2 20 amp to 50 amp dogbone???

[jaycocamper6230]

We like to take our RV to our local county fair which has decent electric buried throughout the camping area. Problem is the only hookups are 20 amp household outlets hooked to 20amp circuit breakers. We conserved electric and make it work with no problems.

My question is if there happen to be 2 20 amp outlets available do they make a dogbone that can hookup to 2 20's and convery it to my 50 amp plug. Wouldn't I get 20 amp on each leg for a total of 40? Do they make such thing?

[j-d]

The GFCI/Neutral issue aside, it'd depend on how the CG wired its pedestals. If there's only one 20A receptacle, both sockets are going to be on the same leg/same breaker (and probably a GFCI). Cheater Box is usually 30 + 20, to get two separate circuits into the adapter. If the Pedestal had two, separate, 20A circuits, then a Cheater along the idea of the typical 30 + 20 might offer some help, but again, not with the GFCI issue.
The Big Deal about "50A" service is it's really One Hundred Amps. 50A x 120V = 6000W, but it's x 2 for 12500W. Far cry from 20A x 120V = 2400W and even 30A x 120V = 3600W. Again, if the 50A is wired correctly, all the way from the CG's power center to every pedestal.

[wittmeba]

Don't try it! Don't even think about trying to make a box that will combine 2 20 amp plugs into 1 50 amp receptacle.

It is too likely (I'd bet big money) that the 2 20 amp connectors (a duplex outlet) are wired from the same wires from the distribution panel meaning you may only have 20 amps total available from a duplex outlet due to the feeding circuit breaker.

Most duplex outlets come from the factory with the lines of the top and bottom outlet connected together and the neutral of both top and bottom outlet tied together.

[camperpaul]

Kiwi_too wrote:
Interesting sticker. You pay for 50amp, get a 50 amp socket & CB but are told not to exceed 40amps.

IBSP has 240 campsites, 200 of which have 120 Volt 30 Amp and 20 Amp breakers/outlets.

You don't pay for 240 Volt 50 Amp service - you pay for 30 Amp service; the additional power is "free".

[AllegroD]

Interesting sticker. You pay for 50amp, get a 50 amp socket & CB but are told not to exceed 40amps.

[camperpaul]

This is one of the power pedestals at Illinois Beach State Park.

Note - the 20 Amp and 30 Amp breakers are BOTH GFCIs.



The "cheater boxes" will NOT work with these pedestals.

[tvman44]

Only if the 20 amp receptacles are not GFCI protected, and if they are not then they are illegal. 😞

[Bill_Satellite]

It will work but as mentioned above the GFCI circuit would kill the connection if it is present at the post or anywhere in the circuit. It works great with 2 - 30 amp plugs as these do not have that protection. You still could not use a 30 and a 20 if the 20 has a GFCI.

[westend]

I've never seen a 50 amp adaptor fed from the powered side by one phase that doesn't divide that in the adaptor. Doesn't mean there isn't one but I've not seen it. You would also need to know if the two 20 amp receptacles are fed by different phases, I would think.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

They are sometimes called a "cheater box" and I believe are illegal to use in Canada. They will not work if the circuits are ground fault protected.

cheater box

[camperpaul]

If those 20 Amp outlets are protected by GFCI breakers, it won't work.