2011 31SAB electrical system 50 vs 30 amp

[George]

This weekend we had a choice of plugging into 50 amp or 30 amp service. My trailer has a 50amp connection, and when I bought it it was delivered with a 50 amp power plug cord. When I plug ito 30 amp service I use a 30amp pigtail converter to the 50 amp cord. .

Until this weekend I have never had the opportunity to use 50 amp.

When I plugged into the 50 amp service the converter started to smoke and my rechargeable screw gun smoked too.

I quickly disconnected from the 50 amp service and plugged into the 30amp. All went well thereafter.

What is wrong? Is there a switch that I missed?

George

[tileman]

Wow sorry to hear what happened hope every thing is ok and nothing got toasted.

Have a 50 amp here to and sometimes have to use a 30 amp to.
I always use a volt meter to check the power befor I plug in just to be safe.

Hope you find out what caused this.

[rudythegreat]

I have used the 50 amp cord with and without the dog-bone. No smoke here. The smoke tells me something got fried that may not work in the future. Don’t forget the 318SAB social club.

[George]

Originally Posted by rudythegreat

I have used the 50 amp cord with and without the dog-bone. No smoke here. The smoke tells me something got fried that may not work in the future. Don’t forget the 318SAB social club.

318 social club? Can you please point me to that site?

[Jim W]

George,
From your post it seems to me that this is the first time that you have ever plugged into a pure 50AMP/110 volt outlet in a campground; correct?

What might have happen is the power from the electrical post may not have been correct for the camper. I have seen this before on other campgrounds where the power output is either too high or too low in voltage. This will affect the converter and anything that is plugged into an electrical outlet.

This is one of the reasons why I use a surge protector that also checks for voltage irregularities at the power box in the campgrounds and will interrupt the power to the camper if the voltage is tow low or high at anytime. I also use a fluke meter before I plug anything into the campground power outlet to insure correct voltage and amperage.

I would recommend that you find an electrician that knowledgeable in RV electrical systems to check out the convert to insure nothing is amiss. I would than purchase a surge protector and ether and inexpensive volt meter or a fluke meter to insure a proper electrical output to the camper before plugging in.

Jim W.

[Festus2]

Originally Posted by George

318 social club? Can you please point me to that site?

The Cougar 318SAB Social Group can be found here on the forum by:
1) Clicking on Community (see blue bar at top of page)
2) Clicking on Social Groups
3) Clicking on View All Groups

The 318SAB group is one of several listed here.

You can browse through the members to see who belongs and join if you wish.

[billb800si]

Actually you have a 4 prong- 50 Amp 120/240 Volt service. They split the 240 volt into two 120 Volt services.
This is why you have only 3600 watts total on a 120 volt- 30 Amp connection whereas you have a total of 12,000 Watts on a 50 Amp service.
For example:
"Each leg is 50 amps @ 120 volts. 50-amp X 120-volt = 6000 watts. But since there are 2 HOT 120-volt legs at 6000 + 6000 = 12,000 watts to use in the RV or 50-amp X 240-volt = 12,000 watts when used as a 240-volt service. "...................
You can read up on it here:
http://www.myrv.us/electric/Pg/50amp_Service.htm
Happy trails,
Bill B. (Michigan)

[George]

Thank you for all of the comments, and a special thanks to Bill B from Michigan who included an HTML link. Now I know!

I have arranged for a RV electrician to come and check my unit out this Friday. I will post the results in 10 days, after our next adventure.

I spent over 20 years at sea, was the captain of a destroyer, sailed several times around the world and I never had adventures like I have with this RV!

Keeps you young!

George

[bigcitypopo]

"Fair winds and following seas" skipper