Forum Discussion
DrewE
Feb 16, 2018Explorer II
Bobbo wrote:BB_TX wrote:Bobbo wrote:
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In this case, there is no 50 amp neutral. The 30 amp neutral definitely can be overloaded, if the 30 amp and 20 amp outlets are not fed from the same main breaker, but are still on the same leg.
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Actually there is a 50 amp neutral all the way from the RV load center to the end of the 50 amp cord where it would plug into the adapter. Then the neutral splits into a 30 amp neutral to the 30 amp plug and a 20 amp neutral to the 20 amp plug. And those two neutrals would connect inside the pedestal.
There is no 50 amp neutral from the pedestal to the main box feeding it. That 30 amp neutral can be overloaded too.
There are a number of more or less valid concerns with these "cheater" cords, and overloading the neutrals at the campground is one that is valid. In particular, if the 30A or the 20A neutral were poor or open, it's entirely possible that 50A could all flow through one of them, and 50A on a 12 gauge wire is a quite significant overload.
Also, if either the 30A or the 20A outlet has hot and neutral reversed (which often can go unnoticed and causes no immediate problems), plugging the adapter in causes a hard short between hot and neutral. One hopes the breakers are reliable in that case and trip properly...and the vast majority of time that's what happens, fortunately.
If there's a GFCI involved, it will of course quite properly trip.
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