Use a 50 amp adapter instead of 30 amp service?

[scbwr]

We're at a RV park near Jekyll Island, GA and as usual, for our 30 amp travel trailer, we were plugged into the 30 amp outlet with our Progressive Industries PT30C in use. The breaker tripped and we were in the dark. I went out to the power post and could not get the 30 amp breaker to reset, so I got out my 50 amp adapter and that solved the problem. At the time of the breaker tripping, the AC was running and the electric hot water heater was on and heating after I took a shower.

The following morning, I went to the office and ended up speaking with the owner. He came over, and was able to reset the breaker...I wasn't using enough pressure to force the breaker to reset. But, here is where my question evolves. He said that the newer 30 amp breakers that he is required to use by law tend to trip much more easily than the older breakers and he said that because of that, it is better to always use the 50 amp adapter. Does anyone have any experience or comments about this advice?? I know the adapter simply draws power on only one of the spades, so I don't see any reason not to use the adapter, but just wondering if anyone else has received this advice or uses the 50 amp adpater rather than plugging into the 30 amp service.:@

[Walaby]

kmbernstein wrote:
We have never had the issue, but are prepared, as we have heard some stories. My question deals with the surge protector. We have one that us into the post. Can you use the surge protector between the 50 to 30 amp adapter or do you have to do without the surge protection? Thanks!

I had a 30 Amp surge protector from my previous TT. New TT is 50 amp. I was recently at a park with only 30 amp service. I used the 50 to 30 dogbone, and put my 30 amp surge protector between it and the 30 amp plug on pedestal. Worked fine.

I have both a 30 and 50 amp surge protector.

Mike

[kmbernstein]

We have never had the issue, but are prepared, as we have heard some stories. My question deals with the surge protector. We have one that us into the post. Can you use the surge protector between the 50 to 30 amp adapter or do you have to do without the surge protection? Thanks!

[Terryallan]

Me. I ALWAYS use the 50A for the TT. I then use the 30A for the things I plug in outside. Like my extra fridge, griddle, and oven.

[Cheyenps]

KD4UPL wrote:
I suppose it's possible he might have had Federal Pacific breakers before and now has something else installed. Federal Pacific breakers were very popular in the 70's and 80's until it was discovered they were faking the UL listing and printing their own labels. They got sued and went bankrupt. Their breakers sometimes didn't trip at all. If he used to have those and now has good breakers that might explain his comment.

Also an electrical contractor and I've done a lot of work on RV/mobilehome pedestals.

Most of the pedestals we see around here have Zinsco "long style" circuit breakers in them - also obsolete - not as trouble prone as Federal but not the best either. The available replacements are made by "UBI" and are really flaky, particularly with regard to how they connect to the buss.

Could explain the problem, although it has nothing to do with a change in codes.

[seaeagle2]

A 50 amp breaker doesn't Push 50 amps into the trailer, your trailer pulls the amps, you still have a 30 amp breaker on your main panel. Your main panel will only pull 30 amps before it trips the breaker.

[4X4Dodger]

KD4UPL wrote:
I'm an electrical contractor. I don't know of any "federal laws" about breakers. Electrical installations are generally governed by the local city or county building department. Usually they inspect according to the National Electric Code. This is not a federal code but just the name of the code. Adopting it is voluntary and usually done on the state level.
At any rate, there have been no changes to make breakers trip "easier". A 30 amp breaker is supposed to trip when more than 30 amps flows thru it. Time will always be a factor here. 31 amps might not trip it for several hours while 100 amps should trip it really quick. This is more a function of the breaker's design and varies among manufacturers a bit.
I suppose it's possible he might have had Federal Pacific breakers before and now has something else installed. Federal Pacific breakers were very popular in the 70's and 80's until it was discovered they were faking the UL listing and printing their own labels. They got sued and went bankrupt. Their breakers sometimes didn't trip at all. If he used to have those and now has good breakers that might explain his comment.

With all due respect to your experience with electricity I think some correction is in order.

Breakers can and are dictated by local building codes and they are often strictly enforced.

Second; a 30 amp breaker is not just a 30 amp breaker. It depends on how it is made. If it is GFCI it will trip with anything from a few milliamps overage or a few amps. They are quick trip type breakers and Slo-Blow type breakers.

Not all are created equal. So the owner in this case can be completely correct.

[newman_fulltime]

ac and water heater on along with fridge converter tv my bet and how is it the breaker is the problem when you exceeded the 30 amps?

[scbwr]

Lynnmor wrote:

The only issue in using the 50A is that the wiring from the plug all the way to the trailers 30A breaker is not properly protected.

But, if my Progressive Industries PT30C is connected at the post, would that not protect the wiring?

[SoundGuy]

I too carry a 30 amp F > 50 amp M dogbone but rarely use it as campgrounds we tend to visit usually don't offer 50 amp service. I also carry a 30 amp F > 15 amp M dogbone for use here in Canada where 30/15 amp service is most common or in the US where it's often 30/20 amp.

The OP said - "the AC was running and the electric hot water heater was on and heating after I took a shower" - but especially during hot weather when we're typically running A/C I normally run the water heater on gas, only occasionally using the electric heating option for quicker recovery time. Doing so reduces the chances we'll ever exceed campsite service and is IMO well worth the minor cost in propane gas used, particularly if I'm mindful enough to turn the WH off during the day when we have little need for piping hot water. Obviously this isn't a viable solution for those who may have an electric only water heater but I would have thought the OP's Winnie would have a conventional gas/electric water heater.

[scbwr]

KD4UPL wrote:
I'm an electrical contractor. I don't know of any "federal laws" about breakers. Electrical installations are generally governed by the local city or county building department. Usually they inspect according to the National Electric Code. This is not a federal code but just the name of the code. Adopting it is voluntary and usually done on the state level.
At any rate, there have been no changes to make breakers trip "easier". A 30 amp breaker is supposed to trip when more than 30 amps flows thru it. Time will always be a factor here. 31 amps might not trip it for several hours while 100 amps should trip it really quick. This is more a function of the breaker's design and varies among manufacturers a bit.
I suppose it's possible he might have had Federal Pacific breakers before and now has something else installed. Federal Pacific breakers were very popular in the 70's and 80's until it was discovered they were faking the UL listing and printing their own labels. They got sued and went bankrupt. Their breakers sometimes didn't trip at all. If he used to have those and now has good breakers that might explain his comment.

I'm pretty sure he would have been referring to local building codes, and the issue may be the Combination Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (CAFCI) breakers that are now required in some municipalities. They are required where we live in Ohio and they can cause problems. Plasma televisions are known to trip them, and in our house, we cannot plug our vacuum cleaner in the outlet in one bedroom because it will trip the circuit. If they are required here in the campground, it could be part of the problem. In all fairness to the owner, he has built a very nice facility that gets very high ratings. And, if the CAFCI breakers are required here, they very well may be more prone to trip.

[Triker33]

Every time when using the 30 AMP and the breaker trips. I will reset it once.
If it does it the second time. I get out my 50 AMP dog bone and then the problem is solved.

[DownTheAvenue]

As RoyB pointed out, the 30 amp circuit gets used much more and often is worn and/or corroded causing the arcing pointed out in his post. The 50 amp outlet is more robust and used less often, almost always a better choice.

[MudChucker]

Your trailer still has a main breaker to protect your cables, when we had. 30amp unit we preferred to dog bone the 50 in hopes of not being a victim of park overload.

Nice story about his requirements.. As mentioned, just smoke.

[RoyB]

I always look at the campground pedestal connectors for burn marks or badly corroded/burned sockets. The 30-Amp connectors really get used more than the 50 Amp ones. I will plug into the cleanest one I see...


Plugging into a socket that shows burned arcing marks may destroy your 30A RV Cable plug requiring replacement.


The 50-Amp service actually has 50 Amps on both hot leads and true your 50A-30A Adapter only uses one of the 50-Amp legs. Your Trailer 30A MAIN breaker will keep you from using more than the 30Amps.

50A to 30A RV Dogbone Adapter (DMBRUSS)


Roy Ken

[Lynnmor]

The campground owner is blowing smoke.

You need to run less loads to prevent the breaker from tripping. Turn off heavy loads before resetting a breaker.

The only issue in using the 50A is that the wiring from the plug all the way to the trailers 30A breaker is not properly protected.