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Deano_1's avatar
Deano_1
Explorer
Aug 18, 2021

50 to 30 amp dog bone

Hey guys,

Anyone use a 50mp to 30 amp dog bone for their RV? In some parks if there are many campers plugged into the 30amp service, would it be acceptable to use to dog bone with a camper with a 30 amp power? I heard of people doing this but just wondering how safe it is.

Thanks,

Deano

18 Replies

  • Simple answer. No problem using that adapter. Your 30 amp RV is protected by its internal 30 amp breaker.
  • I always use the plug that looks the least used…usually the 50…when in a rare campground with electricity. I check polarity every time.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    I carried a full set. Some parks there is an issue with the 30 amp outlets and the plug on some RV's (Seen it) so we hooked the RVer to the 50 amp outlet. via ye old bone. I've hooked 50 amp RV's into 30 amp sockets same way

    Some folks yammer about how the 30 amp cord can't take 50 amps.

    Well for hours on end yes. for the time it takes the 50 amp breaker to trip should somehthing short out.. No problem
  • The typical 50 to 30 dog-bone only uses one of the hot wires available in the 50 supply. It will be perfectly fine. I have taken apart some which had been damaged to put on new ends. They were all wired this way.
  • I use one all the time because the 50 plugs are usually in better shape than the well used 30 amp plugs. You can't overload anything by doing this. It's like to plugging a shaver into a 20 amp outlet.
  • There is a 30 amp main breaker in your RV to limit you to 30 amps. If the cord shorts out by some improbable fluke the 50 amp breaker will open just fine.
  • With a dogbone you will be fine. Not so much with the puck type adapters. Lots of people use a 50 to 30 to get around the worn out and loose 30 amp sockets in a lot of pedestals. You will still be limited to 30 amps of usage but your connection will be solid.
  • jdc1's avatar
    jdc1
    Explorer II
    I doubt it. The only issue would be your RV wiring being undersized. You could get overzelous and turn everything on, with all that extra amperage available, and overload that 10g wiring you have.

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