Forum Discussion

jtaubrey's avatar
jtaubrey
Explorer
May 22, 2014

50am cord to 30amp cord?

My toy hauler uses 50amp service however I have a 30amp adapter as well as a 30' 30amp cord from my old trailer. Where I store my trailer I have both 50 and 30 amp service however my stock 50amp cord is not long enough to reach from the front of my trailer to back where the outlets are. Technically can I use the 30amp extension cord to plug my trailer in to keep batteries charged, power to inverter, and run the Fridge (usually turn on a day before we go camping) without load issues or melting the cord? My assumption is it won't hurt anything but I just want to make sure there isn't an OHM or resistance issue with the lower gauge 30amp cord.
  • Thanks for all the replies...I plugged it in using the 30amp extension this afternoon. I just wanted to make sure I didn't burn something up.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    The rules according to Readdy Killowatt apply here.

    50 amp cord to 50 amp outlet: All the electricity your RV can eat, generally.
    Lesser outlets:
    Big ticket items are the 10 amp and up stuff, Microwave, Air conditioner, Water heater, Space heaters, hair dryers.. and if you have dead batteries and enough converter. It counts as well (I do have enough converter)

    Medium Fridge, Vacuum, Coffee pot, Electric cooking stuff (oven, skillet) two Medium = one large

    Small items, TV, Sat receiver, Converter once batteries full up,, Do not count.

    30 amp: TWO big ticket items except only one of them can be an air conditioner

    20 amp, JUST ONE

    In your case you want to run the converter (Variable size) and Fridge.

    NO problem at all, once the batteries are charged you could even kick on ONE air conditioner.
  • Your converter (charging batteries) and fridge should draw less than 9 amps total. (There is no starting surge on an absorption cooling unit.) Go for it.

    I used to keep mine plugged in that way all the time in the back yard storage site until I final pulled in a 50Amp box.
  • We use 30 amp all winter in AZ, run everything with impunity: water heater, fridge, microwave, AC. Just not the microwave and AC at the same time. Only have one AC and only use it occasionally anyway.
  • the bear II wrote:
    I even use a 15 amp adapter with 25 foot extension cord to do what you need.

    I adapt from the 50 to the 30 to the 15 amp and then plug into the 15 amp extension cord.


    Same here. I have a pretty good haul when I park the camper out front of my house. I use my 50 amp cord, the adapter it down to 15amp cord and run that to the garage outlet.
  • I even use a 15 amp adaptor with 25 foot extension cord to do what you need.

    I adapt from the 50 to the 30 to the 15 amp and then plug into the 15 amp extension cord. The only time I began to melt the 15 amp adaptor was when the water heater was switched on accidently but the breaker popped before any real problem. I still use the adaptor.
  • Use the 30A.......just will be limited to 30A total draw.

    We used 30A many a time while traveling just couldn't use ALL the stuff....basically ran water heater/fridge on propane so that we could use A/C, microwave etc.