Y-split adapter to get more power at a 30-amp site

[bpaikman]

I searched around and can't find it but somewhere, I saw a post that you could plug in an adapter at a 30-amp site (assuming it also has 15 amp?) to get a total of 45? amps ... We're gonna be traveling in August through Texas and we wanted to stay overnight at a state park that only has 30 amp. We stated at State Park in early March that was 30 amp only and it was barely adequate - yes we needed AC in March.
Has anyone ever done this and did it work well enough to keep your AC running? I would be running fridge (could do propane), coffeemaker, A/C.

 

[J&JD]

I don’t know if the y splitter would help much but I do know that you can run both a/c’s on 30amps if you install these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08H72RSD8/?tag=rvf01-20

 

[osuallen]

I searched around and can't find it but somewhere, I saw a post that you could plug in an adapter at a 30-amp site (assuming it also has 15 amp?) to get a total of 45? amps ... We're gonna be traveling in August through Texas and we wanted to stay overnight at a state park that only has 30 amp. We stated at State Park in early March that was 30 amp only and it was barely adequate - yes we needed AC in March.
Has anyone ever done this and did it work well enough to keep your AC running? I would be running fridge (could do propane), coffeemaker, A/C.
View attachment 11963

https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Plug-Adapters/Camco/CAM55025.html

 

[bpaikman]

https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Plug-Adapters/Camco/CAM55025.html

Have you used this? Did it work well?
Or should we give up on the idea of older state parks in August?

 

[marc2912]

I'm so confused by this, since there seems to be zero electronic I don't see how it balances the load 2:1 (30:15). I would assume (resistance of the cabling aside) that the load would end up overall splitting rather evenly and I feel like it would just constantly try the 15 amp cable. I need an electrician or someone much smarter to explain how this works.

 

[osuallen]

Have you used this? Did it work well?
Or should we give up on the idea of older state parks in August?

I do not even own one. I just remembered seeing it as well

 

[jbh]

RV 50A is actually two legs of 50A each, so this will give you one leg of 30A and one leg of 15A. Think about it.

 

[bpaikman]

I'm so confused by this, since there seems to be zero electronic I don't see how it balances the load 2:1 (30:15). I would assume (resistance of the cabling aside) that the load would end up overall splitting rather evenly and I feel like it would just constantly try the 15 amp cable. I need an electrician or someone much smarter to explain how this works.

Yeah, I don't understand electronic stuff - One of my weak spots . I'm guessing that it would draw both, but I don't know. I had once heard to think of electricity like water, and if there's 'pressure' from both a 30 amp and 15 amp it seems both would 'pour out'. Yes? No? The splitter is cheaper than a $300+ soft start device, and takes no brains to install. but, yeah, well.

 

[bpaikman]

RV 50A is actually two legs of 50A each, so this will give you one leg of 30A and one leg of 15A. Think about it.

My brain is sputtering.

 

[Jerryfr]

keeping it simple.

Going into your park pedestal you have 1 leg 50 amp 110 volt, call it A. Another leg 50 amp 110 volt, call it B. And one neutral. The pedestal is also bonded to ground.

Each 110 leg is out of phase with the other. This is how you get 220. Now the 110 20 amp is connected to the buss bar on one of the legs. So as has been said before 50 amps one leg 110, 50 amps the other leg 110. The breakers are 50 amp double poll (to give you 220) 30 amp single poll (to give you 110) and a 20 amp single poll (to again give you 110)

The 20 amp 110 breaker is feeding off the buzz bar from one leg. More times then not B leg, if wired correctly

one leg A and the other B

 

[Rich W.]

The short answer is they do not work. I bought one tried it and it triggered the gfi in my 15amp outlet on my pedestal. As a 30amp connecter it worked just fine. Also using it as a 50 amp to 15 amp adapter, it did nothing. So essentially useless. I sent mine back and got a refund.

 

[marc2912]

The short answer is they do not work. I bought one tried it and it triggered the gfi in my 15amp outlet on my pedestal. As a 30amp conmecter it worked just fine. Also using it as a 50 amp to 15 amp adapter, it did nothing. So essentially useless. I sent mine back and got a refund.

Hey Rich, at least on the detail page linked above, it states that it won't work with GFCI outlets. I'm still very skeptical though.

 

[Rich W.]

Below is the link to a previous discussion on this.

Bottom line on my findings was this: “It might work without a GFI on the plug on the 15amp side, and using it on less sensitive equipment such as a stick welder (might work), but my coach electronics are not pleased and I don’t want to upset them, much less let any smoke out.”

I thought about testing every connection in the thing and mapping it to see why its tripping the gfi, but decided it wasnt worth the time and since it was an amazon prime purchase, it was much more expedient to just send it back for a refund.

I also thought about running to extension cord to a non-gfi protected outlet to test it, but A) all 15amp outlets on RV pedestals Ive seen are GFI protected so it wouldn't matter anyway, and B) I didn't want to use my coach EMS as a test bed to find out what would happen. I‘m learning……

30 amp hook up

My rig is 50 amp. If I pull into a park with only 30 amp do I need a 30 to 50 “dog bone” to plug into the camp post and a 50 to 30 to plug into the surge protector so that the sockets will match up? I really shouldn’t let my mind wonder in the early morning. It goes off to strange things.

rvforums.com

 

[Bob K4TAX]

So does your vehicle have a 50A service or a 30A service?

If you have a 50A vehicle you can buy a 50 amp to 30 amp adapter but you will still only have 30 amps.

You can buy a 30 amp to 50 amp adapter but you will still have only 30 amps.

The only safe and reliable means to have more power is to have a 50 amp service and the vehicle configured for 50 amps. Otherwise, 30 amps is 30 amps, anyway one multiplies it.

Trying to use two different outlets at the campsite is very risky and borders on dangerous. Stay safe and do it the way it was designed.

 

[marc2912]

I didn't want to use my coach EMS as a test bed to find out what would happen. I‘m learning……

Yeah, I totally agree with you there. It's not worth testing something like that with a 6+ figure investment. I'm more following to figure out how this could even really work.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

Our TT has a 30A service. I carry a 50A to 30A adapter. But we still have only 30A, not 50A. The main breaker inside the trailer is 30A which is the limiting factor.

I also carry a 20A to 30A adapter. With this, I only have 20A which is limited by the breaker on the power post.

There is no free lunch.

 

[Jerryfr]

In a service you can only have 1 neutral. As many circuits as you like, just one neutral. Every circuit uses that 1 neutral. With the neutral and ground lug bars connecting at one point, I'm thinking the sensitivity of the GFI is picking up the introduction of a new neutral as a dead short to ground. A regular plug would probably work, but then....

I'm 50 amp so never needed or tried one of these

 

[Bob K4TAX]

In a service you can only have 1 neutral. As many circuits as you like, just one neutral. Every circuit uses that 1 neutral. With the neutral and ground lug bars connecting at one point, I'm thinking the sensitivity of the GFI is picking up the introduction of a new neutral as a dead short to ground. A regular plug would probably work, but then....

I'm 50 amp so never needed or tried one of these

So how do you deal with smaller campgrounds that only have 30A service?

 

[marc2912]

So how do you deal with smaller campgrounds that only have 30A service?

My rig is 50Amp, all electric, 3 roof acs, resi fridge, induction cooktop etc. I don't use washer/dryer or ACs when on 30A, everything else (as long as you don't run at once) works without a problem. That's not even a hard rule, just two weeks ago I was in that position and it was getting hot. I turned on one AC and nothing tripped. I think you just need to be mindful of what you're going to use.
Yes you won't be able to use all 3 ACs, run a load of laundry, cook and use the oven at once, honestly I don't even know if I'd be able to do that with 50A.

 

[Jerryfr]

Not trying to sound flip, but you use what you've got. I've seen many people try to rig something up and later regret it.
Also, just my observations, my wife and I try to book parks that have 50 amp. Some don't, but in all our trekking around the country I haven't yet not been able to find one that suited our needs.
Just be careful. I just want to throw this into the conversation.
Get yourself a multimeter and always check your pedestal. Many of the older parks aren't up to code and nothing will cook your rig quicker than an open ground. I've seen it a few times. A meter can save your rig