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agesilaus's avatar
agesilaus
Explorer III
Feb 11, 2016

Receptical tester

Anyone have a link for a 30 amp receptical checker. I have a household unit but when I tried to find a 30 amp one on Amazon I didn't hit on the magic search term.

Coachnet just sent me a link to one of their new RV maintenance videos and the silly thing showed some guy testing his supposedly rv power cord, but it was a plain household 20 amp extension cord. That got me thinking about getting one that really might work.

13 Replies

  • CA_Traveler's avatar
    CA_Traveler
    Explorer III
    Feb 12, 2016
    Recommend that you buy a household tester with a GFCI test button and you can then test that the GFCI is working.

    You can also use the household tester with 50A to 20A adapters for a basic 50A test. At least you know 3 of the 4 wires are correct.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Feb 12, 2016
    There are two tests One is voltage and the other is "Properly wired or not"

    To do either test first plug in an adapter, 15-30 amp This allows you to plug a common 15 amp type plug (Standard household plug) into the 30 amp outlet.

    Then use the same tester/volt meter you would use in a standard houshold outelt.
  • Harvard's avatar
    Harvard
    Explorer
    Feb 11, 2016
    DrewE wrote:
    Don't be concerned if the GFCI test button (if you have one) does nothing on a 30A RV outlet. Practically all of them lack GFCI protection, even though it would be a pretty good idea from a safety standpoint. (There are 30A GFCI circuit breakers available, so it would be possible to hook one up with a GFCI, but it's not required by the NEC and basically nobody does.)


    In my opinion, any typical RV leakage on a 5 mA GFCI is going to, at best, have a hair trigger, if it works at all. JMO.
  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer III
    Feb 11, 2016
    Don't be concerned if the GFCI test button (if you have one) does nothing on a 30A RV outlet. Practically all of them lack GFCI protection, even though it would be a pretty good idea from a safety standpoint. (There are 30A GFCI circuit breakers available, so it would be possible to hook one up with a GFCI, but it's not required by the NEC and basically nobody does.)
  • larry_cad's avatar
    larry_cad
    Explorer II
    Feb 11, 2016
    agesilaus wrote:
    Ah OK, I have both of those items I just assumed they came in the 30 and 50 amp versions.

    Are you testing both circuit legs with the adapter?



    A 30 amp power cord for an RV has only ONE leg, not two. A 50 amp cord has two legs. The tester will work fine with a 30 amp outlet, with an appropriate adapter. It won't check both legs on a 50 amp circuit.
  • agesilaus's avatar
    agesilaus
    Explorer III
    Feb 11, 2016
    Ah OK, I have both of those items I just assumed they came in the 30 and 50 amp versions.

    Are you testing both circuit legs with the adapter?
  • Sam_Spade's avatar
    Sam_Spade
    Explorer
    Feb 11, 2016
    agesilaus wrote:
    Anyone have a link for a 30 amp receptical checker. I have a household unit but when I tried to find a 30 amp one on Amazon I didn't hit on the magic search term.



    Your "household unit" will work just fine with an adapter for the 30 amp receptacle.

    You really should have one with a button to test GFI circuits though.

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