How common are parks with "cheater" 50amp service? By "cheater" 50amp service I mean a standard NMEA 14-50R outlet that has been wired with BOTH hot terminals on the same 120v leg. "Cheater" 50amp service does not provide 240v - only two 120v circuits.If you have encountered parks that are wired this way, how recently? Is there a pattern that might predict where/when to be suspicious? Regions of the country? Private vs public lands parks? Age of the park? I am not confident that the person answering the reservation phone will know the difference.I know that most rigs with 50a shore power cords will run OK off of a "cheater" outlet, but this fall I will be traveling with both my RV and a PEV - Plugin Electric Vehicle. The PEV is not towable - my wife will drive it while I drive the rig. Our driving days will be short so that the PEV will arrive at the next park ready to be recharged.The PEV charges from a "standard" NMEA 14-50R, 240v/50a outlet, wired as per the NEC. If we arrive at a park with "cheater" wiring we're in trouble - we can get a few miles overnight from a 120v/20a outlet, but not a full day's driving. Knowing that the park we're headed to has a proper 240v/50a supply would mean peace of mind.Thanks for your help.

How can you tell short of checking the power outlet with a VOM? Will it show up using a EMS?Will you have to rent a separate site to charge your EV? That could get expensive.

I have a feeling that "checking with the parks" will get a lot of no, or trepidation from owners or managers being concerned with power usage and they may want to upcharge you for the connection or tell you it's not allowed.

I doubt there are very many wired as you suggest. A bigger concern for you may be parks (ours included) that do not allow the charging of electric vehicles. RV park loops are not designed to handle both the load of the RVs and charging electric vehicles. We do not take a chance that the extra loads from charging electric vehicles would lead to either voltage drop across the entire loop or overloading the main to the point the main breakers trip.

fj12ryder wrote:How can you tell short of checking the power outlet with a VOM?Will you have to rent a separate site to charge your EV? That could get expensive.Very easy with a voltmeter:Each outer straight is a HOT.So outer straight to outer straight with proper 50 amp= 240 VACImproper 50 amp= 0 VACWhile you are there, check either outer straight to center straight (neutral) and to center round (ground). Should be 120 VAC.Takes less than one minute.

NEVER came across that situation in past 12 yrsDidn't really pay attention before 2006 cause all of our previous RVs were 30A....2006 was first 50A RV and we hit the road FTCame across some mis-wired pedestals, some loss of ground, some loss of neutral and some low voltage issues but NEVER a 50A 'cheater' wiring And we stayed in a LOT of CGs over the course of 7 yrs in ALL regions of the USAA so called 50A 'cheater' would only provide 50A TOTAL vs 100A----50A on each 120V Hot legIS this something you have actually come across OR are you just speculating over a possibility :H

How common are parks with "cheater" 50amp service?

108 Replies

Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Sep 26, 2018
That would be against code just about everywhere, I believe. More common would be a 50 amp limited to 30 amp/240 vac.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Sep 26, 2018
It's not common and the chances of the office saying "Yes our 50A plug is the cheater type" is between zero and none.

I would think that the bigger problem is that regardless of your reservation they don't have a 50A site when you arrive and/or recharging of your car is not allowed.

But consider:
1. Make/buy a simple tester which will tell you it's correctly wired and test the site as soon as you arrive.
2. Stealth mode: Install a female 50A plug in the RV that is not so obvious for charging the car and carry an extension cord.
3. And the MOST IMPORTANT: Have a backup plan to get the car charged.
Lynnmor
Explorer II
Sep 26, 2018
Perhaps you could fill up the RV with the parks lawnmower fuel? :p
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Sep 26, 2018
NEVER came across that situation in past 12 yrs
Didn't really pay attention before 2006 cause all of our previous RVs were 30A....2006 was first 50A RV and we hit the road FT

Came across some mis-wired pedestals, some loss of ground, some loss of neutral and some low voltage issues but NEVER a 50A 'cheater' wiring

And we stayed in a LOT of CGs over the course of 7 yrs in ALL regions of the USA

A so called 50A 'cheater' would only provide 50A TOTAL vs 100A----50A on each 120V Hot leg

IS this something you have actually come across OR are you just speculating over a possibility :H
wolfe10
Explorer
Sep 26, 2018
fj12ryder wrote:
How can you tell short of checking the power outlet with a VOM?

Will you have to rent a separate site to charge your EV? That could get expensive.

Very easy with a voltmeter:

Each outer straight is a HOT.

So outer straight to outer straight with proper 50 amp= 240 VAC

Improper 50 amp= 0 VAC

While you are there, check either outer straight to center straight (neutral) and to center round (ground). Should be 120 VAC.

Takes less than one minute.
westernrvparkow
Explorer
Sep 26, 2018
I doubt there are very many wired as you suggest. A bigger concern for you may be parks (ours included) that do not allow the charging of electric vehicles. RV park loops are not designed to handle both the load of the RVs and charging electric vehicles. We do not take a chance that the extra loads from charging electric vehicles would lead to either voltage drop across the entire loop or overloading the main to the point the main breakers trip.
wanderingaimles
Explorer
Sep 26, 2018
I have a feeling that "checking with the parks" will get a lot of no, or trepidation from owners or managers being concerned with power usage and they may want to upcharge you for the connection or tell you it's not allowed.
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Sep 26, 2018
How can you tell short of checking the power outlet with a VOM? Will it show up using a EMS?

Will you have to rent a separate site to charge your EV? That could get expensive.

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How common are parks with "cheater" 50amp service?

108 Replies

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