I have read a lot of threads about using an adapter to plug into the 50A if you start having issues on the 30A. It was for this very reason I bought an adapter 2 years ago. Still in the package until last Friday. We were at a state park and it was packed. Maybe 5 rigs that would have 50A plugs and the rest all 30A TT like mine. Before we were done getting supper ready I lost the A/C. I thought that was odd. Checked and my breaker in the TT had popped. Checked the one on the pole and it was fine. Made me wonder. So I grabbed the dogbone and put her in the 50A hole and never had an issue the rest of the weekend. Don't know why it did it. Only thing I could figure was that it was Friday evening and a steady wagon train of people coming in and setting up and firing up their A/C units probably put a big load on the 30A circuit? I don't know. My rig is only a year old so I can't imagine the breaker is weak. But who know. At least I had the adapter. Thanks to the good folks here for that recommendation.

Do you have a surge protector? If you don't, I'd invest in one sooner rather than later!WoodGlue

The A/C breaker in your TT probably tripped because the park's voltage had dropped because of the load from all the campers and that caused your A/C's motor to draw more current. Most likely the voltage drop on the 50A circuit was less because the wire gauge is larger and fewer people were on that circuit.This assumes, of course, that the 50A and 30A circuits on the pedestal are fed by different wires which is the proper way to do the wiring since it is possible (although unlikely) that both the 30A and 50A outlets could be use at the same time. However, I am pretty sure that at many parks the 50A and 30A are not independent of each other and this argument would not be true.

I did the same thing, had my adapter in the package, never used it until last year. We were camping and the breaker on the pedestal kept kicking off. I thought, I will fix that. I got my adapter, hooked up to the 50 Amp service, never had a problem. The 30 Amp gets used and abused a lot.

That Friday evening would have been a good time to monitor voltage in your RV.

First time needing 50A | Good Sam Community

tspecs
Explorer
Sep 06, 2013
I installed the Progressive and it can't be beat. In my TT I have a hatch cover for access to the junction box where the shore line meets the trailer wiring before it gets to the convertor. I just disconnected the ends and wired the Progressive in, a snap job. Now I can watch the analyzer mounted on the wall, and my Progressive can't be stolen unless they take the whole trailer.

I like the idea of hooking to the 50 amp, and like others here I have had the adapter for years but never needed it.
sidney
Explorer
Sep 06, 2013
Another good feature of the Progressive internal system is it includes a display you can mount inside your camper and view the actual voltage and amps being drawn.
ZeeLet50
Explorer
Sep 06, 2013
You know after finding this forum and taking the advice and knowledge of experience, I find my friends and fellow campers around us asking lots of questions. Why do you need surge protection, why do you need a water filter or pressure limiting valve? It feels good to be able to give sound advice based on this sites wealth of knowledge.
OK, off the soapbox. Just wondering what we suffered through before the internet???
Once again thanks and sorry for the off topic rant.
CavemanCharlie
Explorer III
Sep 06, 2013
phenrichs wrote:
I don't have a surge protector. I have considered one but I don't want one that hangs outside for theft reasons. Part of the reason I don't have it is that I am not really ready to dig into wiring one in.

Dude your in Sioux Falls. I'm not far from there. I doubt you have to worry about any one stealing it. Your more likely to get it sucked away in a tornado. lol Don't let the fear of crime keep you from protecting your TT. The cost of fixing things on the trailer would be more then the cost of your surge protector being stolen.
phenrichs
Explorer
Sep 05, 2013
93Cobra2771 wrote:
Nope - you would go with a 30a internal. Keep your 50-30 adaptor, and run off it. That what I do.

Thanks
93Cobra2771
Explorer
Sep 05, 2013
They do make locking boxes for portable ones. I like the progressive units because of their lifetime warranty. Plus, some pedestals are low to the ground, which leaves your surge guard sitting in water. And, if someone wants it bad enough, they'll just cut/remove the shore cable and take cord/guard and all.
mlts22
Explorer
Sep 05, 2013
I'd just get a surge protector with a slot for a steel cable. Opportunistic thieves will see that it is chained down and move on. More dedicated ones that will pull out the bolt cutters are fairly rare, and there is nothing one can do against those anyway. One's chances are far higher to get a bad power spike than to have a chained down surge protector stolen.
93Cobra2771
Explorer
Sep 05, 2013
Nope - you would go with a 30a internal. Keep your 50-30 adaptor, and run off it. That what I do.
phenrichs
Explorer
Sep 05, 2013
So I would assume that you would want to go with the 50A internal so you can still plug into 50A receptacle if that is all that is available?
93Cobra2771
Explorer
Sep 05, 2013
Progressive Industries internal for the win. It's an hour job to wire it in. With 30 min of that wrestling #6 wire.