Forum Discussion

beaubeau's avatar
beaubeau
Explorer
Aug 26, 2014

50 Amp service with 30 Amp trailer

I have a very new Keystone Passport. It came with a 30 Amp power cord and I was told when I bought it to never plug it into a 50 Amp supply. But this past weekend, I kept tripping the 30 Amp breaker at the shore power pedestal, when I had a heavy load -- like the A/C plus hair dryer plus fridge plus the inverter.
I was thinking that if I had a 50-to-30 Amp adapter, I could plug my trailer into the 50 Amp circuit and stop tripping the breaker.
I know that adapters exist which allow a 50 Amp RV to "step-down" to a 30 Amp power supply, but do they exist going the other direction?
I thought I could make one, but then decided it might be dangerous.
So, then I thought ... well, my trailer has a 30 Amp main breaker in it's breaker box so it really can't ever pull more than 30 Amps -- can it?
Any thoughts about this?
Thanks

8 Replies

  • dougrainer's avatar
    dougrainer
    Nomad
    Aug 26, 2014
    donn0128 wrote:
    You really need to learn power managment. AC 18 amps running, refer another 6 or 7 hair dryer puts you into overload. Especially ill bet you also had the water heaternon electricity too. Switch refer and water heater to gas and be sure to turn off the AC when DW wants to use the hair dryer. Then youll be fine without any adapters


    CORRECT amp draws
    1. Roof AC no more than 15 amps at 95 degrees(more likely 13 to 14 amps Hi Cool)
    2. refer 2.5 amps(2 door) to 3.4 amps(4 door)
    3. Water heater 10 to 11 amps
    Using a 50 amp plug and adapting down to 30 amp will cause NO PROBLEMS at all. Your RV's 30 amp main breaker still protects the RV and interior 120 appliances. You will only be using 1 leg of the 50 amp (which means the supply is a 50 amp breaker to your RV). Doug
  • bob213's avatar
    bob213
    Explorer
    Aug 26, 2014
    It doesn't matter if you use the 50 amp with a dog-bone adapter to 30amp or just use the 30 amp...you will still be restricted to 30 amps. Your CB will not allow more than 30 amps. donn0128 said it all. "Power Management" is the only solution.
  • Donnoh's avatar
    Donnoh
    Explorer
    Aug 26, 2014
    beaubeau wrote:
    donn0128, good advice. Why was the pedestal breaker tripping, rather than the main in the trailer?


    The pedestal breaker has probably been tripped hundreds of times by people overloading it. Over time, breakers that have tripped many times tend to get weaker and trip sooner. Also the socket could be in poor condition causing a voltage drop and a higher current flow.

    A 50 amp adapter would fix the pedestal breaker problem, but more than likely move it to your power breaker if you don't lighten some of the load. Hair dryers and AC units are energy hogs.
  • rvten's avatar
    rvten
    Explorer
    Aug 26, 2014
    No need for inverter when plugged into shore power.
  • beaubeau's avatar
    beaubeau
    Explorer
    Aug 26, 2014
    donn0128, good advice. Why was the pedestal breaker tripping, rather than the main in the trailer?
  • donn0128's avatar
    donn0128
    Explorer II
    Aug 26, 2014
    You really need to learn power managment. AC 18 amps running, refer another 6 or 7 hair dryer puts you into overload. Especially ill bet you also had the water heaternon electricity too. Switch refer and water heater to gas and be sure to turn off the AC when DW wants to use the hair dryer. Then youll be fine without any adapters
  • haydoracin's avatar
    haydoracin
    Explorer
    Aug 26, 2014
    WalMart has the "adapter" to do what you want to do. I had to get one last winter when one of our sites only had a 50amp pedestal. And by the way your probably in trouble with the electrical experts for calling it a "step down". I was severly chastised when I called it that.

About Technical Issues

Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,351 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 21, 2026