Our new-to-us 5er is wired for 2 a/c's but only has one installed. The factory installed a ceiling vent in the bedroom, and when you remove the inside trim around the fan you can see the #12 120v wire in the ceiling and there is a 20a breaker in the panel labeled "bedroom a/c". So it looks pretty easy to take out the roof vent and replace with a 2nd a/c unit in the bedroom.The panel has a 50a main breaker, but the shore cord has a 30a plug on it...is there such a thing as an "adapter cord" that doesn't require a dogbone? Am I correct that all I need to do is replace the shore cord to get 50a to the rig? Here's the RV end of the shore power cord:Now here's the plug end of the shore cord:This is connection on the outside of the rig:The inside breaker panel:On a related note, I'm not sure I want to add a 2nd a/c in the bedroom...we dry camp a fair amount and at least I'll get some air movement with the vent, the a/c blocks that vent spot and the only way to get cold air is to plug in. Thoughts?

Looks to me like you could cut off that 30 amp plug and replace it with a 50 amp plug. There should be 4 wires in there, not 3. You should have NEUTRAL, GROUND, L1, and L2. In your current setup, both L1 and L2 are hooked to the same pin of the 30 amp plug.

That is a 50 amp RV. Someone is using a 30 amp cord because it's lighter, cheaper, easier to handle, and is probably sufficient for their needs.If you want 50 amps then a 50 amp cord will be necessary. If you get one I'd keep the 30 amp you have for all the above reasons.

What you have is a 30 amp to 50 amp adapter. Your rig is set to use 50 amps. Just obtain a 50 amp power cord for use. Be aware that the 50 amp wire is stiff and heavy. In cold weather they are a hand full. Since you have only one AC 30 amps will meet most of your needs without fighting a big heavy cord. Power management is necessary. You do have several heavy consumers....water heater, fireplace, microwave, AC.

Sorry but that's not a 50A cable - see how small it is in the second pic? It's a 30A cable that someone put a female 50A plug on. You are not going to be able to change the male 30A side and make it 50A capable. If you want 50A, you'll need an entirely new cord assembly.

The cord you have is basically this.To answer your first question - yes, it is basically an adapter cord so you don't need a dogbone. It is a 50amp female to 30amp male cord.The prior owner likely had a 30amp outlet at home, or only stayed at places with 30amp pedestals, or as said above chose to buy the cheaper cord since they only had one AC so 50amps wasn't necessary.To get the use of the full 50amps, all you need to do is get a 50amp m/f cord. If you mostly dry camp then you should be fine using your existing cord. For times with hookups, you should be fine unless you are trying to run multiple high power use appliances like heaters, cooking appliances, hair dryers, etc.

50A RV with 30A plug? | Good Sam Community

toedtoes
Explorer III
Apr 25, 2022
The cord you have is basically this.

To answer your first question - yes, it is basically an adapter cord so you don't need a dogbone. It is a 50amp female to 30amp male cord.

The prior owner likely had a 30amp outlet at home, or only stayed at places with 30amp pedestals, or as said above chose to buy the cheaper cord since they only had one AC so 50amps wasn't necessary.

To get the use of the full 50amps, all you need to do is get a 50amp m/f cord. If you mostly dry camp then you should be fine using your existing cord. For times with hookups, you should be fine unless you are trying to run multiple high power use appliances like heaters, cooking appliances, hair dryers, etc.
ScottG
Nomad
Apr 25, 2022
Sorry but that's not a 50A cable - see how small it is in the second pic? It's a 30A cable that someone put a female 50A plug on. You are not going to be able to change the male 30A side and make it 50A capable.
If you want 50A, you'll need an entirely new cord assembly.
bgum
Explorer
Apr 25, 2022
What you have is a 30 amp to 50 amp adapter. Your rig is set to use 50 amps. Just obtain a 50 amp power cord for use. Be aware that the 50 amp wire is stiff and heavy. In cold weather they are a hand full. Since you have only one AC 30 amps will meet most of your needs without fighting a big heavy cord. Power management is necessary. You do have several heavy consumers....water heater, fireplace, microwave, AC.
KD4UPL
Explorer
Apr 25, 2022
That is a 50 amp RV. Someone is using a 30 amp cord because it's lighter, cheaper, easier to handle, and is probably sufficient for their needs.
If you want 50 amps then a 50 amp cord will be necessary. If you get one I'd keep the 30 amp you have for all the above reasons.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Apr 25, 2022
Looks to me like you could cut off that 30 amp plug and replace it with a 50 amp plug. There should be 4 wires in there, not 3. You should have NEUTRAL, GROUND, L1, and L2. In your current setup, both L1 and L2 are hooked to the same pin of the 30 amp plug.

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50A RV with 30A plug?

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