can you reduce 50 amp service to 30 amp?

filthy beast wrote:
I think the only caveat would be that the wiring from the 50 - 30, and the wiring that foes all the way to your main panel is only sized for 30 amp. However small the possibility, there could be an issue if there are worn spots on any of this wire that could cause a short. We do drag these things all over the country.

Wouldn't there be an issue if only connecting to 30 amp service with a bad cord?

Get a 50Ax30A adapter. I never leave home without it. I prefer hooking to the 50A as they are generally in better condition.

As you can see, the 50-30 amp adapter is generally called a dog-bone. Mine is not as long as the one above. :)

First: Though there ARE exceptions.. Most parks advertising "all 50 amp" have boxes with 3 outlets in them
One 50
One 30
One 15/20 amp duplex (yes 15 and 20 are different plugs, the outlet accepts both)

That said, you want a set of adapters.. Just in case

A 30-15 lets you plug in at home, can't run much beyond the fridge, and converter, till the batteries fill up, then you can add the water heater for a bit of cleaning. But you can run the fridge and the converter which are the two most important "Prep for travel" items.

a 30-50 Dogbone adapter lets you plug into the 50 amp outlet if either:
1: There is no 30
2: The 30 has.... Issues.

I think the only caveat would be that the wiring from the 50 - 30, and the wiring that foes all the way to your main panel is only sized for 30 amp. However small the possibility, there could be an issue if there are worn spots on any of this wire that could cause a short. We do drag these things all over the country.

Roman Duck wrote:
50 amp service has a a larger guage wire than a 30 amp service. PLugging into a 50 amp service can potect you from brown out conditions in crowded parks. Since the heavy guage wire will reduce voltage loss; the amperage is still avaiable because your only drawing 30amps, instead of fifty; that would be available normaly.
Or "it's better to have alittle excess that suffering from a shortage",
Always plug into 50 amp plug with an adapter, rather than the 30amp plug. less voltage loss and the recepticle is usally in better condition

Actually if CG is having voltage problems it will affect both.
Low voltage is low voltage regardless of the receptacle you are plugged into.

When plugged into a 50A with a 30A rig there is no excess, as your rig can still only pull 30A....any more than that and the RVs main 30A breaker will trip.

Roman Duck wrote:
50 amp service has a a larger guage wire than a 30 amp service. PLugging into a 50 amp service can potect you from brown out conditions in crowded parks. Since the heavy guage wire will reduce voltage loss; the amperage is still avaiable because your only drawing 30amps, instead of fifty; that would be available normaly.
Or "it's better to have alittle excess that suffering from a shortage",
Always plug into 50 amp plug with an adapter, rather than the 30amp plug. less voltage loss and the recepticle is usally in better condition

NOT TRUE
The 30 and 50 amp are feed from the same cableing only thing that changes it the 50 amp has a 50 amp breaker and the 30 amp has a 30 amp breaker. Simple circuit breaker panel. One feed broken out to different breaker. 3O amp wire inside panel might be as long as 12" at most

RV pedestal wiring: http://www.midwestelectric.com/catalog/pdf/MEPC-RV05.pdf

50 amp service has a a larger guage wire than a 30 amp service. PLugging into a 50 amp service can potect you from brown out conditions in crowded parks. Since the heavy guage wire will reduce voltage loss; the amperage is still avaiable because your only drawing 30amps, instead of fifty; that would be available normaly.
Or "it's better to have alittle excess that suffering from a shortage",
Always plug into 50 amp plug with an adapter, rather than the 30amp plug. less voltage loss and the recepticle is usally in better condition

I also carry the RV3oA-15A Adapter in my RV TOOL box to be able to tap into a regular 15/20AMP 120VAc Receptacle. This will not run everything in our trailer but will do most of them at least if you run the high wattage appliance one at a time.

We use this adapter with our 2KW Generator to be able to use the trailer on-board smart mode converter/charger unit to re-charge our battery bank in a quick three hour generartor run time. This is great when camping off the power grid...

It is also great when visiting your kids as you can plug into their 120VAC Garage recepacle and sleep in your own trailer bed...

Both the RV50AMp to 30AMP and the RV30AMP to 15AMP adapters are great things to carry with you all the time. The RV30AMp-15Amp adpater is also available from WALMART or AMAZON