How often do you use/need a 50 amp to 30 amp adapter?

I've only needed mine once and was darned glad I had it. The 30 amp service was not working right and I could not get enough voltage. That can damage things. By using the 50 amp to 30 amp adapter I was able to get the voltage that I needed. See my thread here :


https://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/29669848.cfm

pianotuna wrote:
Suggesting to a neophyte to plug into a drier outlet may be unwise.

I didn't. :S I quite clearly said I built an adapter for my own use for the specific purpose of being able to safely run the trailer's A/C at home during this recent and unusual heat wave. I don't normally run the A/C when the trailer is parked here so I have no reason to upgrade the workshop 15 amp service which otherwise powers anything else in the trailer I may want to use while it's parked here at the house. CampinGramy asked if a 30 amp source was necessary to run a trailer A/C and this is just an illustration that while it's not "necessary" there are advantages - i.e. less voltage drop under load and therefore less stress on the A/C compressor.

Suggesting to a neophyte to plug into a drier outlet may be unwise.

CampinGramy wrote:
Does the coach have to be plugged into 30 amp outlet in order to run the AC?

Since everyone else has ignored your question I'll answer - better if you do have 30 amp service but it's not absolutely necessary. As long as the unloaded source voltage isn't much lower than the nominal standard of 120 vac, your main service cable is no longer than necessary and of the appropriate gauge, and everything else in the coach that runs on 120 vac is turned off (including the converter) then you can power a typical 13,500 BTU roof mount A/C using 20 amp campsite service, even 15 amp. If your A/C is a larger 15,000 BTU model then you'd want at least 20 amp service.

These last few days we've had a heat wave here in the northeast, including S Ontario where I am, and as luck would have it my house A/C died. :M Although I can power the trailer's A/C from a 15 amp drop in my workshop the resulting voltage drop does stress the A/C compressor so I instead made up an adapter dogbone so I could power the trailer from one leg of the house dryer circuit which is wired with a 30 amp breaker on each leg. Voltage drop with the A/C compressor running full tilt was much less so it was under much less stress and so too were we until I was able to get the house A/C repaired. :B

I've got a 50 amp male > 30 amp female dogbone and have used it exactly once over the last 15 yrs since I bought it. In the Ontario Parks system and US state parks, national parks, COEs, county parks, etc, where we normally camp 50 amp service has been rare to none in most cases, 30 amp service most common. I still carry it but it's hidden at the bottom of my tool box where it will likely remain unused another 15 yrs. RVrs sure are a strange bunch - while some insist they can't get along without anything less than 50 amp service (100 amp total) others likewise insist that dry camping with solar support is the only way to go. :W

I've had to use one twice. Both times the 30 amp outlet was beat up, the 50 amp outlet was fine. The adapter is cheap enough to just keep on hand.

I frequently use the 50 amp to 30 amp adapter. A LOT of the campgrounds I go to, the 30 amp outlet looks half melted, so I use the 50 amp outlet.

I agree with akrv. The 50 amp outlets get used less and are usually in better condition then the 30 amp.

It's quite odd this thread would appear in my active threads again. Yesterday (Sunday June 17) we pulled into a little private campground South of Lafayette, Indiana. This is a totally unplanned stop. We were suppose to stay at the in-laws farm, but they had no power in the barn. And with temps in the 90's, in a barn lot with no shade, that's just impossible. So we scrambled for an alternative and found this little park.

They had 2 spots available and gave us (a really, really, really nice spot). Got pulled in as the owner guided me (the spot is very tricky getting into to miss sewer lines and such, tight turn, on a hill, very strange .... but oh, what a spot.

Well, after getting in, the owner was very happy with our position (hey, his campground, I'll do it his way, no problem... It's turned out to be perfectly level and everything. fantastic .... he knows his property!)

Anyway, got ready to plug into power (he's gone by now) and found it the power post had only a 50 amp plug. Not even any 20's any more. And absolutely no 30.

I made a hard swallow and then remember that 50 to 30 amp adaptor buried somewhere in my trailer pass-through. So, I started pulling everything out, and there it was! Plugged in, powered right up, and everything truly was GREAT!

So, maybe, this is now the 2nd time, ever, in 20 years I've used it. But hey, it was worth having it Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday this week!

Did I say, this is one awesome campground! I mean ... private, quiet, clean, full hook-up, shade, nice people, great management, and gated. I can tell they work very hard to keep this place as nice as it is, and absolutely no riff-raff here! I'm impressed!

In a way, the barn loosing power turned out to be "very, very sweet lemonade" for us... if you know what I mean!

If you haven't picked up the adaptor yet, buy all means, get it. If you travel to different campgrounds all the time ... eventually, will will be glad you have it! It may take 20 years, but when you do ... you'll be so glad you took the time to get it!

This is my thinking - as most of the newer mid & higher end campers are going to 50 amps I would say some campgrounds are forgoing the 30 amp connection and going to 50 amps as they upgrade or add new spots. Yes I have seen both spots and campgrounds with only 50 amps, so having a 50 to 30 amp adapter is good insurance on being able to stay at any campground, same with a 30 to 50 amp for those with 50 amp rigs. JMO