Camco Maximizer

Poppy · 05-30-2022, 08:40 AM

I was just wondering if any of you have ever used this Camco Maximizer because a 50 amp pedestal wasn’t available.
What was your thoughts about it and would rou recommend it?

wrvond · 05-30-2022, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppy

I was just wondering if any of you have ever used this Camco Maximizer because a 50 amp pedestal wasn’t available.
What was your thoughts about it and would rou recommend it?

My first thought is:

What is it?

**chuckster57** · 05-30-2022, 08:54 AM

I would probably just use a 50/30 adapter and watch my amp pull.

**sourdough** · 05-30-2022, 09:15 AM

So folks will have some idea of what is being discussed;

https://www.camco.net/50amp-power-gr...-adapter-55025

Some folks with 30A trailers "sort of" do this by running a second 15/20A extension cord to the ped receptacle then powering a specific appliance. I've not used one and doubt I would. The only thing I want my 50A for in general is to run 2 A/Cs plus other smaller items from time to time. If I didn't have the full, non "jury rigged", 50A I would either get by on 30A or find a place that had 50A I think. The concept seems handy but IMO Camco is not a premier electrical supplier which gives me pause.

gearhead · 05-30-2022, 09:34 AM

I have one but haven't used it. We "camp" at Richmond Raceway (Virginia) for NASCAR races and they only have 30 amp in our campground. I noticed a site neighbor was using one a couple years ago. There was no GFI on the pedestals.

gearhead · 05-30-2022, 09:35 AM

I've got one but haven't used it. I have seen it used with no issues on a 30 amp pedestal with no GFI.

Poppy · 05-30-2022, 10:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrvond

My first thought is:

What is it?

Basically it combines a 30 amp pedestal with the 15 amp to make 45 amps.
My 5er is 50 amp with just one AC. When I added the second AC I cannot use both AC’s on a 30 amp pedestal. The installer said this device would work, but it’s going to be about 2 more weeks before I can try it. Summer temps prevent the trailer to cool with just one AC and a 50 amp service is not available.

**sourdough** · 05-30-2022, 10:18 AM

Another thing one has to keep in mind - total amps available and how they are used.

A 50A service will provide 50A on each leg (2) for a total of 100 amps to utilize. A 30A connection will only provide 30A on one leg. The adapter shown (if power is distributed equally to the 50A plug) will provide a maximum of 45A on one leg. So in total the 50A service is giving you 100A to play with and the "maximizer" might give you 45.

Some other thoughts; most of the 15A ped plugs I've paid attention to are protected by a GFI somewhere simply because it's probable they will used outside - IIRC this says it cannot be used with that. My 2 ACs when running the compressors pull 32A. I don't know how this device is going to separate that so only 15A or less goes to the 15A receptacle and the rest to the 30A? Just some things to ponder.

Poppy · 05-30-2022, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sourdough

Another thing one has to keep in mind - total amps available and how they are used.

A 50A service will provide 50A on each leg (2) for a total of 100 amps to utilize. A 30A connection will only provide 30A on one leg. The adapter shown (if power is distributed equally to the 50A plug) will provide a maximum of 45A on one leg. So in total the 50A service is giving you 100A to play with and the "maximizer" might give you 45.

Some other thoughts; most of the 15A ped plugs I've paid attention to are protected by a GFI somewhere simply because it's probable they will used outside - IIRC this says it cannot be used with that. My 2 ACs when running the compressors pull 32A. I don't know how this device is going to separate that so only 15A or less goes to the 15A receptacle and the rest to the 30A? Just some things to ponder.

That’s worth thinking about. I’m not anything of an electrician, so I have to depend on my installer for that. Right now my main concern is that I can use both AC’s during the heat of the day. I don’t know the amp draw is on the 16,000(?) btu is, but the 13,500 should run on the 15 amp easily.
So as long as the15 amps at the pedestal is not GFCI, it hopefully should work.
At least that’s my thought on it. I’m just trying to reason it out.

**sourdough** · 05-30-2022, 12:28 PM

Trying to run the A/C on the 15A will be iffy depending on how that thing splits the power that's being used. If the power is split evenly on the adapter between the 2 plugs (30A and 15A) trying to run 2 A/Cs might prove problematic. As I mentioned my 2 ACs pull 32A while both compressors are running. They will pull more when the compressor starts up, OR, if both compressors were to start at the same time. If the 32A is split evenly that's 16A going thru a 15A breaker. Startup would be even worse.

**flybouy** · 05-30-2022, 01:59 PM

I don't have one, never seen one in person but from an electrical perspective here's what I do know. Per National Electric Code all exterior 15/20 amp recepticals must be GFCI protected. So, unless the pedestal is not in compliance (i.e. very old) it won't work.

The reason it won't work is because it will cause an neutral imbalance as that can only be wired one way. From the 2 source plugs (15 A & 30A) the neutral and ground would be combined or shared. The 15 A line would be connected to one line of the 50 A female and the 30 A line to the other line of the female 50A plug.

The resuls would be one side of the distribution panel having 15 amps available and the other side of the distribution panel having 30 amps available. You would have to do some testing to find out which side of the panel is 15 and which is 30. As was mentioned, the brand does not instill confidence in me for anything electrical. I prefer Marinco for most plugs, cables, and adapters.

JMHO, YMMV

Poppy · 05-30-2022, 05:43 PM

I had originally told the installer to put in a separate plug to run an extension cord to, for electrical supply for the second air. He told me what that would entale, including a separate breaker box, extra wiring, and extra cost. Installing to the vents was also going to be quite an expense and parts are on back order up to 6 weeks for now. He’s got parts on back order for over 2 years, now.
I have no clue as how he wired it in, but I think he probably used the outlet in the ceiling by the vent, where he installed the AC.
It’s probably controlled by the “in-command” center.
I have too many “don’t know’s” in this project.
I just want it to work like he said it would.
I sure thank you guys for your input. It was enlightening to me.

travelin texans · 05-30-2022, 07:52 PM

Not sure how your 50 amp EMS, hopefully you have one & ALWAYS use it, would react using that thing.

tech740 · 05-30-2022, 08:53 PM

I have one and have found a couple things out. It is 30 amps to one leg and 15 amps to the other. They don't actually combine. The adapter uses the hot from the 30amp to one of the hots on the trailer and the hot from the 15 amp leg to the other leg. It seems to me that the only way I could get mine to work on a newer pedestal was to also use a 15 amp with ground to a 15 amp without ground on the 15 amp plugin that way the GFI wouldn't trip.

Poppy · 05-31-2022, 06:04 AM

Traveling Texans, I do have a protection device that I always use, but I’ve been having to use it in line with a a 50/30 amp dogbone.

Tech740, the description says not to use it on an outlet with GFCI, so I’m anxious to see how that works out. My installer told me it would work for me and I’ve almost got everything ready to go.
Thanks everyone for your input.
I heard yesterday that lake levels are going down and parks are partly open to camping.

**flybouy** · 05-31-2022, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Poppy

Traveling Texans, I do have a protection device that I always use, but I’ve been having to use it in line with a a 50/30 amp dogbone.

Tech740, the description says not to use it on an outlet with GFCI, so I’m anxious to see how that works out. My installer told me it would work for me and I’ve almost got everything ready to go.
Thanks everyone for your input.
I heard yesterday that lake levels are going down and parks are partly open to camping.

Who was your "installer" if you don't mind me asking?

**sourdough** · 05-31-2022, 08:36 AM

On post 14 R.J. explains how this "maximizer" works. In that scenario if you try to run one A/C on the 15A leg, and worse yet have both on the same leg, you have issues.

You can get by for a short period, usually, trying to run an A/C for a short period on a 15A circuit...maybe. What WILL happen is that over time, especially if you are staying in it and running it constantly, the outlet or the breaker are going to overheat. Eventually that will burn up the 15A end of that cable due to heat but the receptacle will be first (BTDT). Even the smaller A/C will exceed the amp rating of the receptacle, particularly when starting up, and possibly the ped wiring, on the 15A circuit.

Now, if for some reason your trailer is like mine and both A/Cs are on the same leg you will be able to run one A/C...when the 2nd one comes on it will trip out. In addition to that you have the grounding issues discussed in post 14. I don't see it as a solution for the A/Cs, maybe to give you a bit more latitude in what appliances you can run but it just isn't enough to safely try to run 2 A/Cs, converter and whatever else you turn on. You don't have 45 amps to play with between all the 120vac users; you have one 15A circuit and one 30A circuit. You will need to identify which leg each of them feeds at the breaker panel and see what can work and what can't - if you can even make it work.

Ribtip · 05-31-2022, 01:45 PM

When a buddy and i tested one of these it would only work if we used both of our pedestals. 30 hooked to one and the 20 hooked to the other. If we hooked both to the same ped it would trip the fuse on the ped. And from what i seen you get 30amp one leg and 20 the other. If you can get it to work at all.

jxnbbl · 06-01-2022, 03:12 AM

I bought one last year and used it 2x this year. Once at a site that only had 30A service and the other that had a crappy 50A outlet (unusual as the 30A is the one that is usually suspect). It works even with the 15A gfci outlet. In my case I have a "watchdog" monitor and have insight to the amp usage on each leg. I only have one AC, which happens to be wired to the 30A leg so all is fine there.

Did I really need it? Probably not but I can say that I used it ... and I didn't have to be flicking off breakers when the AC is blasting, we are making coffee, cooking bacon in the microwave and my wife it drying her hair simultaneously. :-)

Poppy · 06-22-2022, 07:22 AM

Setting at the campground now. After I found I had an issue with my hot water tank. I put it on electric and it would throw a breaker to the hot water tank and the rear AC. Got that fixed and decided I was going to have to heat the water with propane. Another issue made me take the water tank apart and clean the DSI. Once I got that done I started using both AC’s. No more tripping the breaker.

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