No AC unless 30 amps

IB853347201 wrote:
I have one of those splitters too. I have tried it several times in many different RV parks. It has not performed as advertised yet. In other words, doesn't work, its a gimmick!

Nope it works. However one problem is that if one of the outlets is a GFCI it will immediately trip.

There are other issues/concerns and CG owners are justified in banning it's use.

Thanks everyone this is all great info!
Lots to think about.
The first thing I tried was simply to plug her 30amp supply cord into a single 20amp outlet using just her RV cord and a 30->20 puck.
Same problem. AC runs a while then stops.
Sometimes it trips the 20amp breaker and sometimes the AC stops (but the microwave still has power (the keypad is lit) - in that case a long rest and restart everything and it will run a short while again before failing.

I have one of those splitters too. I have tried it several times in many different RV parks. It has not performed as advertised yet. In other words, doesn't work, its a gimmick!

In other words, all that adapting accomplishes nothing.
To put it another way, this isn't how electricity works.
Or... Take it Back and get a good 30A RV extension cord plus a good dogbone adapter to allow connecting 30A to a 20A receptacle. Then, minimize the electrical load in the RV. 20 should run the A/C along with the Converter and interior lighting. Won't allow microwave, coffee maker, electric water heater etc. That calls for 30A, no adapters, good connections. Even then, we have to "load shed" in summer with our 15000 A/C or winter with electric heaters. If one major load (like a toaster) goes ON, another, like Mr. Coffee, has to go OFF.

To add to Isaac's following along comment: 50A is a misnomer and 30A isn't. First the 30: One 30A hot times 120V is 3600 WATTS. Sounds like a lot but really not much to work with. Now the 50: One 50A hot times 120V is 6000 Watts and that's a big improvement over 3600 but there are TWO Hots giving 12000 WATTS to a 50A coach! That's what makes 50A Such a Big Deal! Nearly Four Times the Power over 30

Just to clarify here for those that are following along, that combiner cord is designed to let a 50 amp 4 wire (2 hots, 1 neutral and 1 ground) RV plug to plug into a pair of 30 amp 3 wire (1 hot, 1 neutral and 1 ground) outlets, in this case with a pair of 30 to 15 amp adapters. The 2 hots would feed to each side of the 50 amp RV, they would not be combined, half the breakers in the breaker box would get power from one side and half from the other.

Now where the problem comes in is the next dogbone adapter in line is to let a 3 wire 30 amp RV plug into a 4wire 50 amp outlet. This works by connecting the single hot line in the 30 amp plug to only 1 of the 2 hots in the 50 amp outlet. If it were to connect to both we would have a direct short and and instant breaker trip since there is 240volts across line to line in a 50 amp RV outlet.

BTW 30A RV extensions cords are available in Walmart etc and 25' should be OK.

time2roll wrote:
With the extra adapter I assume the splitter is 2x 30a to 50 amp. This will not combine power. Actually you are drawing power from only one side of the 50a and likewise from only one cord.

I don't think amps is the issue as much as voltage. Those extension cords look a bit thin and maybe too long. Red cord is maybe OK but should be #12 wire minimum. Check and monitor voltage in the RV. You are looking for 108+ when running. Post your findings.

X2 Good and correct advice. The splitter also known as a cheater cord is for a different application, namely 20A and 30A pedestal plugs to a 50A RV power cord and not adapted to a 30A rig.

Use a 20/30 adapter and plug the rig into a 20A plug especially a dedicated 20A plug and the A/C should be OK. Or use a 10 gauge extension cord as short as possible and not those more common extension cords in the picture.

To small of extension chords

When I run air conditioner on 20 amp I make sure that the hot water and fridge are running on propane and turn off high demand items like microwave and hair dryers etc.

I couldn't find that A-Dapter on CW, so let me check:

The Orange and the Red extension cords are plugged into 15A/120V outlets...
The RV's 30A/120V campground power cable runs off the bottom right of the picture...

Now my questions...
In front of the man's right foot, is that TWO adapters plugged together?
Are the outlets the Orange and Red cords plugged into, on SEPARATE 120V circuits?

When it quits on the 20A circuit, what kind of adapter(s) and extension cord(s) are being used?
Is anything but the RV on the 20A circuit?

Have your friend look at the "A/C" Breaker in the RV's load center. If it's 20A, the A/C should run on a 20A circuit with a good breaker and no other loads but the RV. IF it's a good adapter and connected to the RV's cable. Cheap adapters and light duty extension cords won't pass enough current for an A/C.

I find it hard to believe a gizmo exists that'll piggyback two 15A circuits into one 30A circuit, all at 120V.