Forum Discussion

Scootersfolks's avatar
Jun 26, 2017

50 Amp Rig to 15A house power.

Looking for advice on how to connect our 50A fifth wheel (2014 Alpine, love it!) to our 15A house power while loading or cleaning the camper, and conceivably for longer periods. I have a 50-to-15 adapter I got online for $35 after reading another forum here. It screws on nicely at the camper, and then with a heavy duty 15A extension cord we are seemingly good to go. I have been talking to Keystone to make sure, though, and they seem pretty skeptical of almost any solution. First helpline person, clearly not an expert, said that they don't recommend connecting to house power at ALL, and I should get an electrician to install an RV-park quality connection at home (!!). Second was more knowledgeable and admitted there are strong reasons to need power at home, but still wanted to discourage any use of house power, said it might damage the converter or refrigerator. Said we should just use battery power to put slides in and out at home, then sort of hemmed and hawed when I pointed out that their own manual says to have shore power before using the slides.
In our former fiver, 30A, we stayed hooked up to house power many times, even for long periods, with relatively few problems, and I can't believe Keystone makes a camper that you are supposed to plug in only at campgrounds. I do understand that running the A/C and microwave on 15A shore power may be a bad idea (tho we did it freely with old camper) & that you need a heavy and short extension cord and reliable breakers in the house. But with that, it should be doable, no? What solutions have people found?
  • WE visited friends up north last summer and stayed in their rather large driveway for 3 days.
    I plugged into their house 110 outlet that was dedicated for their garage, I have a Voltage regulator that I plug into my outlet inside, it monitors the voltage coming in,, I was able to turn the water heater to LP, and still run 1 AC along with most of the lights.. since the lights are all LED, they really did not add up to much...
  • When using adapters, I like to recommend dogbone style over the hockey puck style. Seems the hockey puck heats and burns up much faster.
  • I agree that will be fine. I would say you can even use the A/C if the voltage stays good, making sure the outlet is good and tight.
  • I use this adapter. I turn off all breakers i dont want to use like ac, ekectric water heater etc. Works great.
  • If you know that the wiring is 12-2 or 10-2 wire sized, and have checked the breaker, and verified that its a 20 amp breaker you should install a 20 amp outlet where you are going to plug the RV in. I know 15 vs 20 isnt a lot of increase, but if you are occasionally tripping a breaker , having the extra 5 amps can help, and ensuring that the outlet is a 20 amp outlet (one of the straight slots has been made a "T" shape) gives a slightly heavier connection in the outlet which can help with eliminating heating in the connection.
  • Just don't try to run the air/con or other heavy loads and it's fine.

    There is nothing magical about campground power. In fact if you house electrical system is in good repair, you will be better than many campgrounds with iffy power supplies.
  • 2006 we parked new 5th wheel next to house.......and lived in it for 3 months (sold everything inside house via estate auction and had empty hosue up for sale)

    Used a 50A to 30A then 30A to 15A adapters and plugged into a 15A outlet in garage.
    We used all the 12V DC stuff plus converter maintaining batteries and occasionally the microwave (fridge/water heater/furnace/lights/water pump etc)


    YES ..you can use the adapter
    YES it will provide enough AC power for converter/battery and microwave.

    And if you exceed amperage the 15A Circuit breaker will trip...reset


    RV MFG> Lawyers>CYA
  • General Advice

    Make absolutely certain that when you push the adapter into the house receptacle (monikered "plug-in") it fits -tight-. This would be one place I would use a replacement receptacle from Home Depot. Ask the salesman to show you a "Nylon" 15-amp receptacle. All nylon receptacles are spec commercial grade and they can ensure higher levels of power flowing through them. Contractor-grade garbage should be outlawed IMHO.

    A nylon receptacle has holes on the rear to insert a stripped wire. Then a screw on the side can get the snot tightened out of it. This receptacles are infinitely easier to install than wrapping a 12 gauge wire around a screw.

    When a contractor grade receptacle catches fire and burns up an expensive adapter the nylon receptacle will grin and keep trucking. This comes from experience not from reading a magazine ad :)
  • You will be fine. They are just covering there a@#. There is nothing special, just a converter and panel. As long as you stay at or under the 15 amp load you will can run lights, and some high draw appliances one at a time.