30A or 50A Choice
Which would you choose ?
Forum Discussion
gmctoyman wrote:May depend on what campgrounds you plan to stay at.
Which would you choose ?
The NEC only required 20% of a CG to have 50 amp pedestals up to 2017 and prior to 2005 only 5% of pedestals had to be 50 amps. In 2017, the NEC increased the number of 50 amp pedestals to 40% but am pretty sure you won't find many new CGs in the past year or so. But you may find some older ones that have upgraded to the latest requirement. Some CGs/RV parks will have voluntarily upgraded above min. code requirements like casinos and some gov't ones. Some old CGs don't have any 50 amps available at all.
Unless you inquire or research ahead of time and choose CGs with more 50 amp pedestals than the code min., you can find yourself having to run off a 30 amp pedestal. When a CG has only a handful of 50 amps available, it can be a fight to get one. Some CGs have a list you can sign up for and they will notify you when a 50 amp site becomes available. Not much help if staying only a few days or are over-nighting tho. And try getting 50 amps plus sewer in some CGs!
We use Thousand Trails most of the time and since they have mostly older CGs and most haven't upgraded, finding 50 amps is next to impossible in the high season. We see lots and lots of 50 amp RVs using 50/30 amp adapters all the time, including huge mega-buck MHs. RV dealers and manufacturers never tell you how hard it can be to find 50 amp pedestals out there as you travel around.
We are 30 amps with a 29' TT. I installed an LED ammeter on the wall and we rarely go much above 15-20 amps. Have never once tripped a 30 amp breaker. Personally, I would go for a 30 amp RV unless you have a larger RV with 2 or more AC units and you want to run the HWT on electric and other appliances at the same time (hair dryer, kitchen appliances, electric heater(s), etc.). Or maybe ensure you are able to operate off 30 amp pedestals with a 50/30 adapter in your particular unit when needed.
