50 amp vs 30 amp service questions

[Foxfire]

If the 50 amp service has 2 hot 50 amp legs do they service 2 different sides of the panel. Meaning is one leg powering one side on the panel and the other leg servicing the other side of the panel.
If this is so what happens when you use an adapter and plug our 50 amp rig into a 30 amp recepticle? Does it only power one side of the fuse panel? If so how do you know which side and will it be the side with the transformer?
I realize this is RVing 101 but I must have missed this lesson.
Thanks for your answers.

[mhs4771]

You're correct on the 50 amp service but when you use a 30 to 50 adapter, they tie the two 50 amp hot leads together. So you now have only 30 amps (feeding both sides of the panel) for the entire RW vs 50 amps for each leg. Thus the reason you must use power management skills to keep from triping the 30 amp breaker on the pole.

[atom ant]

Yep - just like she says

By the time you deduct the converter and some of the other "always" on stuff, it's amazing how short the 30A falls compared to the "100a" available in the 50A hookup.

[almcc]

We've actually ran into some 50 amp campgrounds where there is only 1-50 amp breaker (yesterday at Natchez Trace state park for example). I assume that you get a total of 50 amps on both legs of your redwood, same as the 30 amp adapter would give you 30 amps total on both sides.

[Foxfire]

My real question was answered, when you use a 50 amp to 30 amp adapter the 30 amp line now feeds both side of the service panel. Realizing you have a power management issue, but as long as the converter is powered my question was answered and of course a hair blower and make up mirror LOL

[almcc]

It's amazing how many amps you "really need". In Mexico with our older Titanium we stopped in some in some campgrounds with less than 15 amp service, I measured the draw using a clamp on ammeter at about 4 amps (running the water heater and fridge on gas) using lights and running sat internet and TV.

Unless you need A/C, you can easily run on 15 amp service with power management.

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by almcc

We've actually ran into some 50 amp campgrounds where there is only 1-50 amp breaker (yesterday at Natchez Trace state park for example). I assume that you get a total of 50 amps on both legs of your redwood, same as the 30 amp adapter would give you 30 amps total on both sides.

(wow - that's bizarre! I've never seen that)

Anyone know what the plug looks like on the new 100A sites (cater to MHs)?

[Ian Smith]

I have been in camp sites with a 50 amp plug and and one breaker. All you are getting is 50 amp shared same as 30 amp is shared on both legs of the panel....Ian

[KenM]

The 50 amp breaker should be a 2 pole, therefore 50 amps an each hot leg.

[mhs4771]

You can find some pretty weird hookups in campgrounds. Stayed in one recently that had 50 amps, but was supplied by two seperate 50 amp breakers vs the normal that are tied together. So at that campground it could be possible to trip one breaker and loose one side of the RW power panel.

[almcc]

Originally Posted by KenM

The 50 amp breaker should be a 2 pole, therefore 50 amps an each hot leg.

Nope, it was a single 50 amp breaker, not a "ganged" breaker assembly with 2-50 amp breakers joined together. We've seen this a few times in different rv parks.

[atom ant]

It doesn't have to be a ganged breaker - it can have a single handle like this, but it is still 2 pole

http://www.grainger.com/product/SQUA...AS01?$smthumb$

[almcc]

Originally Posted by atom ant

It doesn't have to be a ganged breaker - it can have a single handle like this, but it is still 2 pole

http://www.grainger.com/product/SQUA...AS01?$smthumb$

Sorry A A, the link didn't work for me. I haven't seen a non ganged CB, at least one that is UL/CSA approved.

[atom ant]

sorry about that - not sure whats going on.

I was thinking like this Plug In Circuit Breaker, 50A, 2P, 10kA, 240V

[almcc]

I assume that breaker would take up two slots in.the box, the box at the park had only one slot, still think it was a 50 amp 1 pole breaker

[atom ant]

Did your 50A cord fit the plug? I'm sure your right, but if they bridged across both poles on a 50A with that receptacle, they were way out of code. It would impact those that showed up with 220A dryers in their rigs if they were expecting 240 across the two poles.

[almcc]

Yes, the 50 amp plug fit, I've seen this set up in a few rv parks. By the way, it was a Square "D" breaker. I'm wondering how many RVs need 240 volts, I'll bet they are in the minority.

[lwg]

Originally Posted by atom ant

Did your 50A cord fit the plug? I'm sure your right, but if they bridged across both poles on a 50A with that receptacle, they were way out of code. It would impact those that showed up with 220A dryers in their rigs if they were expecting 240 across the two poles.

Also, I can't say that over ever seen a 50a 110v breaker in any application. AA is right, if your plug fit it was likely 50a 220v. I've installed a surge protector with readout in my Redwood for this very reason.

[lwg]

Originally Posted by almcc

Yes, the 50 amp plug fit, I've seen this set up in a few rv parks. By the way, it was a Square "D" breaker. I'm wondering how many RVs need 240 volts, I'll bet they are in the minority.

Just saw this. Your RV needs 240v, or 220v as its more commonly called.

[almcc]

Originally Posted by lwg

Just saw this. Your RV needs 240v, or 220v as its more commonly called.

I guess I need some enlightenment, why do I need 240V or 220V (depending on whether you are talking RMS or peak) in my RV? I don't have any 220V appliances and Ive used 30 amp and 15 amp 110V adapters and when my Honda 3000 (23 amps at 110V through the 30 amp 110V adapter) runs the RV everything works fine assuming I use some intelligent power management.

The reason for the somewhat "tongue in cheek" response is that I wouldn't want someone reading this thread (with less electrical knowledge) to assume that they would be restricted to 50 amp campgrounds. While full service campgrounds are great, we occasionally hit state or provincial parks where 30 amps at 110V is all you get, and we've lived comfortably on a standard 15 amp wall plug when we stay in our daughter's driveway. I can't talk for Redwoods with residential fridges, we didn't go for that option as we wanted to ensure that we have maximum flexibility in campsite choices.