Electrical Question

Hi,

Yes, but why?

The vast silent majority do not have a unit.

There is no need to use a 50 amp one to protect a 30 amp service--and the cost is quite a bit more.

Use a 30a protector. It will still work fine adapted to 50a or 20a etc.

If you are using a 50 amp surge protector, you could potentially pull more than 30 amps from your camper, up to 50 before the protector would shut off. So, in a sense, the protector will not protect against 30 amp max usage.

It will protect against surges, but there again, up to 50 amps, which is more than your camper is capable of handling.

Either way, the main breaker in your camper will pop if you're pulling more than 30 amps, and the surge protector will do nothing. So, basically, a 50 amp will not afford you the protection you're wanting.

Get a 30 amp protector for a 30 amp trailer. Get the right equipment for the right job.

Now, if you're thinking changing campers some day, and you're looking at a 50 amp trailer, and you're looking to purchase one surge protector so you don't have to buy another one later ... don't. Get the one you need now if you want the protection now. You may never get the other camper.

If you have a 30 amp rig get the 30 amp protector. Yes. You can safely use a 50 amp unit but it's not going to be any better (or worse) than a 30amp.

I expect the 50a will cost more. If it were me - knowing what I know - I'd spend those extra dollars getting a little higher end 30a unit.

Now I am not the absolute expert in electrical protection devices. But I do not believe spending extra money on a 50a unit for a 30a camper is going to do you any good - although it would likely do no harm either.

The Amp rating refers to the current that can safely flow through the unit. It will not cause (or prevent - unless the protection circuit kicks in) current flow (amperage).
(edited)
Your breakers are there to stop too much current (from a short or overload) from overheating your wiring maybe causing serious damage or fire. The Protector saves you from spikes or dips in voltage and other line issues that can damage motors/electronics and also maybe cause other damage - but the two serve different purposes in general terms.

Hey! Didn't notice at first. Welcome to the club! ;)

A 50 amp will work just fine.

Hi DutchmenSport,

In my understanding, surge is about over voltage. Brown out is about low voltage. Amps have almost nothing to do with it. I.E. a 15 amp shore power that suddenly is switched from 120 volts to 240 volts will cause any (decent) surge device to cut out.

RV's are far more often damaged by low voltage. My comfort range is nothing below 109 volts. (that's when I turn off the air conditioner). Currently available surge devices do not cut power until 104 volts. Therefore I'm not interested in such a unit.

DutchmenSport wrote:
If you are using a 50 amp surge protector, you could potentially pull more than 30 amps from your camper, up to 50 before the protector would shut off. So, in a sense, the protector will not protect against 30 amp max usage.

It will protect against surges, but there again, up to 50 amps, which is more than your camper is capable of handling.

Either way, the main breaker in your camper will pop if you're pulling more than 30 amps, and the surge protector will do nothing. So, basically, a 50 amp will not afford you the protection you're wanting.

Get a 30 amp protector for a 30 amp trailer. Get the right equipment for the right job.

Now, if you're thinking changing campers some day, and you're looking at a 50 amp trailer, and you're looking to purchase one surge protector so you don't have to buy another one later ... don't. Get the one you need now if you want the protection now. You may never get the other camper.

Farm Camp wrote:
I expect the 50a will cost more.

We went from a 30Amp trailer to a 50Amp trailer last November.

The new 50Amp surge protector, a 50Amp extension and a up-connector adapter (30 pedestal -> 50) cost about $450.

It would have been a waste to buy that when I had a 30Amp trailer. And dangerous - a 30Amp trailer needs 30Amp protection - not 50Amp.

Sold my 30Amp surge protector, 30Amp extension and down-connector (50 pedestal -> 30) for $200.

The big difference is that all that 50Amp cable weighs about 4 times as much as the 30Amp cable.

Running 50 amp service to a 30 amp system is certainly not advised. There is always the possibility of too much amperage even if protected. The only time I would do that is if the site I am in has a broken 30 amp outlet and the 50 amp outlet is the only thing available.

facory wrote:
Running 50 amp service to a 30 amp system is certainly not advised. There is always the possibility of too much amperage even if protected. The only time I would do that is if the site I am in has a broken 30 amp outlet and the 50 amp outlet is the only thing available.

There seems to be some misunderstanding of the difference between a 50A and a 30A service.
The 50A service simply has a higher capacity. It uses 2 legs(240V between) and a Neutral(120V to each leg) with wire sized for 50A. The 30A only uses one leg and a neutral. The 50 to 30A adapter just uses one leg and the neutral. It won't force more electrons into your rig. The total load your rig can draw is limited by the main circuit breaker in your breaker panel. It is perfectly safe(and sometimes better) to use the 50A outlet with an adapter to a 30A rig. There are a few reasons it may be better.
One is: During high load demands(Many AC units running in the park) the more common 30A services will have lower voltages. This will cause your equipment to run less efficiently and if the voltage is low enough, damage your equipment.
Two: The more commonly used 30A outlets will often be worn or damaged.