Our trailer is a 30 amp unit, but we carry a 50 amp to 30 amp converter plug for those times when the 30 amp pedestal plug looks well-worn and questionable. Works fine, but is this as 'alright' as I think it is?
I would think you would be fine as long as your 30 A breaker in you RVs load center is working properly. Both pedestal breakers are 50 A and you would be connected to one of them depending on which leg you are plugged into. My understanding is that breakers are sized to protect the wiring in any electrical system. This then begs the question of wire size. For example, I believe my trailer is wired with # 10 wire which is rated for 30 A. I would assume your RV is as well. So, is there any issue with connecting a 30 A rated shore power cable to the 50 A to 30 A adapter which is protected with a 50 A breaker at the pedestal? I would assume that UL or some AHJ has blessed this connection scheme but best if Mike comments on this as I am not an expert.
My trailer has a 30 Amp system but stating the obvious, a 50 Amp system must have double 50 Amp breakers (as Mike mentioned). When using a 30 A to 50 A adapter once the current draw in either leg exceeded 30 A, the 30 A pedestal breaker would trip. So, it would seem that you’d never trip either of the 50 A breakers in the RVs load center.
Doug, you are 100% correct. If you're powering from a 30-amp pedestal outlet, the 30-amp breaker in the pedestal should trip firstt. And it's unlikely you would ever trip the 50-amp double-pole breaker in your RV's load center.
Our trailer is a 30 amp unit, but we carry a 50 amp to 30 amp converter plug for those times when the 30 amp pedestal plug looks well-worn and questionable. Works fine, but is this as 'alright' as I think it is?
I would think you would be fine as long as your 30 A breaker in you RVs load center is working properly. Both pedestal breakers are 50 A and you would be connected to one of them depending on which leg you are plugged into. My understanding is that breakers are sized to protect the wiring in any electrical system. This then begs the question of wire size. For example, I believe my trailer is wired with # 10 wire which is rated for 30 A. I would assume your RV is as well. So, is there any issue with connecting a 30 A rated shore power cable to the 50 A to 30 A adapter which is protected with a 50 A breaker at the pedestal? I would assume that UL or some AHJ has blessed this connection scheme but best if Mike comments on this as I am not an expert.
My trailer has a 30 Amp system but stating the obvious, a 50 Amp system must have double 50 Amp breakers (as Mike mentioned). When using a 30 A to 50 A adapter once the current draw in either leg exceeded 30 A, the 30 A pedestal breaker would trip. So, it would seem that you’d never trip either of the 50 A breakers in the RVs load center.
Doug, you are 100% correct. If you're powering from a 30-amp pedestal outlet, the 30-amp breaker in the pedestal should trip firstt. And it's unlikely you would ever trip the 50-amp double-pole breaker in your RV's load center.