50 amp rig using 30 amp pedestal

cross country wrote:
when plugged into 30 amp pedestal, the monitor panel shows 2 legs (or at least 2 separate 120 volt readings. Now I understand, I think, why 50 amp power plug would show 2, 120 volt lines because there are 2 hot wires of 120 coming into the mh. for a total of approx 12000 watts...but when plugged into 30 amps with one hot wire of approx 3600 watts, why would the monitor show two?

Is the motor home electrical system splitting the 30 amps to 2 15 amp lines for distribution in the coach where when plugged into 50 amps the monitor would split into 2 50 amp circuits of 120 volts? Thanks very much. Tom

You didn't mention using a converter cord, but most likely you are, which provides a jumper to the other side, so without elaborating further and to the point of confusion, the difference is, instead of having two opposite potentials as you would with the 50amp service, you now have the same potential. Reading between two opposites, will produce 240vac and between two of the same will read 0, but in either case, each leg will read 120vac to neutral or ground, so the previously described 0 reading is still hot and definitely not safe to the touch.