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midwesterner's avatar
midwesterner
Explorer
Mar 14, 2014

Locking RV adapter question

I'm looking to buy an adapter that goes on the end of my RV's inlet and modifies it to go down to a regular 120V 15A cord. I see there are two distinct types here:

30A to 15A locking rv adapter w/ the ring
Same thing Just plug adapter style

I just wanted some reassurance that I should buy the locking one with the ring. I will be storing the rv indoors, will that matter which I choose?

5 Replies

  • The first one you linked to with the locking ring and pigtail is pretty slick, but expensive for what you need to do. Not that it may matter for you, but the locking rings come in 1/4 turn and threaded collar type and both will work on the inlet. Marinco will also fit but expect to pay $70 or so.

    The style of the 2nd one is "okay" but you want the type for the other end of your cord. It looks like it would work by plugging into the inlet but I don't think that's a very good way to do it. As mentioned above, the better option is to use a dogbone style adapter at the end of your existing 30 amp cord. The reason is that often the 30 amp receptacles in CGs are in poor shape - they are worn out and blade retention force is poor. Also, too many people plug in with the power still on which causes pitting on the contact surfaces inside the recept. Result is resistance which leads to heat which leads to meltdown and which can lead to fire. By using a dogbone adapter, should you experience a meltdown, then you only lose the adapter. If your blades end up looking dirty, you can clean them with light sandpaper or emery cloth.

    This inexpensive dogbone adapter should be okay. Voltec adapter
    If you want a quality one, this is good. Conntek adapter
    The Camco one would be okay too.

    If you ever want to have a 30 amp extension cord, you can use the generator adapter along with a 2nd regular 30 amp detachable power cord. We have both we carry around in case the pedestal is more than 25' away.

    You should never plug into a pedestal or anything at home unless the power is off. That way, you shouldn't ever end up experiencing what RoyB shows in a pic. The converter causes a momentary inrush current and that's the zap you can hear and the sparks in the dark. I had the connector on a 15 amp extension cord in our driveway at home go up in smoke once because I was too lazy to go to the panel to shut it off. (Now have a proper 30A recept. and disconnect switch in carport.)

    You can use a real basic adapter like this one for under $3 IF you know how to use it. triangle adapter
    Again, the thing is, NEVER plug it in live. Also, periodically inspect the blades for pitting. I would recommend against using it in CGs though because you just don't know how bad the receptacles are inside but at home would be fine.

    If you find a 30 amp pedestal somewhere at a CG and it looks in bad shape or the plug will barely stay in place, it's good to use a 50 amp recept. if it has one. We carry a dogbone 30 - 50 amp adapter for that purpose. We were at a CG once and had to use a stick against the plug to make it stay in the recept. Not good... They had no 50s there unfortunately. I'm either going to make or try and find a straight through 30 to 30 amp dogbone adapter for that possible scenario again and if the adapter goes up in smoke, that's all we'll lose.
  • Either one will work. I have used a non locking twist plug before. It is the adapter I made to go from my generator to my house. Worked fine, just didn't have the locking ring.
  • The first one is for a removable cord from the rig.
    The second one will plug straight into a rig with a removable cord. This style will add a lot of down pressure to the shore power receptacle in the rig. It could cause it to break.
    Does your rig have a removable cord?
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    I use the RV30A-15A adapter on the other end of the 30AMP shore Power cable. Never any questions doing it this way... Connect up your 30AMP shore power cable to your trailer as normal and use the RV30A-15A adapter on the end that plugs into the 30AMP camp ground pedestal...

    RV30A-15A adapter is availble from WALMART...


    Always use a DOG-BONE type long adapter. You can also find the short round adapters but in my case I always started seeing warm to hot connections using them...

    I DO NOT USE these types of RV30A-15A small adapters


    What you don't want to happen is to burn up your RV30AMP Shore Power Cable plug connector like this one.


    Roy Ken
  • You want the first one, the one with the locking ring. The second one is not an RV adapter. It looks like a female receptor for a generator plug, definitely not a RV plug.