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Old 12-11-2023, 05:16 AM   #1
Kristin
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30 amp to 110 adapter problem

I need some electrical advice please! My camper's previous owner sucessfully used a 30 Amp to 110 Volt RV adapter plug at home to run basic electric. She was even able to run the fridge and AC. But every time I use the adapter on our carport's 20 amp GFI outlet, the breaker on the outlet pops. I have a surge protector plugged into the adapter plug, then the camper electric cord. I really only want to run a dehumidifier! Is it the GFI? Thanks for any suggestions!
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Old 12-11-2023, 05:30 AM   #2
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I have found, along with others that RVs don’t play well with gfci plugs.

If you have a “surge protector” you should trash/return it and get a true EMS. EMS is an energy management system.
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Old 12-11-2023, 06:07 AM   #3
dutchmensport
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One thing you have to be aware of, if your camper is plugged into a 20 amp normal house outlet, EVERYTHING running on that same circuit inside the house and inside the camper add up to eventually max out the 20 amps which will cause the main breaker to trip.

If that circuit has a refrigerator, or an air conditioner, or lights, or some kind of appliance, or heaters, or anything running on it inside the house, that is taking away the remaining amps for the camper. When 20 amps is exceed for everything on that one circuit, the breaker trips.

If the camper is plugged into the same line as the gfi you need to take into account, everything else going through that gfi. Most gfi's are 15 amp. If yours if 15, then that explains why it's tripping, even if the breaker in your breaker panel is 20 amp.

Consider moving the trailer cord to a different outlet.
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Old 12-11-2023, 06:40 AM   #4
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In addition...I was going to ask when does the gfci breaker trip?


For instance, I would shut off all the breakers in the trailer especially that of the converter and then turn on the one circuit to plug in the dehumidifier. (don't do it yet) If it breaks when you plug in the extension cord you have other problems and should look at the extension cord, etc.


Then plug in a standard light....should still work then you can try the dehumidifier. The problem being that in addition to the previous post the dehumidifier is probably 500W and then double/triple that for the converter, etc.
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Old 12-11-2023, 09:38 AM   #5
flybouy
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kristin View Post
I need some electrical advice please! My camper's previous owner sucessfully used a 30 Amp to 110 Volt RV adapter plug at home to run basic electric. She was even able to run the fridge and AC. But every time I use the adapter on our carport's 20 amp GFI outlet, the breaker on the outlet pops. I have a surge protector plugged into the adapter plug, then the camper electric cord. I really only want to run a dehumidifier! Is it the GFI? Thanks for any suggestions!
I think you are conflating several electrical terms. First, all RV plugs are 120va . The "standard" household outlets in your home are 15 Amp, or 20 amps. The 15 Amp will have 2 parallel slots and one round hole. The 20 Amp outlet will look like the 15 Amp except one slot will have a horizontal slot that intersects one vertical slot.

The 30 Amp outlet will have 2 slots at an angle (V shaped but not connected) and 1 round hole. 50 Amp will have 3 parallel blades and a round hole at the top. The gfi you refrence does not have a breaker. The gfi will interrupt the circuit when excess voltage "leaks" away from the circuit. The circuit interrupted "pops" to protect the user from electrocution incase the user is exposed to the line voltage for some reason, like cutting the electric wire. The circuit reset can be used after the issue that tripped it is resolved. The gfi does not trip from excessive amperage, that's the circuit breakers function.

Apologies for this lengthy post but the intent is to clarify what's happening. First, a simple surge guard for RVs are useless. An EMS (electrical management system) will protect the electrical appliances from the issues of commonly found in cg power grids. Next, I think the house gfi is tripping when you plug in the camper. This can happen when 2 gfi devices are in the same circuit. First try removing the surge guard. If that doesn't correct the issue then leave it out of the circuit and turn the breaker in the RV power center for the campers gfi to off. If that still doesn't solve the issue then further diagnosis will be necessary.
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Old 12-11-2023, 11:18 PM   #6
fjr vfr
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To simplify, if the only thing you want to run is a humidifier, just run a standard extension cord rated for outside use somewhere into the camper and just plug the humidifier into it.
And don't plug in the trailer. That would be the easy way.
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Old 12-12-2023, 04:42 AM   #7
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"just run a standard extension cord rated for outside use somewhere into the camper"
Holy camper, Batman, there actually is a rocket scientist among us!!
I only wish I had thought of this first....
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