30 amp to 50 amp ?

[woowoobubba]

camper is set up with 30 amp plug , while camping when running both the a/c and the microwave it keeps throwing the breaker ,friend told me to go buy a 50 amp pig tail and run off that , would there be any issues with buying a 50 amp pigtail and running off 50 amp instead of the factory 30 amp ?

[Terrydactile]

No problem doing that but it won't help your problem because you can still only draw a max of 30 amps. The breaker will trip in your panel inside your TT. You simply can not run too many devices that draw a lot of current at once.

[Festus2]

If your TT is presently wired for 30A, adding a 50A adapter/pigtail to the 30A plug will not allow you to draw any more than 30A without tripping your circuit breaker. If you want to run both the A/C and the micro at the same time, you will have to consider other options but the 50A pigtail wouldn't be one of them.

[SteveC7010]

Originally Posted by woowoobubba

camper is set up with 30 amp plug , while camping when running both the a/c and the microwave it keeps throwing the breaker ,friend told me to go buy a 50 amp pig tail and run off that , would there be any issues with buying a 50 amp pigtail and running off 50 amp instead of the factory 30 amp ?

As already stated, moving up to a 50 amp connector won't solve the problem.

Since you live in the southern half of the country, I suspect you use your A/C a lot. Since the A/C is the big user of current, particularly the surge needed to get the unit running, you might want to consider removing the A/C from the existing wiring system and add a whole separate panel, circuit breaker, and shore line just for the A/C.

If I am not mistaken, you probably only have one A/C unit, and the existing circuit breaker for it is 15 amp. That suggests you won't need to go with a second 30 amp shore line. A good heavy duty extension cord should work just fine. You'd have to plug it into a different circuit than your existing shore line but it will solve the problem, and safely.

One other point, if the power post in the CG doesn't have a separate 15 or 20 amp circuit for you, you are pretty much back to square one. Food for thought before you modify the system.

[JRTJH]

OP, In your original post, you didn't saw "WHICH" circuit breaker is opening when you get a large load. If it's the one in your camper, then all the information posted here is correct, but, if it's the power post in the campground that's popping a 30 amp breaker, then using a 50 amp pigtail adapter will eliminate that breaker and give you up to 50 AMPS available (to the trailer breaker box) but not into the trailer's circuitry.

Using a 50 amp pigtail adapter will NOT allow any additional amperage past the trailer's 30 amp breaker, but it will help with a popping 30 amp breaker on the campground pole.

[smiller]

Another thing you could do is swap out to a 50-amp main panel and a 50-amp shore power cord. The downside is that this would cost around $300 but the upside is you wouldn't ever have to worry about having enough power.

[JerJan10]

There is a lot of RV power information at the following website:
http://www.myrv.us/electric/

[Flyguy]

Originally Posted by JerJan10

There is a lot of RV power information at the following website:
http://www.myrv.us/electric/

X2 great website!

[ktmracer]

You usually should be able to run the A/C and microwave at the same time but nothing else of signficance at the same time. We do it all the time, have yet to pop the 30A breaker. yes, the microwave and A/C is pushing the 30A limit. However, what else are you trying to run?? If the fridge is on electric as well or the WH is on electric, then yup, your gonna pop a breaker. Fridge draws about 4 amps typically, which is just enough to push you over the limit. WH puts you WAY over the limit, it draws as much as the A/C by itself. Also how many 12V appliances/lights are on. Again, the charger, even though it isn't charging a battery, is supplying the 12V loads, and that can be another 3-5 amps on the 120V circuit. might be just enough to push you over the limit. Fridge +charger +micowave + A/C = tripped breaker.

Normally a 30A breaker will take quite a while to trip with a slight overload. Even with 35A draw it could take 5 minutes or more to trip. Seldom is the microwave on for more than a few minutes. It trips in a minute or less, with only the two loads, I'd bet either you've got some other signficant current drains, or you have a weak breaker. It's not that unusual to have an ageing breaker trip at below it's rated current.