box along with the 30 or 50 amp, but I've never seen just a 20amp plug in an RV park. .

It's in Elk Grove at the WAG facility. Smaller rigs get the 30 amp power, but ours is too big to fit there. He has a few 20 amp sites big enough for our 30 ft.

That explains it. It's not a regular RV park, but a special area for RV's using their facilities. The link I posted above is what you need. It says 15 amp, but both the 15 amp and the 20 amp plugs are the same ones that are in your house. So the one I linked for you will work.
msmith1199
Explorer II
Dec 31, 2013
No that is the wrong one. This is what you need: Click here