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Old 06-18-2014, 06:36 AM   #1
GMcKenzie
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50 amp adapter to 30 + 15?

Do they make something like this? I've got 30 amp connection at my trailer and will be in parks with 50 amp service. I'm thinking it would be nice to plug something into the 50 amp the I then can plug in my 30 amp plus an extension cord to run the cooler and ice maker. Does this exist?
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Old 06-18-2014, 07:41 AM   #2
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If your RV has a 30 Amp input connection, you're limited to 30 amps, Plugging into the 50 Amp side won't benefit you at all since your main circuit breaker (and your input shore power cord) are limited to a max of 30 Amps.

Some people plug into the 50 Amp plug with an adapter if the 30 Amp breaker is tripping or is malfunctioning, but they still are limited to 30 Amps at the RV input main breaker.

Almost all RV power posts have a 50, 30 and two 20 Amp plugs.

If you're trying to power other items, your best bet would be to simply plug your RV into the 30 Amp plug and use another extension cord from one of the 20 Amp plugs on the power post to provide power to the "other things". That way you're not using any of the power available in your RV and you'll have the full 30 Amps available for your normal RV needs.
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Old 06-18-2014, 07:53 AM   #3
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To answer your question yes they make Ana sell all kinds of adapters 50 to 30, 30 to 15. I carry all kinds of adapter with me as I'm a 50 amp camper but most state park are 30,amp so need to adapter
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Old 06-18-2014, 08:41 AM   #4
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I guess he never wondered why a 50 amp has a 4 prong plug and a 30 has 3 ?????
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Old 06-18-2014, 09:42 AM   #5
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Hmm.

Guess my question wasn't clear.

What I am wondering is if I can find a plug that has a male 50 amp plug and a female 30 amp plus a female 15 (20) amp plug. In this way I could plug into a 50 amp post, plug in my trailer and still have a circuit to use for a beer fridge (cooler) that isn't using part of the 30 amp the trailer is using.

I have the 50 - 30 amp plug already so no issue there.

Might just plug the 30 into the 50 amp with an adapter and then plug an adater into the 30 amp plug to give me my 15 amp ciruit. Depends on what is at the power pole.

And yes, I understand the plugs are different. Didn't think it was that tough of a question.
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Old 06-18-2014, 10:27 AM   #6
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It's not really a tough question, rather it's difficult to understand what you're trying to do. There are adapter cables available to split a 50 amp into two 30 amp plugs, one to power your RV shore power cable, then you'd need to adapt one of the 30 amp plugs to 20 amps and plug in your extension cord to power the "other stuff"

The difficult part is trying to understand "why" you'd need to do this. Every power post I've encountered that has a 50 amp and a 30 amp plug also has two 20 amp plugs already wired to it. The issue I have is why would you need a special cable that costs upwards of $80 to adapt for an extension cord when there are two 20 amp plugs already available?

Here's a picture of the cable to split 50 amps into two 30 amp service plugs and a picture of a 30/20 amp adapter to use on one of those legs.
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Old 06-18-2014, 10:36 AM   #7
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So John just so I understand this better if I have 30 amp plug in at the trailer with 30 amp main breaker then I'm limited to 30 amp service and there's no point in trying to go 50 amp correct?
Anything extra that I want to plug in I can plug in to the side of the trailer as I do now with out any problems.
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Old 06-18-2014, 10:43 AM   #8
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Steve,

If you have a 30 amp "main breaker" and you have plugged your shore power cable into a 30 amp plug, then yes, you're limited to 30 amps. Even if you plug your shore cable into a 50 amp plug, your RV "main breaker" will limit power to the RV to 30 amps. Anything that draws over 30 amps "should" trip the main breaker.

Remember that all the "RV exterior" plugs are limited by that same "main breaker" so regardless of "where on the RV" you plug an appliance, your total for the entire RV (everything supplied by the 30 amp shore power cable) is limited to 30 amps.

If you want additional power above the 30 amps, you'd have to plug an extension cord into another plug somewhere on the house or the power post to get above the 30 amps. That extra power would NOT be a part of the 30 amp RV supply.
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Old 06-18-2014, 10:53 AM   #9
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Mr John (JRTJH)
the campground that DW and I use on a regular basis has only ONE outlet 30 amp you plug yout rv in it and everything else plugs into you
not all CG have 50 30 15 amp plugins in our area of the country
have a nice weekend to all
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Old 06-18-2014, 10:56 AM   #10
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Originally Posted by JRTJH View Post
It's not really a tough question, rather it's difficult to understand what you're trying to do. .
I may be wrong but I think he is looking for something goes from 50A to 30A to 20A. This hookup would be in addition to the regular 30A connection for his RV so that he has two separate power sources: 1-30A and 1-20A.

Like you I am thinking that the best, easiest and cheapest way of obtaining this second 20A power supply, is to get an extension cord, plug it into the 20A pedestal outlet and run it into his RV.
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Old 06-18-2014, 11:12 AM   #11
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Mr John (JRTJH)
the campground that DW and I use on a regular basis has only ONE outlet 30 amp you plug yout rv in it and everything else plugs into you
not all CG have 50 30 15 amp plugins in our area of the country
have a nice weekend to all
If all you have is one 30 amp power source, it doesn't matter how you connect (or "double cable") your 30 amp RV (and/or any extra power cords) because if you start drawing over the 30 amps through the post, that circuit breaker will open, if you simply plug your shore cable into the post, either the post or the RV main breaker will limit you to 30 amps...

However, the OP is looking at using the 50 amp plug, so he isn't limited by your example. It's been years and years since I've seen a power post with only a 30 amp plug and no 20 amp receptacles on the side. I would imagine there are still some floating around, but they are not the norm in most areas of the country.

ADDED: Knucklehead, back in the late 80's early 90's, when we were travelling between Louisiana and Michigan several times a year, we usually stayed in a private campground between Memphis and Nashville. The electrical supply in that campground was extension cords that were stapled to the oak trees with "drops" for each campsite. There was a fuse panel nailed to a central tree, all the extension cords started there and ran to the sites. If you blew your power source, you had to walk to the "oak tree distribution center" to replace your screw in fuse..... Not a fun thing to do in the rain. It was a beautiful, remote park, very quiet, big level sites, good "well water" and sewer connections. Things have improved quite a bit since then, and although I've looked several times when we were in the area, I've not been able to find that campground. If it's still open, I wonder if they've replaced the extension cords and upgraded the fuse box for a circuit breaker panel on the "old oak tree"
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Old 06-18-2014, 11:18 AM   #12
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Steve,

If you have a 30 amp "main breaker" and you have plugged your shore power cable into a 30 amp plug, then yes, you're limited to 30 amps. Even if you plug your shore cable into a 50 amp plug, your RV "main breaker" will limit power to the RV to 30 amps. Anything that draws over 30 amps "should" trip the main breaker.

Remember that all the "RV exterior" plugs are limited by that same "main breaker" so regardless of "where on the RV" you plug an appliance, your total for the entire RV (everything supplied by the 30 amp shore power cable) is limited to 30 amps.

If you want additional power above the 30 amps, you'd have to plug an extension cord into another plug somewhere on the house or the power post to get above the 30 amps. That extra power would NOT be a part of the 30 amp RV supply.
Thanks John That makes great sense! I just re-read my post about generators and you had some great information there as well about 30 amp and 50 amp.
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Old 06-18-2014, 11:40 AM   #13
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Pretty sure the place I'm camping at next month has one pedastal per lot. I'm in a 50 amp lot so I'm just trying to see if I can run my beer cooler without pulling the power from the RV as I'll need the 30 amps for AC etc. At one point they had their 30 amp service through a 15 amp plug so they do kinda weird stuff. Also why I use a surge guard.

Just thought not knowing the # of prongs was a bit of a pissy comment.
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Old 06-18-2014, 11:47 AM   #14
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Okay. A little googling shows they exist but are around $100 at the cheapest.

I'll figure something else out.
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Old 06-18-2014, 12:37 PM   #15
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Okay. A little googling shows they exist but are around $100 at the cheapest.

I'll figure something else out.
Not sure who made the comments about the number of pins on plugs, wasn't me for sure.... As for what you need, if you go back to my #6 post, you'll see pictures of the 50 amp/split into two 30 amp plugs with a picture of the adapter you'll need to plug into one of those legs to power your beer cooler. The other leg you would use to power your 30 amp RV. The cost for the split cable is about $80 on EBay and you could probably find one on Amazon or possibly at a local shop for a little less, but plan on investing about $80. You most likely won't need that cable... I have never seen a 50 amp power post that didn't also include 20 amp plugs in a campground. I have seen 50 amp service with no other plugs in private settings, but not in a campground setting.

My suggestion back then (and now) is to contact the campground (or someone who would definitely know) and ask the question, "Does the power post have 50 amp/30 amp and 20 amp power plugs?" Depending on the answer, you may save yourself $80 to help fill that cooler.....
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Old 06-18-2014, 12:48 PM   #16
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I'm just curious about how many beers that you're trying to chill
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Old 06-18-2014, 12:51 PM   #17
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I'm betting...all of them.
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Old 06-18-2014, 01:56 PM   #18
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I'm just curious about how many beers that you're trying to chill
What Lawdogs said

Plus I see Crappy Tire has an ice maker on sale this weekend. DW wants one of those for her Margarita's. Which means we are bringing her big *** blender with us (one of those that will blend an iPhone).

All about the summer drinks.
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Old 06-23-2014, 03:41 PM   #19
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Two separate circuits

Me thinks he is wondering if the 50 amp and 30 amp pedestals are separate circuits I.E. total of 80 amps. He wants his beer cooler on the 50 to 30 to20 and his rv on the 30 or vice versa so he doesn't pull amps from his trailer with his beer cooler. If they are separate circuits then it would be possible to run 50 amps/ 20 for the cooler and 30 for the Rv.
I'm just spectulating that the 50 and 30 pedestal are separate circuits. Most likely they are both on the 50 amp service.

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Old 06-23-2014, 04:28 PM   #20
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I went berzerk on mine. I have two 30A inlets running off the 50A pedestal outlet and a separate 20A inlet that feeds two outlets that I use for space heaters in the winter. Gives me a total of 80A of power. Not as good as straight 50A service, but I already had a lot of the components plus a PI 30A EMS that I did not want to replace.
The two 30s feed separate breaker panels that can be combined to the original factory configuration if I run into a park that only has 30A service, but I'm not counting on that happening.
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