I received a 1986 Beaver Continental from my parents just a few months ago. Everything is awesome except there is no power to one of the legs when plugged in.However! I did have power when plugged in at my parents through a 50A to 30A appliance cord that my stepfather got made.Here at the campsite, we are plugged in with a 50A to 30A pigtail. The 50A power cord on the 'shore-side' is a female. That seems relevant for some reason.So, I'm pretty sure it's the power cord but I'm not really sure how to check it or repair it if I found something wrong with it.And another quick question: The coach batteries are dead. Is it safe to leave them hooked up if I only intend using the power when plugged in?Thaaaaanks.

Hokay!NORMAL when plugging in a 50-amp plug into a 30-amp receptacle is to lose one leg.WHY? Think about it. Powering 2 50-amp rated circuits with 30-amps worth of power in the supply line "Leaves a 70-amp 120 volts shortfall. Very similar to like plugging an eleven hundred watt microwave using an 18-gauge power wire.An Ambulance chasing tort mongerer would sweat and get giddy at the thought of suing once the fire is put out. Another way of putting it is to have a long length of 1/2" tow chain with one 3/16ths link.This is why you cannot find such a coupling adapter off the shelf. You can wire one yourself and I know the recipe but I will not share it. Literally and fugurativelly such a device is a fire waiting to happen.Yes the connection can be made up but so can a few quarts of nitroglycerin be juggled for sport.

You shouldn't lose a leg when using an adapter (schematic below). As for testing, if you have a removable power cord, you can check each wire and make sure you have continuity. If you are unsure what you're doing, then get a professional.

Here at the campsite, we are plugged in with a 50A to 30A pigtail. The 50A power cord on the 'shore-side' is a female. That seems relevant for some reason.Can you explain this a little better? I'm losing comprehension of "cord" on the "shore-side". The pedestal may have a 30 amp receptacle and a 50 amp receptacle but I've never seen a pedestal with a cord.Are you using a 50 amp to 30 amp dogbone adaptor? Does your 50 amp shore power cord terminate with a female 50 amp end? I'm lost..

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:Hokay!NORMAL when plugging in a 50-amp plug into a 30-amp receptacle is to lose one leg. you may lose one leg from the post but the one side will power both "legs" of the RV. you shouldn't even be able to tell the difference as long as you have no 220 appliances or too large a current draw, etc.at least that would be true if you were using a proper 30/50 adapter. obviously the home made one was not wired properly. throw it away and buy a new one.bumpy

Appears your 30-50 adapter doesnt have a jumper across the two hot terminals...

No power on one leg. | Good Sam Community

Broccoli1
Explorer
Mar 13, 2015
Replace the connector on the Motorhome with a 50amp RV connector.
50amp Connector

Then purchase a 50/30 adapter
50/30 adapter

You'll be set.
hotpepperkid
Explorer
Mar 13, 2015
I get that sometimes, no power to one leg. That's when I walk in circles.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Mar 12, 2015
cmills wrote:
The legs are separate. The third prong is neutral. Ground is a metal plate around the plug. Also, it's a reverse twistlock, the plug is female and receptacle is a male.
You are on the right track - replace the female plug on the other end (shore end)of the power cord with a male plug.

Since you are dealing with a modified electrical system carefully check the wiring from the new male plug all the way back to the rigs CB panel including the twist lock plugs and make sure it's wired correctly. You just never know what else might have been changed.
cmills
Explorer
Mar 12, 2015
The legs are separate. The third prong is neutral. Ground is a metal plate around the plug. Also, it's a reverse twistlock, the plug is female and receptacle is a male.
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Mar 12, 2015
That's 4 wire- the shell of the 50 amp twistlock is the ground. No worries about that.
westend
Explorer
Mar 12, 2015
Clicky to wiring diagram.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Mar 12, 2015
Are you saying the RV's connection is a 50 amp connection with only 3 pins? If so, that is wrong and must be replaced. A 50 amp connection must have 4 pins, L1, L2, NEUTRAL and GROUND. If you have a 3 pin, L1, L2 and combined NEUTRAL/GROUND on one pin, it is dangerous. It actually means you have NO GROUND WHATSOEVER!
westend
Explorer
Mar 12, 2015
What you have depicted in the linked file is 50 amp service with a female 50 amp receptacle and an adaptor with 50 amp male plug on one end and a 50 amp THREE wire female end. Again, just replacing the female three wire end with either a four prong 50 amp male or 30 amp male plug creates a "widow maker".

The previous owner may have wired it like this so that it could be connected at home to a three prong dryer or welder outlet but would have had to use a "widow maker" for the final connection. It is not "Typical RV connection to power pole" as your diagram is labeled. I would suggest to install a 50 amp power inlet on the 5th wheel and use the correct cords and adaptors.
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Mar 12, 2015
westend wrote:

I understand now whats going on with the connection. I would assume that you have a female 50 amp receptacle on the side of the RV.

I question this myself. they certainly didn't manufacture it that way. why would somebody cobble something different up that was all wrong? the OP should describe (pix) of the exact fitting on the side of the RV and clarify that it is or is not a 50 amp coach. regardless if the manufacturer did in fact put a female fitting on the RV side, then they sold it with a widowmaker cord which wouldn't happen. why did the previous owner have to use a cobbled up widowmaker cord , nothing makes sense here.
bumpy
cmills
Explorer
Mar 12, 2015
http://www.dmbruss.com/images/FullTimingLifeStyle/Adapters/50ampSystem.pdf

It is this, with a female end opposite the RV, and then dogbone yatta yatta.

So, I'm gonna throw a male end on there tomorrow. Hopefully that'll get everything working.

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No power on one leg.

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