Electrical hookups in Canada

[freedatlast]

Probably a silly question, but are the plugs the same in Canada as US, or do we need an adapter as we did in England?

[magic43]

As I previously stated, I bought my first one from Camping World. In 2004,I wanted another to use exclusively with the Honda EU2000 generator and finally found them at RV Surplus Plus. I searched today and apparently the supply has been depleted because they are no longer listed.

As a side note, that little jewel works wonderful with the Honda generator

I apologize for any misunderstanding or mis-wording that I used that caused any confusion. Sometimes it it difficult to write something that could be so easily understood with the spoken word. Anyway, the problem that I incurred happened and the pictured adapter is what did it. When I plugged it into the campground duplex outlet it popped the circuit breaker. Since apparently they are no longer available, it is a non issue.

[shum02]

magic43 wrote:
Here are pictures of the adapter that I was referring to. Note that both sides of the duplex are tied together and internally connected to the 30 amp RV outlet.

This adapter was originally available from Camping World, but because of the situation that I described above, they removed it. I later bought a couple of them for use on my Honda EU2000's, and noted that they were not available to Canadian customers.



In no way am I slamming or otherwise pointing a negative finger toward anyone or Canada, but just pointing out a situation that I found while trying to use this particular adapter.

I agree that I would never ever plug my RV into any receptacle without first testing it.

Actually bought one of these to use with my Champion genny, bought it up here. Wouldn't use it on the post unless I was sure it was only wired with a single 15amp circuit. Can't recall here in Ontario at any Provincial Park seeing dble 15amp breakers for the regular household receptacle. Split dble 15amp receptacles are usually only in the kitchen.

[westernrvparkow]

magic43 wrote:
Here are pictures of the adapter that I was referring to. Note that both sides of the duplex are tied together and internally connected to the 30 amp RV outlet.

This adapter was originally available from Camping World, but because of the situation that I described above, they removed it. I later bought a couple of them for use on my Honda EU2000's, and noted that they were not available to Canadian customers.



In no way am I slamming or otherwise pointing a negative finger toward anyone or Canada, but just pointing out a situation that I found while trying to use this particular adapter.

I agree that I would never ever plug my RV into any receptacle without first testing it.

Yes, I can see where that thing could ruin your day. I wonder if it was made by an actual, respected electrical component manufacturer or cobbled together by a couple of guys in their garage. It sure looks like a liability lawsuit in an orange plastic case.

[Harvard]

magic43 wrote:
My suggestion would be simple to look at the application that I referred to the the adapter that I pictured. I was never pointing a finger or making an accusation. Had I not personally incurred the situation that I described with the adapter that I referred to then I would have never mentioned it.

We are all here to learn and share our experiences and if they can ever be helpful to anyone, then we all gain in knowledge. The OP asked if there were any differences, and from a practical standpoint there are none as has been pointed out. Having visited all of the Canadian Provinces, my travels here have been quite extensive and enjoyable.

I live in Canada. The pictured adaptor would, at the least, blow a couple of breakers servicing my kitchen. Thanks for the picture.

[magic43]

My suggestion would be simple to look at the application that I referred to the the adapter that I pictured. I was never pointing a finger or making an accusation. Had I not personally incurred the situation that I described with the adapter that I referred to then I would have never mentioned it.

We are all here to learn and share our experiences and if they can ever be helpful to anyone, then we all gain in knowledge. The OP asked if there were any differences, and from a practical standpoint there are none as has been pointed out. Having visited all of the Canadian Provinces, my travels here have been quite extensive and enjoyable.

[SoundGuy]

magic43 wrote:
Read carefully what I wrote. I never said that there was 240 volts on the outlets.

Actually, you did ...

"They are not exactly the same. The 30 and 50 amp RV receptacles are the same, but be aware of how the 15/20 amp receptacles are wired. The tab is broken on the 15/20 amp receptacles and one separate leg of 120 volts is wired to each side of the tab. That is OK, but it also means that there is 240 volts between the "hot" legs on that 120 volt receptacle."

... the irony being you'd be correct EXCEPT that who in their right mind would attempt to draw a common feed from two hot legs of a split duplex 15 amp receptacle?! That makes no sense whatsoever. :S

Further, you inferred that ALL 15 amp duplex receptacles are wired in this split manner, which is completely untrue ... as I've already pointed out, split 15 amp duplex receptacles are required by code in only a very few specific instances, such as a kitchen ... one would never be used as a campsite supply source. You'd also not commonly find 20 amp duplex receptacles here in Canada, just 15 amp. If some campground owner took it upon himself to reinvent the world and provide campsite supply via a 15 amp split duplex receptacle and you then, for whatever mysterious reason, chose to use a non-approved adapter to plug into that feed you both only have yourselves to blame for any disaster that could have occurred. Dumb, dumb, dumb. :R

Bottom line - any American visiting Canada can in practical terms expect no difference at all between plugging in at home or here above the 49th, other than you won't find much in the way of 20 amp service which is quite common in many parts of the US, whether in home wiring or in campgrounds.

[magic43]

Here are pictures of the adapter that I was referring to. Note that both sides of the duplex are tied together and internally connected to the 30 amp RV outlet.

This adapter was originally available from Camping World, but because of the situation that I described above, they removed it. I later bought a couple of them for use on my Honda EU2000's, and noted that they were not available to Canadian customers.



In no way am I slamming or otherwise pointing a negative finger toward anyone or Canada, but just pointing out a situation that I found while trying to use this particular adapter.

I agree that I would never ever plug my RV into any receptacle without first testing it.

[Dutch_12078]

westernrvparkowner wrote:
Even if you came across a split duplex outlet that was wired where each outlet was on a different leg what difference would that make? There is no situation I can think of where it would make any difference since there is no reason to ever cross connect those two outlets.

I haven't seen them offered in awhile, but there used to an adapter sold, that was intended for generator use as I recall, that consisted of a block that plugged into both halves of a duplex outlet, and had a single 30 amp configured outlet. It couldn't supply 30 amps of course, but the paralleled contacts did provide more contact area to minimize overheating. In a split duplex/split phase configuration, plugging such an adapter in was guaranteed to set off fireworks, or at least pop the breaker.

[2oldman]

tarnold wrote:
Be sure to carry a heavy extension cord. In most of the PP parks we've stayed in, the power posts are few and far from where you want to set up.

That's what you need, and a long one, maybe two.

Recent post about long cords

[westernrvparkow]

magic43 wrote:
Read carefully what I wrote. I never said that there was 240 volts on the outlets. I did say that the tab is broken and one leg of 240 is connected to each half of the outlet. Each outlet has 120 VAC, but if you read from the hot side of each half, there is 240.

Whether this is a standard wiring practice or just in some campgrounds I do not know. I encountered it in 1995, and as a curiosity, started measuring across the outlets.

Yes, I have traveled/camped in every Canadian Province. I mentioned it only as information and sharing something that I encountered in some Canadian Campgrounds.

Even if you came across a split duplex outlet that was wired where each outlet was on a different leg what difference would that make? There is no situation I can think of where it would make any difference since there is no reason to ever cross connect those two outlets.

[tarnold]

Be sure to carry a heavy extension cord. In most of the PP parks we've stayed in, the power posts are few and far from where you want to set up.

[aruba5er]

Regardless of how anything is wired, ALWAYS test the voltage before plugging in your RV. That way you will not have to post " I plugged in my RV and a bunch of smoke came out of ---- and the Tv doesn't work and on and on. Poor little me"TEST YOUR VOLTAGE.

[magic43]

Read carefully what I wrote. I never said that there was 240 volts on the outlets. I did say that the tab is broken and one leg of 240 is connected to each half of the outlet. Each outlet has 120 VAC, but if you read from the hot side of each half, there is 240.

Whether this is a standard wiring practice or just in some campgrounds I do not know. I encountered it in 1995, and as a curiosity, started measuring across the outlets.

Yes, I have traveled/camped in every Canadian Province. I mentioned it only as information and sharing something that I encountered in some Canadian Campgrounds.

[j-d]

For RV'n in Canada, then, it seems to be safe to figure that if the campground service is 3-prong 30A RV receptacle plus a 15- or 20A duplex outlet, there won't be a possibility of accidental 240V connected to the RV. But if the service involves 50A using four-prong RV receptacle it's possible the 15/20 could be running off one 120 leg on each half of the duplex.

We've had discussions on RV.net about reversed polarity, open neutral, open ground, etc. Mostly on the 30A RV receptacles. As a defense, I have a home "outlet tester" plugged into a 30A adapter plug. I'm starting to think I need to incorporate VOLTAGE testing into this. I'm seeing the spectre of 240 on a 120 outlet ANYTIME there's 240 for 50A service. All it takes is some novice or volunteer mis-wiring the pedestal.