Question 50 amp

[Russellvh]

Still learning. If I have a 5th wheel that is 50 amp but the park only has 30 what will I not be able to do?

 

[Neal]

You'll have to manage the electrical loads as obviously you'll only have half the power.

 

[Voyageurs]

You'll have to manage the electrical loads as obviously you'll only have half the power.

You’ll have righty a third ish of the power. You’ll use an adaptor and manage your loads accordingly. Not a big deal. Just have to be smart about it. Worst that happens you blow the pedestal breaker and start over.

 

[Rich W.]

Using only one AC unit or heat pump at a time, everything else should function. Just manage the big power users such as elec water heat, cook top, clothes dryer etc so you aren’t trying to pull more than 30 amps.

I frequently stay in parks with 30 amps only (mostly state and local parks) and it is perfectly manageable, but I use my Oasis for room and water heat and have a propane cook top. You probably have a propane furnace and water heater which will keep it manageable.

If I need 50 amps I‘ll find a private RV park, although some public parks have 50, or run the genny if necessary, but this rarely occurs. Traveling in the South in the summer would be an example.

 

[Joe Hogan]

This might be useful

 

[Bob K4TAX]

This might be useful

This is an EXCELLENT video. Everyone should watch this.......a couple of times.

 

[DKRITTER]

If you don't have a "dog bone" you need to get one. It's available at most RV stores, Walmart and Amazon. It's just something you'll need to keep in the RV.

Major thing to remember is a "50AMP" RV has 2 50amp power lines coming into it for a grand total of 100amps. A "30AMP" RV has 1 power line with 30amps grand total so there is a big difference in how much power is available.

30 Amp Male to 50 Amp Female Dogbone​

Amazon Dog Bone

 

[Bob K4TAX]

If you don't have a "dog bone" you need to get one. It's available at most RV stores, Walmart and Amazon. It's just something you'll need to keep in the RV.

Major thing to remember is a "50AMP" RV has 2 50amp power lines coming into it for a grand total of 100amps. A "30AMP" RV has 1 power line with 30amps grand total so there is a big difference in how much power is available.

30 Amp Male to 50 Amp Female Dogbone​

Amazon Dog Bone

A 50 amp 240 V service is 12.0KW while a 30 amp 120 V service is 3.6KW. If one uses a 50A to 30A adapter, then only 3.6KW is available based on the rating of the adapter. On the other hand, if one uses a 30 A to 50 A adapter, then again only 3.6KW is available based on the rating of the adapter. If your RV has provision for two 30 A service cords, the advantage is to use 50 A to two 30 A adapters for 7.2KW of power. The formula is VOLTS times AMP equal WATTS. E x I = P

Never exceed the current rating of the smallest device in the line.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

If you don't have a "dog bone" you need to get one. It's available at most RV stores, Walmart and Amazon. It's just something you'll need to keep in the RV.

Major thing to remember is a "50AMP" RV has 2 50amp power lines coming into it for a grand total of 100amps. A "30AMP" RV has 1 power line with 30amps grand total so there is a big difference in how much power is available.

30 Amp Male to 50 Amp Female Dogbone​

Amazon Dog Bone

Not exactly true. The maximum current from a 50A service is 50 amps. Yes, you have two 50 A lines but still, the maximum current is 50 amps. A 50 A service measured to neutral is 120 volts or 6000 watts. E x I = P

 

[Joe Hogan]

Here is some info on campground 50 amp service Need to Know Differences Between 30 and 50 Amps | KOA Camping Blog

 

[Jerryfr]

"Not exactly true. The maximum current from a 50A service is 50 amps. Yes, you have two 50 A lines but still, the maximum current is 50 amps. A 50 A service measured to neutral is 120 volts or 6000 watts. E x I = P"

Split phase transformer:

Each 120 leg is 180 degrees out of phase with the other. Leg A to neutral 120 volts 50 amps (out of a double pole 50 amp breaker) Leg B the same. If each leg is used to get 240 then YES 50 amps, other wise the above statement is not correct. That is of course if the park post isn't using jumpers and is wired to code. Many years ago a park or two tried the jumper deal, but nobody does that these days

Each leg is out of phase with the other. THAT'S how you get you 240 volt.

YES it is rather simple and I don't know why some folks don't grasp it, no offense intended.
Maybe it's the out of phase business that throws folks

 

[DKRITTER]

YES it is rather simple and I don't know why some folks don't grasp it, no offense intended.
Maybe it's the out of phase business that throws folks

Maybe, just maybe most people do not have an extensive background in electricity.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

If you don't have a "dog bone" you need to get one. It's available at most RV stores, Walmart and Amazon. It's just something you'll need to keep in the RV.

Major thing to remember is a "50AMP" RV has 2 50amp power lines coming into it for a grand total of 100amps. A "30AMP" RV has 1 power line with 30amps grand total so there is a big difference in how much power is available.

30 Amp Male to 50 Amp Female Dogbone​

Amazon Dog Bone

Not true. ^^^^^

With a 50 amp breaker on each side of the line, a maximum current of 50 amps is available. They DO NOT add because they are out of phase. The breaker limits the current to 50 amps per leg with one leg being 180 degrees different from the other. Thus there are 240 volts at 50 amps which is 12000 watts. One does not have 240 volts at 100 amps or 24000 watts available. And for 120 volts at 50 amps, there are 6000 watts available from EACH leg for a total of 12000 watts.

Still, that is only 50 amps of current available from each leg. They do not add as the phase difference is 180 degrees. If they were in phase, the currents would add to give 100 amps. But one would only have 120 volts for 12000 watts of power.

For a 120 volt 30 amp service there are 3600 watts available.

 

[Jerryfr]

There are "2" lines not one. (120 each)
Nobody said 240 100amps
No they don't add, who said they did, except in the 120 volt scheme of things, then you have 100 amps 120 volt at your disposal.

1 leg 120 volts 50 amps
1 leg 120 volts 50 amps
220 volts 50 amps

"Still, that is only 50 amps of current available from each leg."
yes you are correct