30 & 50 amp

[pauly_boy]

New to RVing. On the subject of 30 & 50 amp... are they designed for specific size units??? EG...24ft versus 34 or A class units??
Can a 30 amp only be used in a 30 and a 50 in a 50?
Trying to learn sooner than later.
Thanks Paul

[bobndot]

At this point you now know that you use 15/30/50amp service in your rv. Try your best to protect your rvs electrical system by researching surge protectors and Autoformers. Test the CG's circuits before you plug into them.
Some older or state campground electric pedestals use 15/20amp GFI outlets and they don't change them often enough. They trip like crazy, they become beat up by weather and use. The GFI's trip not necessarily the breaker on the pedestal.

[azdryheat]

One A/C is 30 amp, two or more A/C is 50 amp.

[pianotuna]

Welcome to the forums!

It is possible to operate a 50 amp on a 15 amp shore power supply--but you can't run much at all.

Better is a 50 on a 30 amp shore power. About twice as much "stuff" can be run.

Of course ideal is 50 on 50.

At the same time--it is quite possible to have an RV that only has a 30 amp service. A 30 on 50 shore power operates extremely well. You just need an adapter.

[Lwiddis]

Me thinks you might benefit from reading: http://www.rvuniversity.com/staticpages/index.php/RV_Electricity_101

[Chum_lee]

Generally on RV's, a 30 amp service is ONE 120 volt 30 amp circuit. A 50 amp 120 volt service is TWO 50 amp 120 volt circuits. So a 50 amp service is really a 100 amp service split into two 50 amp circuits. (50 amps maximum on each circuit) So, its important to realize that a 50 amp service is 100/30 or 3.33 times the capacity of a 30 amp service provided you load the circuits correctly. Generally you can NOT exceed 50 amps on each circuit.

Chum lee

[pauly_boy]

Quick reply. Thank you very much.

[Community Alumni]

Small RVs generally come with 30 amp since most are entry level and only have one AC. However, it's not unusual to find larger entry level RVs with 30 amp service. The main reason to have 50 amp is the ability to run 2 AC units at the same time when hooked to shore power.

You can use a 30 amp RV on a 50 amp pedestal using an adapter or vice versa. Generally, you will not be able to run both ACs on a 50 amp caoch hooked to 30 amp service.