30A to 15A electrical adapter

[bill_ritchie]

While at home, I plugged my RV into a 20A outdoor receptacle using the standard adapter for a day while loading the camper for the weekend trip. I only had the refrigerator and a small portable heater on (as it was going to get fairly cold overnight) in the RV. The next day, I noticed that the extension cord had burned slightly around the male end. This is a bit concerning.

The adapter is 30A to 15A. Do they have 30A to 20A adapters available? Is it possible the refrigerator/heater are drawing more than 15A (anywhere from 15A-20A) - more than what the adapter is rated to handle? Any thoughts?

Thank you.

[Coach-man]

skipnchar wrote:
Loose connection. Replace either the outlet or the adapter.

X2!

[Dakzuki]

As others have said, the small hockey puck style adapters suck. They are limited on current and once they get hot you see the symptoms you got....even with a good extension cord. Get a dog bone (short wire) type. They cost more for a reason. Also get a heavy gauge extension cord AND run the fridge on LP. You will be good to go then and can run the heater at max.

Just an aside, when plugged in prepping for a trip I have the batteries ON and the fridge on auto (if I'm not running electric heat on max), LP turned on just in case the power fails. I learned this after having a cord get kicked out and the fridge quit due to no AC (LP turned off). Fortunately nothing got too warm but I learned a lesson.

[skipnchar]

Loose connection. Replace either the outlet or the adapter.

[Matt_Colie]

Bill,

Your extension cord is not heavy duty enough and the plug was probably bad to begin with. If it was very hot, it may have damaged the receptacle it was plugged into.

Go get a heavy extension (if you are smart you will look for one with a light in the female end - saves a lot of grief) cord and try again. If you are in a normal household circuit. Do the math on everything you want to run and don't exceed the 15 amps (~1800 Watts) that the circuit is supposed to be able to handle.

Matt

[TinyoneRV]

The adapters would be the same whether or not you plug into a 15amp or 20amp circuit. In your case the combination of the refrigerator and electric heater needed more current than the adapter could handle, hence the adapter heated and charred. The dog-bone adapter will handle more current. Simpler still is to use propane for heat or to run the refrigerator.

I've often used a 20amp circuit in my garage to run the RT services when at home using a dog-bone adapter with no problem.

[summerhouse]

As mentioned, your number one cure is to have a dedicated 30 amp circuit installed. We had one installed at the outer corner of our garage after we bought our Class C. Then you will be worry free.
Remember the longer the extension cord, the more the loss of voltage along the length. You need a # 10 cord. Heaters have a tremendous draw, I'm surprised it didn't trip the breaker.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

You need #12 cord for short runs--and #10 for longer ones.

[Old-Biscuit]

If you were running more than 15 amps the house breaker should have tripped.

Your problem is that extension cord.
How long is it?
What gauge wire is it? 16 gauge?

Bet it it not as good as the adapter cord.
Get a good heavy duty extension cord....12 gauge

[popeyemth]

I'll wager the heater was nearly 15 amps (1500 watts?) plus the fridge plus the converter charging the batteries= overload .
Good Luck, Mike

[wildtoad]

What is the wattage of the heater? You say extension cord. What is the rating of the cord? If the heater is a typical 1,500 watt heater plus the fridge, plus the converter you will be using a good bit of power. Try a lower setting on the heater. You would be better off installing a dedicated 30 amp circuit for the MH.

The previous homeowner had wired a shed and I plugged a mh into it. Worked OK work a short time until it melted the wiring in the shed. You will be much happier (and safer) getting a 30 amp circuit installed.

[enblethen]

Is your current adpater a hockey puck style?
A dog bone style is a little better.
No, I have not seen a 30 amp RV to a true 20 amp.