GFCI issues when powering two 30A RVs from a 50A outlet

Question

The campground where our big season-ending event is held is crowded with mostly small RVs and tents that eat up all the 30A and 15A outlets on the pedestals. The 50A outlets are largely unused.

This year I bought an expensive 50A to dual 30A Y adapter so that myself and a friend with a TT could have reliable power from a 50A outlet. It is wired with common neutral, common ground, and each hot from the 50A plug running to a separate 30A socket.

I have seen confusing information about this not working due to GFCI.

Which GFCI will be an issue? The one on the pedestal, or the ones in the campers?

So will it or won't it?

newman_fulltime · Answer

the one u might be reading about is the box that pugs binto a 30amp and a 20amp plugsto get the 50 amps and will trip a gfci on a surge.but if you are plugging in a 50 amp plug then split to two 30 amp plug u should be ok

chris_bryant · Answer

What he said- breaking 50 amp 240 volt power down to multiple 120 volt outlets is no problem. It's combining a 20 and 30 amp to get ersatz 50 amp power that is an issue.

bb_tx · Answer

15/20 amp outlets are the only ones that may have GFCI outlets. 30 and 50 do not. You will be ok.

scottg · Answer

Yes, just the one in the pedestal is the issue. Since you won't be using it there won't be any problem.

mkirsch · Answer

Ok, thanks! Thought maybe it messed with the GFCI in the trailer/camper or something.

I generally have a good handle on residential electrical but these GFCI things are some mad voodoo to me still, even though they've been around for ~30 years.

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GFCI issues when powering two 30A RVs from a 50A outlet

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