From the stupid questions department .....A fellow told us last weekend that when we plug our 30 amp plug into a 50 amp plug through a 50 amp to 30 amp adapter we still get 50 amps. That doesn't seem reasonable somehow, but is that true?thx ....

You get 30 amps through 1 leg at 120V. With a 50 amp plug, you get two 120V 50 amp "legs" for a total of 100 amps on two different 50 amp circuits.Edited, my mistake on understanding he is tying into a 50 amp 2 leg pedestal with a 30 amp cord. He'll have the full 30 amp capacity in his RV /TT.2oldman below is correct.

No. Although it may be possible to draw 50a through the wire, your onboard main 30a breaker will see to it that doesn't happen.If I may read into your question a bit, amps are not "pushed" like voltage, so if the fellow was trying to caution you that you may have too much power for some things, it's not true.

This is what happens when you plug a 50A (MALE) to 30A (FEMALE) adapter at the camp ground pedestal...As you can see only one HOT leg of the 50AMP service is being used. Even if you are plugged into a higher amps leg your internal 30A circuit breaker will only allow you to use 30A of current.Usually the connections are much cleaner on the 50AMP side as they really don't get used as much as the 30A service does...We use the 50A(M) to 30A(F) adapter all the time in order to get better 120VAC service sometimes... We have never had any problems using the RV50A(M) to 30A(F) adaptersRoy Ken

Simple way to look at it - if you could get 50A thru a 30A plug why would they ever have installed 50A plugs? And, would a 30A plug then really be a 30A plug, or would it be a 50A plug?Bill

What is your MAIN Breaker.............30AThat is it......30A regardless if using a 50A/30A Adapter Point that out to 'that guy' and please do NOT allow 'that guy' to do any electrical rewire/wiring job for you

50 amp down to 30 amp plug -- still 50 amp? | Good Sam Community

22 Replies

2oldman
Explorer II
Aug 24, 2015
No. Although it may be possible to draw 50a through the wire, your onboard main 30a breaker will see to it that doesn't happen.

If I may read into your question a bit, amps are not "pushed" like voltage, so if the fellow was trying to caution you that you may have too much power for some things, it's not true.
NinerBikes
Explorer
Aug 24, 2015
You get 30 amps through 1 leg at 120V. With a 50 amp plug, you get two 120V 50 amp "legs" for a total of 100 amps on two different 50 amp circuits.

Edited, my mistake on understanding he is tying into a 50 amp 2 leg pedestal with a 30 amp cord. He'll have the full 30 amp capacity in his RV /TT.

2oldman below is correct.

Forum Discussion

50 amp down to 30 amp plug -- still 50 amp?

22 Replies

About Technical Issues

Related Content

7 pin plug amperage rating?

Three-pronged plugs

melting plug

exterior solar plug

Tire plugs