This is a topic that I haven't seen discussed here, although it probably has been. I am planning on installing an RV electrical outlet at my home. Running the wiring for 50 amp service can get expensive, if you go any distance. I actually don't anticipate the need for 50 amp service while parked at home. Installing a two legged 30 Amp service terminated with a 50 Amp socket seems to be a reasonable compromise between a single legged 30 Amp RV circuit and a true 50 Amp RV service. That would give me twice the power of a 30 Amp RV outlet and run nearly everything in my RV. I realize that the home 30 Amp breaker would trip befor the 50 Amp RV main, but I could probably run both ACs which usually can't be done on a 30 Amp RV circuit. Am I missing anything here? As long as the wiring meets code for a 30 Amp circuit and I use a 30 Amp breaker, I don't think it violates any elecrical codes. The sockets are rated for maximum current, so I don't see an issue with putting an over rated socket on a circuit. Am I missing something?

Completely acceptable to install a larger capacity receptacle on your circuit.I hope you are talking correctly that you are running a four wire (neutral, hot, hot, ground) circuit to a 50 amp receptacle protected by a double pole 30 amp breaker.

In essence you are installing a 50A service with smaller wire and 30A breakers. Don't see a problem with that as long as you are protecting the smaller wire with appropriate breakers. Would it really cost that much more for the bigger wire?

You don't need to wire it into a 50 AMP socket. They make 30A-50A adapters to do that with... Just make sure you test the circuit using a multimeter and it must pass this test setup - NO DEVIATION...Roy Ken

I doubt the marginal cost of going 50 amp over 30 amp is near as much as you think.Electrician time will be about the same either way and is probably 75% of the cost.I am guessing 10% premium, maybe less.If you had an existing unused 30a circuit then by all means I would say just use it.

RoyBThat adapter gives you a total of 30 Amps. A 50 Amp circuir design wired with a 30 Amp breaker and wireing gives you 60 Amps total. 50 Amp RV circuits yield 100 Amps total.EDIT. Your diagram shows the adapter shorting the two hot legs together at the plug. It will pop the breaker.

Dual 30 Amp Service | Good Sam Community

90 Replies

time2roll
Nomad
Feb 08, 2015
RoyB wrote:
You don't need to wire it into a 50 AMP socket. They make 30A-50A adapters to do that with...

Roy, OP is talking about 30 amp 120/240 service that would generally have NEMA 14-30 connector not NEMA 30-TT.
accsys
Explorer
Feb 08, 2015
dieseltruckdriver wrote:
Water-Bug wrote:
RoyB

That adapter gives you a total of 30 Amps. A 50 Amp circuir design wired with a 30 Amp breaker and wireing gives you 60 Amps total. 50 Amp RV circuits yield 100 Amps total.

EDIT. Your diagram shows the adapter shorting the two hot legs together at the plug. It will pop the breaker.

I am pretty sure he is showing it using a 30 amp male to a 50 amp female. That will provide 30 amps to both sides of the 50 amp rv system.

That should be OK as long as the total load is no more than 30 amps.

Still not what the OP wants. He wants ability to have more than 30 amps total available (running two A/Cs for instance). He just didn't want to run the heavier gauge wire required for 50 amp service.

I originally was going to do what the OP suggested but the electrician said it would save me less than $100 on a 100 foot run so I went ahead with the 50 amp service.
enblethen
Nomad
Feb 08, 2015
The top right drawing is the one in question. It shows a jumper between the two hot leads.
dieseltruckdriv
Explorer II
Feb 08, 2015
Water-Bug wrote:
RoyB

That adapter gives you a total of 30 Amps. A 50 Amp circuir design wired with a 30 Amp breaker and wireing gives you 60 Amps total. 50 Amp RV circuits yield 100 Amps total.

EDIT. Your diagram shows the adapter shorting the two hot legs together at the plug. It will pop the breaker.

I am pretty sure he is showing it using a 30 amp male to a 50 amp female. That will provide 30 amps to both sides of the 50 amp rv system.

That should be OK as long as the total load is no more than 30 amps.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Feb 08, 2015
Water-Bug wrote:
This is a topic that I haven't seen discussed here, although it probably has been. I am planning on installing an RV electrical outlet at my home. Running the wiring for 50 amp service can get expensive, if you go any distance. I actually don't anticipate the need for 50 amp service while parked at home. Installing a two legged 30 Amp service terminated with a 50 Amp socket seems to be a reasonable compromise between a single legged 30 Amp RV circuit and a true 50 Amp RV service. That would give me twice the power of a 30 Amp RV outlet and run nearly everything in my RV. I realize that the home 30 Amp breaker would trip befor the 50 Amp RV main, but I could probably run both ACs which usually can't be done on a 30 Amp RV circuit. Am I missing anything here? As long as the wiring meets code for a 30 Amp circuit and I use a 30 Amp breaker, I don't think it violates any elecrical codes. The sockets are rated for maximum current, so I don't see an issue with putting an over rated socket on a circuit. Am I missing something?

that is exactly what I have been proposing on many occasions in this forum. or to just run the one additional wire in case you want to double it later. depends on the cost of wire/fixtures,etc.
bumpy
Water-Bug
Explorer II
Feb 08, 2015
RoyB

That adapter gives you a total of 30 Amps. A 50 Amp circuir design wired with a 30 Amp breaker and wireing gives you 60 Amps total. 50 Amp RV circuits yield 100 Amps total.

EDIT. Your diagram shows the adapter shorting the two hot legs together at the plug. It will pop the breaker.
time2roll
Nomad
Feb 08, 2015
I doubt the marginal cost of going 50 amp over 30 amp is near as much as you think.
Electrician time will be about the same either way and is probably 75% of the cost.
I am guessing 10% premium, maybe less.

If you had an existing unused 30a circuit then by all means I would say just use it.
RoyB
Explorer II
Feb 08, 2015
You don't need to wire it into a 50 AMP socket. They make 30A-50A adapters to do that with...

Just make sure you test the circuit using a multimeter and it must pass this test setup - NO DEVIATION...

Roy Ken
lynndiwagon
Explorer
Feb 08, 2015
In essence you are installing a 50A service with smaller wire and 30A breakers. Don't see a problem with that as long as you are protecting the smaller wire with appropriate breakers. Would it really cost that much more for the bigger wire?
enblethen
Nomad
Feb 08, 2015
Completely acceptable to install a larger capacity receptacle on your circuit.
I hope you are talking correctly that you are running a four wire (neutral, hot, hot, ground) circuit to a 50 amp receptacle protected by a double pole 30 amp breaker.

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Dual 30 Amp Service

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