30 amps for 50 amp trailer

SDcampowneroperator wrote:
30a = 3600w. 50a = 12600 w potential Power mizering is a lesson we learned long ago.
Turn fridge, furnace , cold water heater to propane. You now have most wattage available except for the small drain for lights tv and such.
What this means is you can run 2 power hungry devices at a time, like 1a/c and hair dryer, Toaster and coffee pot, and so on.
Not 3 .
A/cs typically draw 12-15 a on start, run at 10-11a Thats yes you can run 2 a/cs on 30a IF you have reduced all other load.
If an a/c runs at 12a usually less, thats 1500watts. 2 is 3000watts leaving 600 w for incidentals. just fine.
You cant hurt anything just trip a breaker that reminds you you forgot to shut something off before you tirned on something else.
Learn to proactively manage your load Many years on construction sites or on a friends back yard and we have run 1 a/c on 15 amp many times.

30 amp is a nominal rating. For continuous loads like air/con, you are limited to 80% of the rating or about 2900w. If you are lucky, an extra load will trip the breaker and be annoying enough that you stop it. More likely, you hang just below the level that will trip the breaker and the cord will overheat.

Of course, this also assumes you have a real 120v. At many parks, you might be closer to 110v, which results in 2650w available for continuous loads.

Problem is you are slowly cooking your electrical system doing this. Because it's slow, you will see people claim they have done it without problems.

starlord wrote:
OK,first, I have 50 amp service and have stayed at places without 50 amp available. It is possible to use an adapter that runs to both 30 amp service AND 15/20 amp service giving you the ability to run everything you normally would. As stated, I have had to do this multiple time with no problems what so ever.

50A service isn't the same as 30A + 20A service. It's more like 50A + 50A service.

50A service gives you two 50A legs, 30A + 20A would give you at most 30A on one leg and 20A on the other, so you may still trip the breaker if you run the A/C and electric cooktop(s) at the same time. Or even an A/C unit alone can trip a 15A breaker.

Plus they may tap the 15/20A downstream of the 30A breaker, so even if you plug into both, so you may still only get 30A of current.

And 50A RV service is normally (but not always!) split phase, so you can get 240V across the hot legs. I've seen 240VAC dryers in some of the bigger class A's, so even with a 2 plug adapter, you may not be able to run "everything".

And one other drawback -- it won't work when the 15/20A outlet is GFCI protected, it will trip the GFCI.

pianotuna wrote:
It is never a bad idea to monitor the voltage. If it stays above 107 all is well.

This is why having an EMS is important, that not only gives voltage, but also amps used.

Yeah, I was referring to these:

Bobbo,

I think he was referring to the 30/30/50 adapter not the 30/50 adapter. Definitely pros and cons on the 30/30/50 adapter but it can be helpful.

30a = 3600w. 50a = 12600 w potential Power mizering is a lesson we learned long ago.
Turn fridge, furnace , cold water heater to propane. You now have most wattage available except for the small drain for lights tv and such.
What this means is you can run 2 power hungry devices at a time, like 1a/c and hair dryer, Toaster and coffee pot, and so on.
Not 3 .
A/cs typically draw 12-15 a on start, run at 10-11a Thats yes you can run 2 a/cs on 30a IF you have reduced all other load.
If an a/c runs at 12a usually less, thats 1500watts. 2 is 3000watts leaving 600 w for incidentals. just fine.
You cant hurt anything just trip a breaker that reminds you you forgot to shut something off before you tirned on something else.
Learn to proactively manage your load Many years on construction sites or on a friends back yard and we have run 1 a/c on 15 amp many times.

afidel wrote:

starlord wrote:
OK,first, I have 50 amp service and have stayed at places without 50 amp available. It is possible to use an adapter that runs to both 30 amp service AND 15/20 amp service giving you the ability to run everything you normally would. As stated, I have had to do this multiple time with no problems what so ever.

Ouch, $55 for those adapters, since I can run my trailer on 20A including the AC I don't think I'll be picking one up anytime soon.

$15.99

30amp to 50amp dogbone

starlord wrote:
OK,first, I have 50 amp service and have stayed at places without 50 amp available. It is possible to use an adapter that runs to both 30 amp service AND 15/20 amp service giving you the ability to run everything you normally would. As stated, I have had to do this multiple time with no problems what so ever.

Ouch, $55 for those adapters, since I can run my trailer on 20A including the AC I don't think I'll be picking one up anytime soon.

OK,first, I have 50 amp service and have stayed at places without 50 amp available. It is possible to use an adapter that runs to both 30 amp service AND 15/20 amp service giving you the ability to run everything you normally would. As stated, I have had to do this multiple time with no problems what so ever.

“It is never a bad idea to monitor the voltage. If it stays above 107 all is well.”

Hughes has an excellent voltage monitor for $16 on Amazon. Ask for Howard.