Forum Discussion

hotjag1's avatar
hotjag1
Explorer II
Oct 30, 2018

Quick changing 50 to 30 amp receptacle.

I just reserved a site in an rv park and they asked me if I wanted 50 amp or 30 amp service in the site that I requested. I asked which one was available in the site that I wanted and they said "we can provide either one. We just change out the panel to whatever amp service the customer wants".

I have never seen this in a park. The pedestals that I see either have 30 or 50 amp, or both. How do they change the panel quickly from 30 to 50 amp at a customers request? Should I be concerned?

The reason for this amperage option is because they charge more for 50 amps.
  • valhalla360's avatar
    valhalla360
    Navigator
    Oct 30, 2018
    Is this a seasonal site? Still doesn't make sense that they would change out the panel as they still need to run appropriate power lines to the pedestal and once you run the 50amp lines, it's easy to wire in a 30amp plug.

    My guess is you got someone behind the desk who simply doesn't understand what they were saying.
  • Toolguy5's avatar
    Toolguy5
    Explorer III
    Oct 30, 2018
    I have been on sites that have both and do charge more as well for 50 amps.

    Like Valhalla360 said person on phone probably does not understand.
  • rhagfo's avatar
    rhagfo
    Explorer III
    Oct 30, 2018
    Chris Bryant wrote:
    I bet they have both, and lock the 50 amp outlet unless you pay for it.


    This makes the most sense.
  • hypoxia's avatar
    hypoxia
    Explorer
    Oct 30, 2018
    I use an RV park in Mexico that has 30 amp recepticles. If you want 50 amp the electrician comes to the site and puts the 50A recepticle in. He charges $20 USD and you get 50 amp for whatever length your stay is.

    When you leave he immediately switches it back to 30 Amp.

    He always has a smile!
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Oct 30, 2018
    It only takes about 5 minutes tops to swap the faceplate on the panel

    But the more common method is to put a "Hasp lock" on the panel over the 50 amp outlet and padlock the hasp if you don't pay for 50.
  • westernrvparkow's avatar
    westernrvparkow
    Explorer
    Oct 30, 2018
    Never heard of a park physically locking out 50 amp service, but the easiest thing to do on a standard RV pedestal would be to pull the 50 Amp breaker and cover the slots with a blank. Realistically, any park that does is probably spending dollars chasing nickels. The labor, wear and tear and loss of goodwill is probably more than the dollar or two difference in electricity costs they could incur between a 30 amp rig and a 50 amp rig. To me, that is expense management gone wrong.
  • DrewE's avatar
    DrewE
    Explorer II
    Oct 30, 2018
    I've been at a campground where they had some remote controlled switching system for enabling 50A or 30A electric at their sites. There was a switch panel in the office, and I assume relays in each of the power pedestals. If you wanted to pay for 50A service, they'd reach back and flip the switch for your site.

    (This was Pioneer RV Park and Campground outside of Whitehorse, Yukon)

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