Running A 50 Amp Rv On 30 Amp Service

Before answering any electrical question it is important to understand a little about how electricity works and more importantly how a 30 amp and 50 amp rv plug works.

Running a 50 amp rv on 30 amp service. On the other hand large rvs usually have 50 amp service to power their more lavish setups think double ac units washer dryers etc. Our 35 foot long isasca sunova motorhome made by winnebago has a triton v 10 gasoline engine and uses a 50 ampere 240 vac plug for its electrical connection which is what is required to run all of our coach s electrical systems. If you have a 50 amp trailer and 30 amp service is the only service available at the campground post can you show me a wiring schematic of the adapter pigtail i would use to adapt from 30 amp service to a 50 amp trailer. To hook up you ll need a 50 amp female to a 30 amp male electrical adapter a.

A 30 amp plug is just one circuit and that circuit is 30 amps. When we run across this situation i am always curious how this adapter can supply power to both 120 volt sides of our 50 amp. The option to run a 30 amp recreational vehicle or rv from a 50 amp outlet is useful to many rvers. Plugging a 50 amp rv into a 30 amp pedestal.

When a 50 ampere. A 50 amp plug is really two 50 amp circuits. You ll just have to be more conservative when using your rv s appliances. A 50 amp rv puts you up to 12 000 watts so the increase in power is quite substantial.

50 amp plugs have two 120 volt hot pins a flat neutral pin and a round ground. Truth be told you can plug a 50 amp rv into a 30 amp electrical service. To avoid catastrophic damage to appliances equipment and wiring circuits and a real danger of fire the amperage must be stepped down to 30 amps. Even the largest rvs when plugged into 50 amp service still almost universally use this double hot pole or double bus installation to draw only 120 volts to two separate 120 volt circuits simultaneously thereby accessing a possible 12 000 watts of power.

This is easily done by using a 50 male to 30 female connector. Look at a 30 amp plug you will see 3 connections. The answer is yes but it s complicated. In a normal set up you have a 50 amp rig with a 50 amp breaker inside which leads to a power cable rated for 50 amps and ultimately to a 50 campground post.

Considering 30 amp sockets are more common if you plug your rv rated for 50 amps into a 30 amp socket can you run it. Look at a 50 amp plug you will see 4 connections. A 30 amp rv can handle up to 3 600 watts. 70 amps more than a 30 amp plug.

However most people who run campgrounds will tell you otherwise.