Forum Discussion

tbolt2000's avatar
tbolt2000
Explorer
Aug 16, 2014

50 amp to 30 (dirty power?)

At a campsite and the AC Voltage on my AC line meter I'd reading 116 to 115 voltage. It has jumped from 113 to 116 with AC running. Last night when it was down to 113 we ran the microwave and it dropped down to 111.
The question is if getting a 50 amp to 30 adapter and move to the 50 amp might have better results with the AC Line meter reading?

15 Replies

  • A 2 or 3 volt change while running a 15 amp appliance is not that unusual. When I was parked on a ranch, I would go from 120 volts to 108 when I ran the microwave. In the summer I needed a voltage booster to run the A/C in hot weather.

    Don't worry about it so much. Only worry about it dropping below 108 volts while running the A/C then keep an eye on it. At 105 or less, I would recommend shutting off the A/C until it gets warmer or you buy a Hughes Autoformer, that will automatically boost the voltage if it falls below 110 volts by 12 volts.

    Fred.
  • RoyB wrote:
    I do this all time when connecting up my 30AMP trailer. If I see alot of ware and tare on the 30AMP Service I will use my 50A-30A adapter and use that side.

    However just a couple of VOLTS DROP is not a whole of VOLTAGE DROP when you kick in something high wattage like the Microwave.

    What you don't want to see is the AC Voltage going below the 110VAC level... Some users will accept 105VAC as minimum level to use... I have seen the 30A service in the low 90s at times.

    Most campers are the smaller size and only use 30AMP Service so you can imagine what happens to campground grid when most of the users are 30AMP service.

    I use one of the RV 120VAC PLUG-IN meter in both my 30A trailers. This is neat because it has the SAFE ZONE painted in GREEN on the scale.


    Roy Ken


    I got one of these and hardwired it in a place where I can see it easily. It is so much easier for these old eyes to see than the analog meter (which I used for years with good results.)
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer III
    I do this all time when connecting up my 30AMP trailer. If I see alot of ware and tare on the 30AMP Service I will use my 50A-30A adapter and use that side.

    However just a couple of VOLTS DROP is not a whole of VOLTAGE DROP when you kick in something high wattage like the Microwave.

    What you don't want to see is the AC Voltage going below the 110VAC level... Some users will accept 105VAC as minimum level to use... I have seen the 30A service in the low 90s at times.

    Most campers are the smaller size and only use 30AMP Service so you can imagine what happens to campground grid when most of the users are 30AMP service...

    I use one of the RV 120VAC PLUG-IN meter in both my 30A trailers. This is neat because it has the SAFE ZONE painted in GREEN on the scale.


    Roy Ken
  • Mandalay Parr wrote:
    It may or may not. You can try it. Normally 50 amp connections are not as worn as 30.
    You may also have some line loss within your rig.

    Thanks One reason I ask was when I connected power and noticed the low voltage I went back to the supply and seemed very easy to plug in. So my thought was move to to 50 amp and might be a tighter connection.

    Last camping trip the voltage from meter was good. I have one plugged in camper all the time so I can watch it. Normly it goes from 117 to 118. I can sit here and watch it and see in a 5 min period it goes from 114 to. 116.
  • It may or may not. You can try it. Normally 50 amp connections are not as worn as 30.
    You may also have some line loss within your rig. Some is normal.
    You can check all your ac connections at your power distribution panel to make sure they are tight. Also your transfer switch if you have one.