50 amp outlet tester

Correct voltage is only part of the problem. Due to excessive use outlets will put less pressure on the inserted prongs. Voltage good but current handling capacity is reduced. Results overheating and eventually burnt plug - but voltage still good. Cheapest mechanical outlet tester is a thin piece of plastic the same thickness and width as the 30 and 50 amp male prongs. Old so I don't remember exactly but I think .060 for 30 and .100 for 50 amp plugs. When test strip is inserted there should be a fair amount of pressure holding it in. Just this week I had EMS fail to cycle on. Park guy showed me good voltage and then I showed him test strip results. Outlet will be replaced.

accsys wrote:
I plug in and let my PI EMS HW50C do all the checking before it allows power into the coach. It also will kick the coach offline if the power goes bad for some reason after connecting. Yes, it is expensive but it does the job and is a one time expense to protect everything electrical in your unit. Progressive Industries has some of the best support of any company in the USA. Oh, did I say it is guaranteed for life.

X2. My EMSHW50C once detected an open neutral that developed at the 'ol S&B so I have to say it protects for me both home and away.

I was too late.

BB_TX wrote:
I made one from instructions on myrv.us/electric/Pg/tester_50amp.htm. Fairly easy to make and it will test voltage and if all the connections are correct.

And with my 50 to 30 dogbone adapter, I can use it to check 30 amp outlets when a park does not have 50 amp outlets.

Simple volt meter will not check for reverse polarity, open ground, or some other potential wiring issues.

Thanks for the link. This is the one I was thinking of when I mentioned it above.

Here is an excellent 50 amp checker to test an outlet before plugging in. It gives both visual indication and audio:

http://50amppowerpal.com/

I made one from instructions on myrv.us/electric/Pg/tester_50amp.htm. Fairly easy to make and it will test voltage and if all the connections are correct.

And with my 50 to 30 dogbone adapter, I can use it to check 30 amp outlets when a park does not have 50 amp outlets.

Simple volt meter will not check for reverse polarity, open ground, or some other potential wiring issues.

OP asked for 'relatively inexpensive'. I don't think a PI 50 qualifies. I use a multimeter but I saw somebody made a 50A blinking light detector out of two single leg testers.

The best tester made is the Progressive INdustries HW-50C.. you plug in and if there is anything wrong.. that's as far as the bad power goes (the HW-50C) you use an adapter to plug into a 30 amp welder outlet and the wrong voltage is stopped at the HW-50C, you plug into an outlet with an open ground, Guess what,, The HW-50C tells you about it.

Great device.

What's mroe, some jerk taps a power pole and really strange things happen to the voltage for a few seconds (It leaves, comes back with a vengence, and then settles down.

The HW-50 C shuts you off for 3 mintues to give your air conditioners a chance to bleed down so they re-start normally install of stall, and the really strange stuff (Spikes) smooth out before you re-connect.

You want a cheap one.. I have yet to see one, But I would use the design you suggested

A big outlet box, 50 amp pigtail (male) to the box, pair of small (like 3ag, 10 amp) fuses to a pair of duplex recpitcals, a pair of 3 light testers (or move one back and forth) and a pair of volt meters.

NOTE: Fuse can be 15 or even 20 amp depending on the outlet but 1 amp will run the testers and meters or if you have room, put in a breaker.

I use a regular MULTIMETER set to read 120VAC.

I use these two charts to read the status of the RV 30A and 50A camp ground pedestal receptacle before plugging into them...

50AMP RV RECEPTACLE TEST


30A/20A/15A RV RECEPTACLE TEST


I don't have a 50AMP RV TRAILER Setup but do hookup to the 50A RECEPTACLE with an RV 50A-30A long adapter on occasion at the camp ground pedestals when I find the 30AMP RV Receptacle connector showing signs of heavy use.

Works good for me
Roy Ken

Me too! :)

accsys wrote:
I plug in and let my PI EMS HW50C do all the checking before it allows power into the coach. It also will kick the coach offline if the power goes bad for some reason after connecting. Yes, it is expensive but it does the job and is a one time expense to protect everything electrical in your unit. Progressive Industries has some of the best support of any company in the USA. Oh, did I say it is guaranteed for life.