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Old 07-22-2019, 11:59 AM   #1
littlemidget
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Wrong Plug??

So we always go camping with nonelectric sites, and just use the solar panels to charge the battery. I took my troop camping this weekend (it was 100 degrees) and has all intentions to plug in the trailer and run the AC. Well, pull up, set up, go to plug it in, grab the cord and it is a 110 plug???? I attempted to plug in thinking that is weird and it trips the campgrounds GFI. I had the campground owners look at it for me. He said I should have a 30 amp plug coming out of my camper, not a 110 cord. So here is my question, did the guy we bought this from replacing the 30 amp cord with a 110 or is there a 30 amp plug hiding somewhere that I am missing? - 2008 Keystone Outback 30 ft bunkhouse 30bhq.

it looks like a regular household extension cord and is bright yellow. It says 120V 30amp on the sticker above the hole that holds it, but it's not a 30 amp plug.
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Old 07-22-2019, 12:15 PM   #2
chuckster57
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Wrong Plug??

30A is 110. When you say it has a 110 plug on it, does then you plug in look like an ordinary extension cord? A 30A RV plug will have 3 prongs. One round and two flat that are at an angle and “”in line” with the round pin. It’s quite possible that the P.O. Wired it wrong.

https://www.amazon.com/Leisure-Recep...37888097&psc=1
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Old 07-22-2019, 12:17 PM   #3
MarkEHansen
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There's probably a 30 (or perhaps 50) amp connection on the trailer somewhere. Sometimes folks will add a 110v cord to a trailer to "boost" the 30-amp service a bit - to allow for two A/C units.

I think some units just have a jack on the trailer, and the cable is completely separate, stored in a storage area). I would open all the little doors/hatches and see if you can find a big round outlet in there.
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Old 07-22-2019, 12:18 PM   #4
littlemidget
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Sorry, it looks like a regular household extension cord and is bright yellow. It says 120V 30amp on the sticker above the hole that holds it, but it's not a 30 amp plug.
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Old 07-22-2019, 12:29 PM   #5
Roscommon48
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i'm confused. what does the plug in end look like? whatever it looks like it seems like it it is still only 120 voltage.

Just get an adapter for that end so you can plug into the 120 voltage at the campground.
https://www.amazon.com/Leisure-Dogbo...11550713&psc=1
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Old 07-22-2019, 12:36 PM   #6
littlemidget
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Originally Posted by Roscommon48 View Post
i'm confused. what does the plug in end look like? whatever it looks like it seems like it it is still only 120 voltage.

Just get an adapter for that end so you can plug into the 120 voltage at the campground.
https://www.amazon.com/Leisure-Dogbo...11550713&psc=1
So it just looks like a normal extension cord. I was looking at those adaptors, but thought, if it is the wrong cord, shouldn't we replace with the correct cord? I guess I'm afraid of running 120 Vlt 30amp through a 110Vlt 20 am line and plug would be a risk of electrical damage.
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Old 07-22-2019, 12:36 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by littlemidget View Post
Sorry, it looks like a regular household extension cord and is bright yellow. It says 120V 30amp on the sticker above the hole that holds it, but it's not a 30 amp plug.
I’d bet money it’s mis wired. Go inside and look where the cord goes in. It’s probably behind a panel. You should find a junction box. Open it up and look at the 3 conductors. If there are 4 then it’s 50A and we have to start from scratch.
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Old 07-22-2019, 12:40 PM   #8
littlemidget
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I’d bet money it’s mis wired. Go inside and look where the cord goes in. It’s probably behind a panel. You should find a junction box. Open it up and look at the 3 conductors. If there are 4 then it’s 50A and we have to start from scratch.
Thanks, I will do that. Just seems odd to wire the wrong plug to save a few bucks....or if he didn't know what he was doing, makes me question the safety of any of the wire, because I don't know why he had to change the plug and what else he may have "fixed"
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Old 07-22-2019, 12:50 PM   #9
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The plug you are describing is a NEMA 5-15P and is only rated for 15 amps. The important thing is the size of the cable that is connected to the trailer. Have you pulled yellow cord all the way out to see what is on the other end. Perhaps the previous owner connected the extension cord to the RV 30amp cord to use at home and joined the two cords with an adapter. Just changing the plug will not help since the yellow cord is not heavy enough for 30 amp. Let us know what you find and maybe we can be of some help. JM2¢, Hank
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Old 07-22-2019, 01:48 PM   #10
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The correct size cord should be about 3/4” in diameter. The sticker on the side of the camper means nothing. Look at the cord. It is printed or stamped with all the info you need every foot or so. Look for something like 10/3 AWG or 8/3 AWG
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Old 07-22-2019, 01:55 PM   #11
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Have you pulled yellow cord all the way out to see what is on the other end. Perhaps the previous owner connected the extension cord to the RV 30amp cord to use at home and joined the two cords with an adapter.
I would bet a beer that is the problem. I can't imagine it leaving the factory like that, and there would be no reason for anyone to rewire with 15amp.
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Old 07-22-2019, 02:32 PM   #12
littlemidget
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I would bet a beer that is the problem. I can't imagine it leaving the factory like that, and there would be no reason for anyone to rewire with 15amp.
Well here is the wiring also looks like the batter ground is just hanging out https://youtu.be/6aDAlTaPljg
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Old 07-22-2019, 02:33 PM   #13
littlemidget
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https://youtu.be/6aDAlTaPljg video of the setup
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Old 07-22-2019, 02:49 PM   #14
RWRiley
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It's hard to see from the video, but it looks like the original 30 amp cord is there and that is what is wired into the panel. It also looks like somebody cut it off, and grafted on a 15 amp cord. If I am seeing it correctly, I would say the whole cord needs to be replaced with a new 30 amp cord.

If you ever need to plug directly into 15 amp just go get the $5 adapter.

So I guess I lost a beer
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Old 07-22-2019, 03:44 PM   #15
littlemidget
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It's hard to see from the video, but it looks like the original 30 amp cord is there and that is what is wired into the panel. It also looks like somebody cut it off, and grafted on a 15 amp cord. If I am seeing it correctly, I would say the whole cord needs to be replaced with a new 30 amp cord.

If you ever need to plug directly into 15 amp just go get the $5 adapter.

So I guess I lost a beer
Lol I was thinking really why the would you do that. I'll order a new plug with bare wire ends to wire into the main. I'll take a Guinness please ;-)
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Old 07-22-2019, 03:44 PM   #16
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Wow. There should be a junction box mounted in the space where the wire nuts are. You need to start over, should be Romex from the box to the breaker panel too.
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Old 07-22-2019, 03:52 PM   #17
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Any chance you can contact the PO and ask him how he has this wired?
A mistake could be costly.
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Old 07-22-2019, 04:14 PM   #18
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Wow. There should be a junction box mounted in the space where the wire nuts are. You need to start over, should be Romex from the box to the breaker panel too.
Good advice me thinks. Who knows what all he did to the original setup. He may have ripped a bunch of stuff out that needs to be there.
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Old 07-22-2019, 06:45 PM   #19
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You could run a new 30A RV shore cord all the way to the breaker panel, just be sure to use a P clamp to prevent pulling the cord out of the panel.
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Old 07-22-2019, 07:04 PM   #20
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You may want to consider submitting that video to "There, I fixed it!"
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