50 Amp to 30 Amp

[dtzackus]

We are going to a wine fest and the area we are camping has 50 Amp electric service, our rig takes 30 Amp service. If I purchase an adaptor from 50 Amp (male) to 30 Amp (female), will it be ok? I am not sure if the 20 extra amps will harm anything..

Thanks in advance.

[kaydeejay]

bobsbbq wrote:

kaydeejay wrote:

FWIW (and not trying to confuse you) a 50A service is in fact TWO 50A services at 110 volts each. That adapter you need will only draw from one side of that 50A service.

Does this mean you could effectively use a total of 70 Amps? Meaning if you had your 30 Amp service for TT and you had a separate box to distribute the 50 Amp service to say electric heaters. The 50 amp circuit would be separate from the 30 Amp.

I thought the service on the pedestal was 50 Amp maximum.

The 50A service at the pedestal is TWO separate 50A services at 110 volts, or a single 50A service at 220volts.
You can slice and dice them any way you want with appropriate adapters and connections.
IOW if you want to break out half that circuit to a separate feed into you unit powering electric heaters, you are perfectly at liberty to do so.
Just watch for current draw in cables that are not rated high enough for the combined current you could draw with multiple heaters. It is theoretically possible to draw 6000 watts from EACH half of a 50A service.

[Passin_Thru]

IDK, I thought electricity was just smoke inside wires trying to escape and usually does with my equipment.

[bobsbbq]

kaydeejay wrote:


FWIW (and not trying to confuse you) a 50A service is in fact TWO 50A services at 110 volts each. That adapter you need will only draw from one side of that 50A service.

Does this mean you could effectively use a total of 70 Amps? Meaning if you had your 30 Amp service for TT and you had a separate box to distribute the 50 Amp service to say electric heaters. The 50 amp circuit would be separate from the 30 Amp.

I thought the service on the pedestal was 50 Amp maximum.

[engine31]

As others have pointed out you should have no issues with the 50A to 30A go a head and get the adapter I had the same questions as you a few years ago.

[dtzackus]

Thanks everyone!! I kinda figured it would be ok, but figure I'd ask the "experts." Have a good New Year Everyone!!

[2112]

I have a 30A FW and use the 50A-30A adapter whenever a 50A connection is available. The 50A pedestal connection and 50A breaker is less abused and are usually in better condition than the 30A.

[jaycocreek]

I carry an adapter in my rv all the time and have used it numerous times without issue. You never know when you might need it.. Surprise, no 30 amp plugin at x rv park but they do have a 50. It happens.

[bob213]

Get the adapter. You will more than likely find that in a lot of places the 50amp is in better shape than the 30 amp. I always plug in(with the adapter) to the 50amp if the 30amp looks worn.

[kaydeejay]

dtzackus wrote:
We are going to a wine fest and the area we are camping has 50 Amp electric service, our rig takes 30 Amp service. If I purchase an adaptor from 50 Amp (male) to 30 Amp (female), will it be ok? I am not sure if the 20 extra amps will harm anything..

Thanks in advance.

Nothing is going to force those extra amps into your trailer- it will only draw what is being used up to your 30A maximum, limited by the main breaker in your trailer.

Think of that table lamp with a 60w light bulb plugged into a 15A outlet at home. You will only draw 60watts (or a little more than .5amps), it will not use the full 15amps just because it is available.

FWIW (and not trying to confuse you) a 50A service is in fact TWO 50A services at 110 volts each. That adapter you need will only draw from one side of that 50A service.

[DutchmenSport]

Get the adapter, you'll have no problems.

Been using a 50 to 30 for several years now on two different TT's now.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

Never had a problem doing that when I had a 30Amp trailer, and don't have a problem connecting my current 50Amp trailer to a 30Amp pedestal (I just can't run two ACs at the same time or a few other items).

The adapters sold by RV stores work very well. You don't have to worry about the details.

[enblethen]

You should have no problems.
Many sites say they are 50 amp but also have a 30 amp receptacle.
Get the adapter, you will need it in the future.

[JamesBr]

You won't harm a thing. Your campers main breaker as already pointed out will ensure you can overdraw the system. Down in FL its the norm in some campgrounds that they only have 50A posts. Friends with a 30A rig have never had a problem and we go down every year for a couple weeks.

[mhardin]

NORM WADDELL wrote:
You R V's input/incoming circuit breaker is rated at 30 Amperes
and will trip if you exceed that

Only if your usage exceeds 30 Amps.