power Cords/Cables

Dutch_12078 wrote:
Yes and yes...

what he said. you should also get a 30a==>20a adapter for those "I-never-thought-I-would-need-it-but-I'm-sure-glad-I-have-it" occasions. also an extra 25' of potable water hose and, at a minimum, 25' of extra sewer hose (we carry 40' extra).

Now I'm wondering...hmmm. Would any experienced RVer ask this question? Who here hasn't stayed at an RV park with only 30 amp service?

If you don't get an adapter, I'll bet you a dinner, you find you need one within the first 10 nights of camping.

Tony B wrote:
The RV I am getting has a 50A power cord. Are there any places that only have 30A service available? If so, Should I get a 50A to 30A Adapter?

Yes and Yes. To put it as simply as possible.

Here's the deal. As long as you HAVE the adaptor, you will never NEED it. However, if you do not have an adaptor the chance of encountering a 30A-only hook up will skyrocket!

BB_TX wrote:
A 50 amp extension cord is not a bad idea either. Sometimes the power post is not in the best location to center your rig in your site without extra cord. Same goes for extra water hose and sewer hose.

When we bought our first RV, I was in camping world and reluctantly purchased a 25' 30 amp extension cord. It was not cheap. It the 6 years I owned the travel trailer, I only needed it twice and both times it was worth every penny I paid for it.

Burch

Tony B wrote:
Inside the RV, the connection is exactly the same as on boats and marinas and the other end has the same kind of connectors.
I noticed that some RV's mave the marina styly inside the RV but a totally different connector at the park end. Can I assume this is typical?

The RV end can be most anything appropriate and approved for the application. Twist-lock connectors of some sort are not uncommon (which, I think, is what you're describing as marina style), but there are others, or sometimes no connector particularly for 30A RVs--the cord is just permanently attached to the RV and gets stuffed into its compartment for storage.

The side that plugs in to the campground will always be one of three possible configurations in the US: either a 50A four pin 120/240V plug, the same layout as is used for an electric range; a 30A "travel trailer" 120V plug, which is a unique configuration for RV use; or rarely for very small RVs a plain old 120V 15A plug such as is found on all sorts of household appliances and devices.

You will not find a twist-lock connector at a campground. You might find one on some portable generators, though probably not a 50A version unless it's pretty large generator.

Buy most every adapter you can find.

I even have an adapter to replace a light bulb and plug in a cord. Used it once to plug into a bath house light fixture.

Inside the RV, the connection is exactly the same as on boats and marinas and the other end has the same kind of connectors.
I noticed that some RV's mave the marina styly inside the RV but a totally different connector at the park end. Can I assume this is typical?

Even WALMART carries them - check out their RV section... Be sure you know which one you need... Your shore power cable will have the RV50A MALE plug on it so it will need to plug into a RV30A MALE PLUG to 50A FEMALE plug long adapter etc...

If you just grab one you may get home with the wrong ends to use...

One note is to always get the long DOGBONE type adapters. The small round plug type adapters is never a good idea. When they are used most of the time they will start getting warm to hot and then burn up your shore power cable plug end...

Roy Ken