Using 50 amp for 30 amp system

There will be no advantage. If your coach is set up for a 30A system that is all that it will draw. The 50A outlet is for guys with multiple a/c and all the bells and whistles.

There may be an advantage. The 30 amp receptacle is most used and often is worn, so the plug fits loosely. This can cause a poor connection, arcing, and overheating of the plug. Using the less used 50 amp receptacle which is often in better shape, you may avoid the overheating situation.

DownTheAvenue wrote:
There may be an advantage. The 30 amp receptacle is most used and often is worn, so the plug fits loosely. This can cause a poor connection, arcing, and overheating of the plug. Using the less used 50 amp receptacle which is often in better shape, you may avoid the overheating situation.

X2 I recommend this to all 30 amp users.

rv2go wrote:

DownTheAvenue wrote:
There may be an advantage. The 30 amp receptacle is most used and often is worn, so the plug fits loosely. This can cause a poor connection, arcing, and overheating of the plug. Using the less used 50 amp receptacle which is often in better shape, you may avoid the overheating situation.

X2 I recommend this to all 30 amp users.

X3 And, the adapter 50amp end gets the wear instead of your much more expensive 30 amp cord end.

I find it interesting that your 10 gauge cord, from pedestal to coach main breaker, will be protected by a 50 amp breaker. Always wondered how that fits in the NEC.

Richard

rv2go wrote:

DownTheAvenue wrote:
There may be an advantage. The 30 amp receptacle is most used and often is worn, so the plug fits loosely. This can cause a poor connection, arcing, and overheating of the plug. Using the less used 50 amp receptacle which is often in better shape, you may avoid the overheating situation.

X2 I recommend this to all 30 amp users.

Hey we don't want all you 30 amp folks messing up our 50 amp outlets.;)

Hi Richard,

Plug in devices are not covered under NEC.

I have a "break out box" which I use. It contains one 30 amp female plug with a 30 amp breaker, and two 20 amp outlets, each with their own 20 amp breakers.

The #10 cord can't draw more than the 30 amps that the RV main breaker allows. That makes the question a "non issue".

RLS7201 wrote:
I find it interesting that your 10 gauge cord, from pedestal to coach main breaker, will be protected by a 50 amp breaker. Always wondered how that fits in the NEC.

Richard

RLS7201 wrote:
I find it interesting that your 10 gauge cord, from pedestal to coach main breaker, will be protected by a 50 amp breaker. Always wondered how that fits in the NEC.

Richard

It's fine. Check around your home. How many of the cords on your lamps, TV, clocks, etc. are 18 or 16 AWG but they're plugged into 15 or 20 amp circuits. I don't think I have any cords on any of my tools or appliances that are actually #14 or #12 wire except possibly my air compressor.

427435 wrote:
We only only have a 30 amp system in our MH, but I've bought an adapter when only a 50 amp connection is available in a park. Would there be any advantage to using the adapter and a 50 amp connection even if the 30 amp connection were available?? I'm thinking that there might be less voltage drop in an under wired park..........................

In theory: NO
IN practice: Often yes.

IN some parks the 50 amp service is newer than the 30, and the 50 amp outlets are generally in better shape.

and in all cases.. There is a very slight "power loss" in the cord, this slight difference means that you are more likely to trip the park's 30 amp breaker than the one in your RV. Plus the park's likely has been abused more and may only be a 25 amp now days (or less).

Plugging into the 50 means if you try to draw say 40 amps. it's the breaker in your RV that will trip. so you do not have to get dressed and go outside to reset it in the middle of a downpour rain. (Seems it always trips during a downpour).

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Richard,

Plug in devices are not covered under NEC.

I have a "break out box" which I use. It contains one 30 amp female plug with a 30 amp breaker, and two 20 amp outlets, each with their own 20 amp breakers.

The #10 cord can't draw more than the 30 amps that the RV main breaker allows. That makes the question a "non issue".

RLS7201 wrote:
I find it interesting that your 10 gauge cord, from pedestal to coach main breaker, will be protected by a 50 amp breaker. Always wondered how that fits in the NEC.

Richard

Maybe I should have been more specific. The 10 gauge, 30 amp cord is not protected properly. If the cord shorts out, then 50 amps can pass through the cord. That is an issue. That is before the RV 30 amp main breaker. Boom, bang, flash, fire!

Richard