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ODG255's avatar
ODG255
Explorer
Apr 17, 2023

30 vs 50 amp electrical issue help

Hello,

I recently purchased a 2023 heartland mallard 32ft travel trailer. When I bought it at dealer they assured me it was a 50 amp service during purchase and during walk through. During walk through it was already hooked up via 50 amp cord and that is the cord I was given.

We camped two nights and lost all power during the night, come to find out we were running solely on solar despite the cord being plugged into appropriate 50 amp outlet at the camping ground.

Turns out the trailer is 30 amp! Above power receptacle on trailer it states 30 amp only. This is all confusing but I figured I would ask if anyone has had similar experiences… my concern is that at some point 50 amp power went into the trailer rated for 30 amp and fried it all. Thank you for input.
  • rk911's avatar
    rk911
    Explorer
    Apr 17, 2023
    several thoughts….

    - first, the dealer perpetrated a fraud. (possible)
    - your trailer was re-wired for 50-amp. (doubtful)
    - when power went out did you check to see if the breaker on the pedestal or the main breaker in the trlr had tripped?
    - how many prongs on your electric cable? 3=30amp, 4=50amp connector. check the main breaker on the panel in the trlr. that will tell the tale.
  • RedRollingRoadb's avatar
    RedRollingRoadb
    Explorer
    Apr 17, 2023
    If your cord plug is like This you have a 50 amp system.

    If it looks like this it is a 30 amp system.

    There is short cords called dogbones that will allow you to hook a 50 amp shore cord into a 30 amp outlet and vice versa. Or a 15/20 amp to your 50 or 30 amp cord.
  • ODG255's avatar
    ODG255
    Explorer
    Apr 17, 2023
    When power went out I went around and checked everything I could including breakers on power connection on camp ground side as well as all breakers in trailer. Also tried different combinations of battery shut off and solar inverter isolation. Nothing brought power in. I had to hook my truck up to get enough power trailer to bring in slides.

    My power card has four prongs and the traditional “handle” on the neck.

    I dropped the trailer off at dealer yesterday so I don’t have access to the breaker panel anymore.
  • ODG255's avatar
    ODG255
    Explorer
    Apr 17, 2023
    This is what the sticker on my trailer states directly above the inlet for the 50 amp cord they gave me.

    “THIS CONNECTION IS FOR 110-125-VOLT
    AC, 60 HZ, 30 AMPERE SUPPLY.
    DO NOT EXCEED CIRCUIT RATING.
    EXCEEDING THE CIRCUIT RATING MAY CAUSE A FIRE AND RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY.
    NP-101”
  • valhalla360's avatar
    valhalla360
    Navigator
    Apr 17, 2023
    ODG255 wrote:
    This is what the sticker on my trailer states directly above the inlet for the 50 amp cord they gave me.

    “THIS CONNECTION IS FOR 110-125-VOLT
    AC, 60 HZ, 30 AMPERE SUPPLY.
    DO NOT EXCEED CIRCUIT RATING.
    EXCEEDING THE CIRCUIT RATING MAY CAUSE A FIRE AND RESULT IN DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY.
    NP-101”


    But how many prongs does the inlet have? The wrong sticker might have been slapped on.
  • craig7h's avatar
    craig7h
    Nomad II
    Apr 17, 2023
    Let me ask a few questions to just clear my mind. The cord, you said it has 4 prongs normally that would say 50amp. Question is the cord plugged into the trailer or wired directly? Reason I ask is two fold one if plugged into trailer how many prongs is it plugging into? If both have 4 prongs it would be almost safe to say you have 50amp. If direct wired maybe, just maybe the dealer or someone only connected one hot wire. That just does not make sense but stranger things happen.

    You did not say if you had power at campground before going dark. Without being able to look at breaker box kind of hard to figure things out. I would see what dealer has to say and I guess go from there.

    Good Luck
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Apr 17, 2023
    RedRollingRoadblock wrote:
    If your cord plug is like This you have a 50 amp system.

    If it looks like this it is a 30 amp system.

    There is short cords called dogbones that will allow you to hook a 50 amp shore cord into a 30 amp outlet and vice versa. Or a 15/20 amp to your 50 or 30 amp cord.


    That is not necessarly true. You can easily put a 50 amp plug on a 40 amp cord or a 30 amp outlet (The part that connets to the trailer) on a 50 amp cord... And I actually have a 30 amp cord with a 50a amp Marinco Outlet to connect to an RV.. Yes they sell that and what's more it is a "Superflex" so I really liked that cord on 30 amp sites.

    Page 2

    For the Original poster
    Look at your main power distribution box

    If the biggest breaker is 30 amps. you have a 30 amp rig
    If there are a pair of 50 amp breakers.. Ganged together You have a 50 amp rig and someone put the wrong sticker on it.

    Or have a professional go over it.

    IF you have a 30 amp rig but the dealer said it was 50.. You have a complaint..Contact the DMV in the state where you purchased.
  • ODG255's avatar
    ODG255
    Explorer
    Apr 17, 2023
    We will see what dealer says. My gut is that it’s a 30 amp rig and that power cord fried everything but I simply didn’t notice until night when solar drained. I have pictures of everything but the breaker box unfortunately.

    My gut also says that the dealer will lie like they all do.
  • StirCrazy's avatar
    StirCrazy
    Moderator
    Apr 17, 2023
    ODG255 wrote:
    Hello,

    I recently purchased a 2023 heartland mallard 32ft travel trailer. When I bought it at dealer they assured me it was a 50 amp service during purchase and during walk through. During walk through it was already hooked up via 50 amp cord and that is the cord I was given.

    We camped two nights and lost all power during the night, come to find out we were running solely on solar despite the cord being plugged into appropriate 50 amp outlet at the camping ground.

    Turns out the trailer is 30 amp! Above power receptacle on trailer it states 30 amp only. This is all confusing but I figured I would ask if anyone has had similar experiences… my concern is that at some point 50 amp power went into the trailer rated for 30 amp and fried it all. Thank you for input.


    first of all the utility doesn't push power into your trailer, but rather you pull what you need. so they cant push more amperage than you are using so you cannot damage it this way. most likely you have an adaptor on the end of your cord so you can use a 50 amp outlet to supply your camper. what it sounds like to me is a breaker wasn't turned on or something wasn't hooked up right from he get go and you were just using your battery and it ran out. I would make them put a new battery on it for you if they find a different issue also

    Steve
  • LouLawrence's avatar
    LouLawrence
    Explorer
    Apr 17, 2023
    Even if it is a 30 amp rig, plugging into a 50 amp outlet would not hurt anything. RVers do it everyday with the proper dogbone, 30 amp to 50 amp converter. The only thing that would happen is you would trip breakers in your coach when you exceed the 30 Amp limit.
    30amp vs 50 amp is a big deal and I would looking to get my money back!

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