Electric hook ups?

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Willphoto

Member
Joined
Jan 5, 2013
Posts
9
Hello folks,

Since I am new to the RV world and I have not camped for a very long time, boy scouts to be precise, I need some info on electric plugs.  The camper I have is a 66' Chariot and the owner had a large extension cord wired into a 30 amp fuse box.  The plug on the end of the cord is a 3 prong with ground, like you would find on any household extension cord.  Is this the right plug for a 30 amp service at a camp ground?  I just put in a new circuit breaker box for 30 amps and wondering if I should go to 50 amp with a 4 prong cord? 

I have looked all over the web for the different plug and service hook ups for camp grounds and have had no luck at all.  I see the 50 amp cord is really expensive and do not know how many feet I would need?  I also purchased a generator which has a 3 prong outlet, but not a 4 prong outlet.  I will not be using much electric in my camper except for computer equipment and a small refrigerator.

The only reason I ask about 50 amp service, there is an article I read saying that it puts a strain on the 50 amp service if you use a 30 amp hook up.

I think I am as confused as this post is. :-\  I hope you can understand what I am asking, I just do not want to pull into a campsite and have the wrong type of plug to have electric service.


Thanks,

Mark - a newbe wanna be RV'er
 
Hi Mark - Welcome to The RV Forum!

If your shore power cord has a usual 3 prong plug like you'd find on many appliances, it and the sockets it will plug into are rated at a maximum of 20 amps.

If all you're running is lights, the refrigerator and some computer gear, 20 amps should be more than you need.  But you should replace the 30 amp main breaker in your circuit breaker box with a 20 amp breaker to avoid overloading the plug and cord if you plug into an improperly fused outlet.

Most campsites have multiple power sockets in the pedestal.  For example, a 50 amp site will usually have a 30 amp socket and a standard 20 amp duplex outlet in addition to the 50 amp socket.  A 30 amp site will likely have a 30 amp outlet and a duplex 20 amp outlet.  Some older parks (primarily rustic state parks) may only have a 20 amp outlet.

But there are places where you may only find a single 50, 30 or 20 amp outlet.  Because of these variations, most RVers carry inexpensive adapters to match their shore power plug to whatever socket is available.  You won't "strain" a higher rated outlet by adapting a lesser rated plug to it, in fact you can only use as much power as the weakest link in the chain.  In this case,  the 20 amp limit of your present cord and plug is the limiting factor,  which is why you need to change your main breaker to 20 amps if you're keeping the present cord and plug

If you want more than 20 amps, I suggest converting to 30 amp service.  You'll need a TT-30 120 volt, 30 amp plug and at least 10 gauge cord between the plug and the breaker box. NEMA TT-30 Plug and Socket  Don't confuse this with the more common NEMA 10-30 240 volt dryer plug which is the same size and shape but has an L shaped ground lug.

50 amps is definitely overkill, at least until you get around to installing a couple of air conditioners and/or an electric range in that trailer.
 
Sounds like your previous owner did a poor job of adapting. As mentioned in the previous post you need a true 30 amp cord and plug hooked to your new breaker box. I would also recommend getting a 20 amp adapter to put on the new plug in case you pull into a campground with no 30 amp plug.

Good Luck and welcome aboard!

Jim



 
Hmmm. Whether you need a true 30A RV plug or just a 20A (as you have now) depends on how much power the trailer can actually use. Just because the previous owner put in a 30A fuse (circuit breaker?) box doesn't mean there are enough circuits and devices to actually use 30A - many trailer of that vintage had only one or two 15 amp circuits and few appliances that could use much in the way of 120v power anyway.

Upgrading to 30A shore service (bigger plug with larger gauge wires) is certainly ok, but may be an unnecessary expense for a 1966 trailer. Does it have an air conditioner? Can the water heater be operated in electric mode rather than LP gas? Does it have a microwave or electric coffee maker? Most any appliance that generates heat pulls a lot of amps and probably makes an upgrade to 30A power worthwhile, but if the trailer is "original" it quite possibly doesn't need it.
 
Willphoto said:
The camper I have is a 66' Chariot and the owner had a large extension cord wired into a 30 amp fuse box.  The plug on the end of the cord is a 3 prong with ground, like you would find on any household extension cord.  amp hook up.
What is your definition of a large extension cord? If it is 10 Gauge wiring, you may need only to install the correct connector as referenced by Lou at NEMA TT-30 Plug and Socket  to connect to a 30 amp source. From there the appropriate adapter to 15 or 50 amp service would easy.
If cable is 12 gauge, then 20 amp service is the most that can be safely handled.
Advice tendered by Gary is also succinct and to the point.

Good luck!
Bob
 
I had a 80 Coleman with a typical household style plug.  I purchased a connector similar to the one in the link below to use on 30 amp sites.

http://www.campingworld.com/shopping/item/30-amp-male-to-15-amp-female-adapter/57412
 
And this one is even easier to use and store, and costs a lot less.  We carry one of these and the corresponding opposite adapter, 15A male to 30A female.  Both have come in hand at times.
 
Thank you so much everybody for all the great information. :)

To answer many of the questions you have asked, I do not have any heavy appliances such as A/C, dishwasher etc.  The only appliances that I will have is a ice tea maker which is 725 watts and a small 750/1500 watt electric heater.

The new circuit breaker box I put in has a 30 amp main with two circuits of 15 amps each.  I also ran a new 12 gauge wire for the new circuit and the old circuit has 12 gauge as well.  I had to re-strip the cable wire for the new box, the cable is 8 gauge, 3 wire which I feel is adequate for a 30 amp circuit. So I think all I need is the proper plug for 30 amp service, is that correct??
I could carry a 20 amp breaker and switch out the 30 amp breaker in case the only service available is 20 amp.

The stove is propane and I want to invest in a propane heater.  Everything I look at for propane heaters is an over kill in my opinion for my small trailer. :)

I will be installing a 12 volt battery system as well just in case I am in a true rustic camp site, even though I have a generator.

Thank you again for all the information.  It has helped me to make good decisions and what direction I should be heading

Have a great day!! :)
 
Sounds like you did everything right.  Put a TT-30 plug on the end of the cord, carry a TT-30 to 20 amp plug adapter and you should be set.

Don't worry about changing out the main breaker when you plug into a 20 amp socket - you'd only need the smaller breaker if you continued to use the original 20 amp cord.
 
I too am a complete novice so I want to confirm what I'm reading here before I blow out my electrical.
I have 30 amp system on my Jaco toyhauler. No 30 amp 120 volt available at the house and the cord does not reach the closest  house outlet.
I want to keep the battery charged and use the lights and possibly TV radio as well as prechill the fridge prior to departure.

So , a summary of what i have read: it is safe to use a 30 amp female to 20 amp male adapter with shortest possible 10 gauge extension cord. then swap out the 30 amp main breaker in the RV with a 20 amp.

Thank you
 
Yes, except there's no need to swap out the trailer's breaker.  The circuit you plug into won't provide more than 20 amps and it and the cords are protected by the breaker in the house.

If you try to draw too much current you'll trip the house breaker.  Battery charging, TV, lights and other low draw uses are fine.  Make sure the electric side of your water heater is off.  Air conditioner use is marginal, either the voltage may drop too low or the house circuit breaker may trip.
 

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