another electrical question

[lkbenson]

My trailer has 50a service. Sometimes I use a 30a cord using an adapter because it is longer or because I am lazy and like the lighter weight. When I use the 30a cord I also use my 50a to 30a pigtail and plug into the 50a outlet because it is usually used less and in better condition.
Can someone tell me if I have 50a to use in the trailer? I realize that the two legs are combined to supply both sides of my electrical panel and is not the same as using a 50a cord. I'm not looking to supply the trailer with 12,000 watts, just wondering if I have 3,600 watts or 6,000 watts.

[Hamops]

lkbenson wrote:
My trailer has ............... just wondering if I have 3,600 watts or 6,000 watts.

You have 3600 watts of power. (120V X 30A = 3600W)

[ferretgrandpa]

BlindGuynAR, a very common mistake.
A 50 amp trailer service is a 30 amp and a 20 amp.
Using a 30 amp rated cord on a 50 amp load is a firestarter.

[tvman44]

There will be 50amps available but your 30amp cord will get real hot real fast at 50 amps. :S

[GMT830]

Good question, and wise to follow the advice given.

However if you use the 30 amp outlet you are fine to use the 30 amp cable.

[lkbenson]

Lesson learned. I will not be doing it in the future even though I was running minimal items in the trailer.
Thanks for the replies, they are appreciated.

[BlindGuynAR]

So a 50 amp cord carries 2 seperate 50 amp feeds so in all 100 amps. The adaptor is going to take one of the 50 amp legs to feed the 30 amp cord.

As far as if you have 50 amps with the 30 amp cord I think that depends on the wire gauge of the 30 amp cord. 6 gauge or less then maybe, but since you say it's not as heavy I'll say surely not and if you pull more than 30 amps you'll get low volts and heat up that cord to the point of melting and then you'll have two camp fires.

[hmknightnc]

You have 50 amps available on 1 leg with that configeration or 6,000 watts. What you also have is potential fire. You are potentially supplying 50 amps down a cord rated for 30 amps with 50 amp breakers on both ends so the cord is not protected

I highly recommend you stop this practice. What you are doing is different than an individual with 30 amp service using a 50-30 adapter to plug into 50 amp outlet, this 30amp service trailer has a 30 amp breaker so that protects the cord. That is not true for what you are doing because there is a 50 amp breaker on both ends. With your trailer if you are going to use the 30 amp cord plug into 30 amp service, never 50 amp.