Help with 50 amp to 30 amp or 20 amp

[Chuck B]

Hi All,

Have a 337RLS and am confused about taking my 50 amp service down to say a 30 amp or even 20 amp service. So does one by an adapter and then that adapter sends 120 volts to each side of the 50 amp or only 1 side? If only 1 side, how do I know what side it goes to? I know I can't run AC on 20 amps but possibly could use 1 of the 2 AC units if 30 amps, but my guess is each AC is wired to each leg of the 50 amp service? Actually want to do this for hooking to house to get refrig cold before leaving on a short trip or possibly in future getting a generator that only puts out say a 120 V, 30 amp service, etc. Thanks in advance. Chuck

 

[Cate&Rob]

Hi Chuck,

You have this figured out correctly. The adapter from the 50A 240V plug to 30A 120V, and even down to the 20A 120V, sends whatever power is available to both sides of the 50A cord. I have no problem running our single Atwood AC on the 20A service that I have at home.

Rob

 

[dirtclod-MGRV]

I have a 50 to 30 amp adapter that feeds both sides. I am able to do everything in our 320x on 30 amp except run both A/C.

 

[Sirsea]

I have adapters for 50/30 amp and 30/20 amp and can run one A/C, TV and lights but no water heater or microwave with the A/C.

 

[Chuck B]

Hi Chuck,

You have this figured out correctly. The adapter from the 50A 240V plug to 30A 120V, and even down to the 20A 120V, sends whatever power is available to both sides of the 50A cord. I have no problem running our single Atwood AC on the 20A service that I have at home.

Rob

Thanks Rob. Appreciate the feedback. Glad to hear this.

 

[Chuck B]

I have a 50 to 30 amp adapter that feeds both sides. I am able to do everything in our 320x on 30 amp except run both A/C.

Thanks Dirtclod.

 

[Chuck B]

I have adapters for 50/30 amp and 30/20 amp and can run one A/C, TV and lights but no water heater or microwave with the A/C.

Thanks Marvin and Marion.

 

[John612]

Hi Chuck,

You have this figured out correctly. The adapter from the 50A 240V plug to 30A 120V, and even down to the 20A 120V, sends whatever power is available to both sides of the 50A cord. I have no problem running our single Atwood AC on the 20A service that I have at home.

Rob

Rob - so I can use the 50/30 amp pigtail adapter sold at camping world etc?
We rarely use our a/c and it would be nice to use the light weight 30 amp cord to connect to shore power instead of the heavier 60 amp cord.

Thanks
John

 

[Cate&Rob]

Rob - so I can use the 50/30 amp pigtail adapter sold at camping world etc?
We rarely use our a/c and it would be nice to use the light weight 30 amp cord to connect to shore power instead of the heavier 60 amp cord.

Thanks
John

John,

Yes, you can do exactly that. What you need is the adapter that goes from 50A twist lock to 30A male 3 prong plug. Then you can run your 30A cord over to the post. We do this quite often.

If you plan to use an external 50A surge protector with the 30A cord, this needs another, less common, adapter. If you plan on this, let me know and I will explain further.

Rob

 

[John612]

Yes we always use the external 50A surge protector.
Assuming if I drop to 30A then I will have to buy a 30 amp surge protector,
or buy a 30 back to 50 adapter and plug into the 50 amp socket?

 

[LCBoyer]

You can plug portable surge protector into the 50 amp cord, use 50 to 30 to connect to 30 Amp outlet

 

[Cate&Rob]

Yes we always use the external 50A surge protector.
Assuming if I drop to 30A then I will have to buy a 30 amp surge protector,
or buy a 30 back to 50 adapter and plug into the 50 amp socket?

John,

Somewhere on this forum is the specific direction on the part to buy through Amazon. But, I can't find it ! You can use your 50A surge protector at the RV with a 30A cord.

The adapter you need is 50A twist lock to 50A male. This is essentially a very short version of your 50A cord.
The power flow is as follows:
30A power post outlet
30A cord
30A male to 50A female adapter
50A surge protector plugged into adapter (I secure this to the bumper of the RV)
50A male to 50A twist lock adapter (described above) connects surge protector to RV.

Rob

 

[Cate&Rob]

John,

I found the earlier discussion about this.
I ordered the adapter that Dennis found on Amazon . . . and it works perfectly.
http://www.granddesignowners.com/fo...nd-no-adapters?highlight=amp++adapter+pigtail

Rob

 

[John612]

Got it.
thanks Rob, your help is much appreciated.

John

 

[John612]

50 & 30 amp cord combinations



Had to lay this out so I can really understand it.
#1-normal 50 amp layout
#2-surge protector at the 5er
#3-" " at the post
#4-buy a 30 amp surge protector

Is there any electrical difference between 2 & 3?
#4 seems simplest but figure the adapter is cheaper than the new surge protector?

thanks,

John

 

[Cate&Rob]

I don't think you will be able to find a 50M to 30F adapter as shown in scenario #3. This would allow someone to plug a 30 amp cord into an outlet protected by a 50 amp breaker (each side of the 240 is still 50 amps at 120).

If you are thinking of buying a new surge protector, the built in (50 amp) version simplifies the external wiring to commonly available adapters.

Rob

 

[Canyonlight]

I don't think you will be able to find a 50M to 30F adapter as shown in scenario #3. This would allow someone to plug a 30 amp cord into an outlet protected by a 50 amp breaker (each side of the 240 is still 50 amps at 120).

If you are thinking of buying a new surge protector, the built in (50 amp) version simplifies the external wiring to commonly available adapters.

Rob

Rob--here is the link to the 50 M to 30 F adapter I have that I mentioned in a post on this a few months ago. Not sure if this is what you are questioning and/or another aspect of the diagram. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Road-Powe...-Amp-RV-Adapter-Power-Cord-18-Inches/16817357

Rob--I also have this one http://www.walmart.com/ip/Road-Powe...fault&beacon_version=1.0.1&findingMethod=p13n

Dan

 

[Cate&Rob]

Rob--here is the link to the 50 M to 30 F adapter I have that I mentioned in a post on this a few months ago. Not sure if this is what you are questioning and/or another aspect of the diagram. http://www.walmart.com/ip/Road-Powe...-Amp-RV-Adapter-Power-Cord-18-Inches/16817357

Rob--I also have this one http://www.walmart.com/ip/Road-Powe...fault&beacon_version=1.0.1&findingMethod=p13n

Dan

I guess there is an adapter for everything! It doesn't look like there is a circuit breaker built into these adapters, so this would allow someone to pull 50 amps (at 120V) through a cord rated at 30 amps, before the post breaker would pop. You would want to be careful using one of these!

Rob

 

[Canyonlight]

Yeah, Rob--don't want to be drawing more money out of the bank than what you can.......or it could be like that old Deep Purple song "Smoke Covered Water."

Dan

 

[Railroader]

That 50amp cord is a beast. You don't see many 50amp services up here in Canada and when I was told they cost 400.00 to replace I for sure bought a step down adapter.I could just see someone walking off with it while it's parked behind my home here in the city. We just run an extension from the house to get the fridge cool before heading out on the road on the old trailer. I hope we can still do that with the new 303