MrWizard wrote:
both of you guys are overlooking the whole topic
"50amp cheater"
only 50amps available at the plug, not 100amps
because only ONE 50amp 'service leg' was used to power both legs of the 50amp receptacle
meaning only 50amps at 120v is available ,,, shared to both legs of the outlet
NOT possible to use more, the 50amp breaker will trip
No, a "cheater" 50 amp service would be where one leg of the service wiring (generally 200 or more amp service) is split at the pedestal and used to supply both sides of a 50 amp double pole breaker. This would allow a total supply of 100 amps, but since it is only one leg of service the neutral will carry the sum of the total amperage draw, rather than the difference which is what happens when a double pole breaker is properly wired. As others have pointed out this can lead to the neutral carrying 100 amps. And if this setup is repeated up and down a row of RVs the neutral could end up carrying multiple times that, leading eventually to a fire hazard or worse.
This situation will most likely arise in an older park that was originally wired with 30 amp services. In such services only one leg is required to be run to each service pedestal. Rather than rewire the park, a shade tree electrician just added a 50 amp receptacle either with a 50 amp breaker in the line or even worse, just wired directly to the receptacle by splitting the main feeder. (in that case, there won't even be a 50 amp breaker in the box, just a receptacle in a box nailed to a post or tree).
