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.:@

[KD4UPL]

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.