DIY 50 amp to 20 amp pigtail
I want to plug my tractors block heater into our 50 amp RV service for the upcoming winter months… Our panel has 1 - 50 amp and 2 - 20 amp breakers… both 20 services are taken and currently used ye...
Forum Discussion
KnowNuthin wrote:pianotuna wrote:
I disagree. My break out box is a better solution than the item in the picture. It is, however, more expensive.
First, let me apologize for glossing over your original “breakout box” post…
I’ve researched, to one extent or another, each of the solutions presented on this thread…
I Googled “break out box” and came up with, and I’m paraphrasing: “A device to troubleshoot multi cable, technological systems” or “A breakout box is useful in diagnosing OBD and OBDII systems in modern vehicles”…
As you can tell from my original pigtail idea, I’m FAR from “electrically knowledgeable”… my eyes began to glass over as the electronic terms used got more esoteric…
This “expensive” break out box you’re referring to obviously has little to do with troubleshooting my barn panel, but try as I might, I can’t find a relevant result on my Google search which describes how this box can address my issue of plugging my tractor into a 50a RV outlet…
You are making a mountain out of a mole hill.
Having a breaker to protect the wire is what is a good idea.
Without a breaker the wire from the 50 amp to the tractor becomes a fuse *IF* there is a short circuit. The chance of that happening is low, but not zero.
Break out boxes were used in theatres to allow more lights to be controlled (dimmed for example) with a single slider. For every light on stage, there had to be an equal wattage one in the basement of the theatre. That's ancient history now.
