I have two questions that are somewhat related.1. I seem to recall that the 30 amp circuit wiring is basically 1/2 of the 50 amp circuit. However, I had weird things happen in my camper when 1/2 of the 50 amp service at the pole failed. Results I hadn't anticipated. It very well could have been the internal wiring of the camper. I never really understood the issue. Thus my question...If I buy a 50 amp surge protector and use a 50 to 30 amp pigtail, will the surge protector work properly?2. A friend has a Class A with a built in 50 amp surge protector. If he uses a 50/30 amp pigtail and hooks to a 30 amp pole, will his built in protector work properly?Thanks in advance!Jeff.

Yes, it'll work properly as a 50 amp surge protector monitors both legs, and the good ones also monitor the neutral. So if you've got a 50 amp protector, and you plug into a 30 amp source, you've still got full protection.

When your plugged into 50A and one leg fails, you are losing half of the circuits in your RV - all the stuff on that leg.When you plug that same RV into 30A with an adapter, the adapter gangs those two legs in your RV together. So you have power on both legs.ALso, 30A is not half of a 50A circuit because there's 50A available on both legs for a total of 100A.

ScottG wrote:When your plugged into 50A and one leg fails, you are losing half of the circuits in your RV - all the stuff on that leg.When you plug that same RV into 30A with an adapter, the adapter gangs those two legs in your RV together. So you have power on both legs.ALso, 30A is not half of a 50A circuit because there's 50A available on both legs for a total of 100A.Exactly^^^^^30A....3600W Total available50A....6000W per Hot Leg/12,000W Total available To answer your questions1) YES2) YES

Yes and Yes. Get a protector that matches the RV service.

Just remember you will not be able to power as many things at the same time with the 30 amp plug. 50 amp run both A/C units 30 amp only one at a time.

50/30 amp surge protectors | Good Sam Community

16 Replies

Bob_Sue
Explorer II
Sep 07, 2018
When using a 30amp service, what gets plugged in first? The reducer cord, or the surge protector?
John_Wayne
Explorer II
Sep 07, 2018
Just remember you will not be able to power as many things at the same time with the 30 amp plug. 50 amp run both A/C units 30 amp only one at a time.
time2roll
Nomad
Sep 07, 2018
Yes and Yes. Get a protector that matches the RV service.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Sep 07, 2018
ScottG wrote:
When your plugged into 50A and one leg fails, you are losing half of the circuits in your RV - all the stuff on that leg.
When you plug that same RV into 30A with an adapter, the adapter gangs those two legs in your RV together. So you have power on both legs.

ALso, 30A is not half of a 50A circuit because there's 50A available on both legs for a total of 100A.

Exactly^^^^^

30A....3600W Total available
50A....6000W per Hot Leg/12,000W Total available

To answer your questions
1) YES
2) YES
ScottG
Nomad
Sep 07, 2018
When your plugged into 50A and one leg fails, you are losing half of the circuits in your RV - all the stuff on that leg.
When you plug that same RV into 30A with an adapter, the adapter gangs those two legs in your RV together. So you have power on both legs.

ALso, 30A is not half of a 50A circuit because there's 50A available on both legs for a total of 100A.
Jim
Explorer
Sep 07, 2018
Yes, it'll work properly as a 50 amp surge protector monitors both legs, and the good ones also monitor the neutral. So if you've got a 50 amp protector, and you plug into a 30 amp source, you've still got full protection.

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50/30 amp surge protectors

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