We hooked up at a friend's house last week. He had only a 30 amp and a 20 amp outlet available. So, of course, we used the 50/30 'pigtail' to hook into the 30. My Surge Guard immediately displayed a red light that indicated 'caution when illuminated'. So we got out my A/C 30 amp Outlet Circuit Tester. Most of us carry one of these yellow indicators which has a picture on the bottom which tells what each light display indicates. Guess what? We got a light indicator that I've never seen before and that was not explained on the 'pictures'. It indicated on the bottom: yellow/yellow/red. My question: does this have something to do with the 'neutral'? I asked the service manager @ Bretz RV here in Boise today. He said it may have indicated it was 220V instead of 110V. So the only option we had was to use the 20 amps--and, with a little power management, we got by OK. The cold weather helped keep the breaker operating. Any ideas on the read-out we got? Thanks. Jim

jimhaz2402 wrote:We hooked up at a friend's house last week. He had only a 30 amp and a 20 amp outlet available. So, of course, we used the 50/30 'pigtail' to hook into the 30. My Surge Guard immediately displayed a red light that indicated 'caution when illuminated'. So we got out my A/C 30 amp Outlet Circuit Tester. Most of us carry one of these yellow indicators which has a picture on the bottom which tells what each light display indicates. Guess what? We got a light indicator that I've never seen before and that was not explained on the 'pictures'. It indicated on the bottom: yellow/yellow/red. My question: does this have something to do with the 'neutral'? I asked the service manager @ Bretz RV here in Boise today. He said it may have indicated it was 220V instead of 110V. So the only option we had was to use the 20 amps--and, with a little power management, we got by OK. The cold weather helped keep the breaker operating. Any ideas on the read-out we got? Thanks. JimIgnorance is Bliss in your case and lucky u had a surge guard.The 30amp outlet was most likly for a welder which is 240V not 120V like a RV outlet.You were unknowingly wise to just stick with the 20AMP one as otherwise you would have done considerable damage to your MH electrical system,s

The small unit was connected to 220. So the Ground was showing hot, Neutral and other phase was correctly wired.

Call your friend and ask him to read the NEMA designation on the connector.NEMA 10-30 is 240v. You need NEMA 30-TT, 120v. Also the plug will be easier to insert.Or even better a standard NEMA 14-50 to plug in direct.That protector just saved you thousands in repairs, ruined trip, and lots of headache.

When people have 30A outlets in their homes.....unless they are RVers, there is a very good chance that they are going to be 220VAC outlets.This is why it is very good to have a multimeter in addition to the circuit tester. You could just check the outlet for the voltage....if you are getting 220V across the two holes, you have to much power for your RV, and will fry stuff if you plug in.Not a bad idea to test outlets at CG too! It wouldn't be the first time that a hurried electrician (or CG owner acting as electrician) mis-wired an outlet.

well Iam pretty sure our OP gets the meassage as 4 of us have all told him the same thing in different ways so Iam sure he,s a little wiser now and thats good.

30 amp outlet question | Good Sam Community

byronlj
Explorer
Oct 09, 2013
Ouch! Didn't mean to hit a nerve.
Dave
smlranger
Explorer
Oct 09, 2013
Way to go Surgeguard!

My wife's BIL insisted on installing a 30 amp outlet we could use when we visit them in our coach. I told him not to wire it like a clothes dryer and he insisted that is what it should be (he is a former HVAC tech). I told him to have a qualified electrician do the work and I would pay for it. He did that and actually had the electrician call me before he installed. The electrician knew exactly what we needed. Nevertheless, before I used it the first time, I checked it with a voltmeter.
prism
Explorer
Oct 09, 2013
byronlj wrote:
Your Surge Guard just saved you thousands of dollars.

Whenever someone on here says they are a waste of money, tell this story again.

You don't need a surge guard to check an outlet. Common sense and a cheap multimeter work just fine.
Dave

OP did not know anything about 30amp outlet at friends house being 240V.nor how to check voltage with a meter.He was using a surge guard and it saved him.Thats why we were all saying how lucky it was he used a surge guard.no one said that was the right thing to use to precheck voltages
byronlj
Explorer
Oct 09, 2013
Your Surge Guard just saved you thousands of dollars.

Whenever someone on here says they are a waste of money, tell this story again.

You don't need a surge guard to check an outlet. Common sense and a cheap multimeter work just fine.
Dave
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Oct 09, 2013
A good read for RV'rs, friends and some electricians

30A RV Service
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Oct 09, 2013
Consider yourself wise to use a surge protector. You just about fried your electrical
jimhaz2402
Explorer
Oct 09, 2013
Talk about 'dodging a bullet'! You guys have really come thru, and I thank you for it. 99% of the time I use my 50 amp circuit tester. Now it will be 100% from here on in. I've printed out all of your information and will only show it to my friend if he insists. He just might not 'enjoy' what you have told me. j
Bobbo
Explorer II
Oct 09, 2013
Your Surge Guard just saved you thousands of dollars.

Whenever someone on here says they are a waste of money, tell this story again.
prism
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013
well Iam pretty sure our OP gets the meassage as 4 of us have all told him the same thing in different ways so Iam sure he,s a little wiser now and thats good.
PapPappy
Explorer
Oct 08, 2013
When people have 30A outlets in their homes.....unless they are RVers, there is a very good chance that they are going to be 220VAC outlets.

This is why it is very good to have a multimeter in addition to the circuit tester. You could just check the outlet for the voltage....if you are getting 220V across the two holes, you have to much power for your RV, and will fry stuff if you plug in.

Not a bad idea to test outlets at CG too! It wouldn't be the first time that a hurried electrician (or CG owner acting as electrician) mis-wired an outlet.

Forum Discussion

30 amp outlet question

About Motorhome Group

Related Content

50 amp outlet

New power outlet question

Tap into my 30 amp Dryer outlet for an RV outlet???

Wiring 50 amp RV Outlet to Fuse Box?

50 amp question