50 Amp --> 30 Amp Hookup

Christopher John · 09-30-2023, 01:11 PM

For the first time, we are pulling into a campground that only has 50amp service available. Our TT is 30 amp. I was just going to hook up a 50->30amp dogbone into our Bulldog PWD30 Smart Surge Protector and then the electric cord into the trailer. Am I missing anything? Sorry if this question is so simple.

**flybouy** · 09-30-2023, 01:20 PM

That's all you need, you'll be good to go.

SargeW · 09-30-2023, 01:35 PM

Yep, just what Marshall said. Just remember that even though plugged into a 50 amp pedestal, you will still only be using one leg of the 50 amp circuit. So no extra amps available, just normal what you always have.

Max23 · 09-30-2023, 08:33 PM

Ok, so stupid question, why would any campground have only 50a service?

SargeW · 09-30-2023, 08:52 PM

Probably just saving a few bucks on equipment when setting up sites. Since a simple dog bone adapter will allow you to hook up to any 50 amp outlet, you can still plug in your 30 amp cord and just run off one leg of the 50 amp service. You can do the same for a 20 amp plug with a dog bone adapter. They can install 3 outlets and the necessary wiring, or one.

Since RV 50 amp outlets are two 120 volt hots, one ground and one neutral, by using them for 30 amp you just eliminate one of the hot leads.

Max23 · 10-01-2023, 03:35 AM

Ya, I get the saving the bucks, I understand the dog bone, it's just wow, your gonna put the burden on me to be able to stay there. Personally, I don't have a 50 to 30 dog bone, I would have been stuck had I pulled in there. I hope their reservation site clearly states that. I'd be mad if it didn't and I came rolling in with reservations, I'd just be in a pickle.

**JRTJH** · 10-01-2023, 06:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max23

Ya, I get the saving the bucks, I understand the dog bone, it's just wow, your gonna put the burden on me to be able to stay there. Personally, I don't have a 50 to 30 dog bone, I would have been stuck had I pulled in there. I hope their reservation site clearly states that. I'd be mad if it didn't and I came rolling in with reservations, I'd just be in a pickle.

There are several campgrounds around Hillsboro, OH that only have 50 amp outlets at each site. The campground store sells 50:30 amp adapters for about 3 times the cost at Camping World. It's a "lucrative business" if you "arrive not prepared". And no, they don't advertise the connection types available in their brochures, on their websites or in their reservation systems.....

Makes for a good interpretation of the old Boy Scout motto, "BE PREPARED".... The alternatives: pay their inflated prices, drive to Cincinnati or don't plug in.... IMO, none are acceptable, YMMV

Oh, if you don't want to pay $59 for an adapter, they'll rent you one for $5 a day. One way of looking at it, stay 5 days and save $14 by renting instead of buying ??????

Squanto · 10-01-2023, 08:28 AM

Easy enough to have a dogbone in case. Available at Walmart. I bought a 50-30 and a 50-15 for just in case. Had those before I picked up my trailer.

**JRTJH** · 10-01-2023, 08:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squanto

Easy enough to have a dogbone in case. Available at Walmart. I bought a 50-30 and a 50-15 for just in case. Had those before I picked up my trailer.

Most people do the same... I think I've got about 6 or 7 in the front compartment. Every time I see some arcing or pitting on one of the pins, I buy a new one, but wind up keeping the old one "just in case it's better than the one I'm using at a campsite" and never seem to toss the last bad one, so they accumulate... For me, having a "good enough to use in an emergency" adapter beats a trip to WalMart late at night"... YMMV

LHaven · 10-01-2023, 11:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max23

Ok, so stupid question, why would any campground have only 50a service?

I've overnighted at a couple of campgrounds where they had both, but the only slots unoccupied were the super-deluxe long pull-throughs for 50A rigs.

Max23 · 10-01-2023, 11:44 AM

Good info, had no idea. Seems to be sheisters everywhere willing to take you for whatever they can. Guess I'm gonna need a 50 to 30 dogbone before heading to the Cinci area next spring. Sheeeesh. Unbeleivable.

SargeW · 10-01-2023, 11:50 AM

You may as well pick up an adapter for 20 amp while you are at it. Many old campgrounds scattered about, and many in Canada only have 20 amp power in the campground at all. Plus if you ever wanted to plug in at your or someone else's house you would need it there as well.

Squanto · 10-01-2023, 12:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max23

Good info, had no idea. Seems to be sheisters everywhere willing to take you for whatever they can. Guess I'm gonna need a 50 to 30 dogbone before heading to the Cinci area next spring. Sheeeesh. Unbeleivable.

Even if a campground has both, all the sites may not have both. And if they don't all have both, you could find all that is left is the 30A if you need 50A or vv. You need to be ready to adapt. Also, some campgrounds charge less for 30A so if you don't really need 50A you can save a few bucks. An example would be staying somewhere where the weather forecast is mild enough you won't be likely to need AC or both ACs.

Just like some campgrounds charge less for back in sites. Pull throughs are a nice feature for about the first few minutes of your stay but once you're parked, who cares? Do you really want to pay extra per night if you're staying for a while because it was a bit easier to park when you arrived (days or weeks ago)?

**sourdough** · 10-01-2023, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Max23

Good info, had no idea. Seems to be sheisters everywhere willing to take you for whatever they can. Guess I'm gonna need a 50 to 30 dogbone before heading to the Cinci area next spring. Sheeeesh. Unbeleivable.

You need to get one "just because". You never know what kind of situation you will find at a site and in many the 30A plug is just shot from use/abuse where the 50A isn't. The adapter gives you options in event of some unforeseen situation.

Max23 · 10-02-2023, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SargeW

You may as well pick up an adapter for 20 amp while you are at it. Many old campgrounds scattered about, and many in Canada only have 20 amp power in the campground at all. Plus if you ever wanted to plug in at your or someone else's house you would need it there as well.

Already have a 20 to 30, needed that for home. But at a campground? Oh well, what do u do.

**JRTJH** · 10-02-2023, 07:37 AM

Here are a few examples of what you will often find in RV power pedestals.

In the first and second, with the condition of the 30 amp plug, having a 50 amp adapter (so you can completely bypass the worn plug) to avoid damage to your trailer shore power cord.

In the third, you can see the result of what happens to your shore power cable plug if you "ignore the first and second photo". In a "lost cost" comparison, sacrificing a $15 adapter to plug into that plug, if you have to use it, sure beats sacrificing your $75 shore power cable. But avoiding even using it is, IMO, the better option.

In the fourth, you can see what many campground pedestals actually have in them.

As RV manufacturers offer more and more 50 amp trailer systems, I'm seeing more and more pedestals that don't even have a 30 amp plug in them. To me, it's similar to walking into WalMart and asking for a 6 volt car starting battery. They simply don't stock them any more because few, if any cars on the road use them.

Campgrounds are "all about making money" and if they don't, they can't pay their taxes and operating expenses and won't be in business next year. So, they pass on part of their "replacement/repair costs" by installing fewer options and expecting their customers to provide the "consumables" to connect to the campground systems.

Yes, adapters and plugs are "consumables" just like washers in the city water connection hose. Most campgrounds (and most campers) expect to bring their own "consumables", sort of like bringing your own toilet paper, not expecting the campground to have a "free supply for your use". Electrical adapters are, for the most part, the camper's responsibility not the campground's responsibility....

Even if the campground provided them (like they did the 30 amp plug in the first and second photo) I wouldn't plug my equipment into that mess. I'd use my "consumable adapter" to protect my trailer's shore power cable. YMMV

**sourdough** · 10-02-2023, 08:58 AM

To piggyback on what John said;

I always use an 18" extension as a "sacrificial" cable. The plugs in some places look like those pictured above and I've seen some far worse. In the event you have no option, and even if you do, always use the sacrificial extension so that when the prongs get burned/eaten away you just throw it away and get another. Just plug it into the outlet, the EMS into it then the RV cable.

https://www.amazon.com/Camco-55205-1...99&sr=8-1&th=1

Squanto · 10-02-2023, 11:25 AM

Bottom line is that if you don't like what's available, take you dollars elsewhere. Or have the equipment to increase your options.

RagingRobert · 10-02-2023, 12:01 PM

This thread sounds very familiar

You can by 50 to 30amp dogbones at Amazon for under $20.
https://www.keystoneforums.com/forum...ad.php?t=55923

Max23 · 10-02-2023, 01:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Squanto

Bottom line is that if you don't like what's available, take you dollars elsewhere. Or have the equipment to increase your options.

Here in lies part of the problem. If I rent a car, I expect it to have a steering wheel and not have to bring my own. When I rent anything I don't care what it is, I am paying for the item to work and be able to be used for what I rented it for. They are charging me money to use their equipment and that equipment should be usable. If it's not, that's unacceptable. Places get away with not being acceptable because everyone just pays it, accepts the unacceptable and moves on. Not sure what happened to the days of people getting what they paid for. Yes, I know, I'm a bit old school and welcome to the America of today to me, but I still don't find it acceptable practice. I'm one of those who "will" take my business elsewhere, unfortunately I'm a dying breed. To much is just accepted in todays society and we just move on letting them get away with "sub par services".

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