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

42 Replies

ChooChooMan74
Explorer
Mar 11, 2015
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.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Mar 11, 2015
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.

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No power on one leg.

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