50 to 30 amp dog bone

[Deano_1]

Hey guys,

Anyone use a 50mp to 30 amp dog bone for their RV? In some parks if there are many campers plugged into the 30amp service, would it be acceptable to use to dog bone with a camper with a 30 amp power? I heard of people doing this but just wondering how safe it is.

Thanks,

Deano

[vermilye]

While I only carry one 50 to 30 amp adapter, I know of individuals that carry 2, each with the 30 amp side wired to a different leg of the 50 amp side. They check to see which side provides higher voltage.

While both the 50 amp & 30 amp receptacles are connected to the same wiring to the pedestal, depending on how well the campground planed the balancing of the 30 amp receptacles throughout the park, one leg may well have a higher load lower voltage), particularly if there are mostly 30 amp users.

[phillyg]

Do it frequently, no problem.

[wapiticountry]

If your concern in voltage drop in the campground, switching to the 50 Amp connection will not change anything. Both the 30 and 50 amp connections run off the same service wires. There isn't a set of wires feeding the 30 amp connections and a separate set feeding the 50. What you might gain is a more solid breaker (the 50 isn't flipped off and on as much as the 30) and, as others have said, the fifty plug itself is generally not as worn as the 30. But then again, the 30 amp breakers and 30 amp plugs get changed more frequently during repairs and maintenance exactly for the reason they get more wear and tear, so you might find a 30 in new condition and the corresponding 50 worn.

[rhagfo]

time2roll wrote:

Deano_1 wrote:
I want to by a surge protection. Would I put a 30 amp protector “after “ the dog bone?

YES

Rather than just surge suppression, get an EMS, this will run a check on the power from the pedestal before allowing it to be passed to your unit. Then it will constantly monitor it and shut down if it goes out of spec.

[LouLawrence]

time2roll wrote:

Deano_1 wrote:
I want to by a surge protection. Would I put a 30 amp protector “after “ the dog bone?

YES

Again, yes!

[Scottiemom]

At my house under my port, I only have a 50amp which was fine for the Phaeton. But the Phaeton is sold and I am using that same plug in on my B+ which is only 30 amp. I use a dog bone and it works fine. I do sometimes run the air, but still limit my total to under 30 amps.

Dale

[time2roll]

Deano_1 wrote:
I want to by a surge protection. Would I put a 30 amp protector “after “ the dog bone?

YES

[bob213]

If you are going to spend any money on a surge protector spend some more and get an EMS. That's true protection from more than just a surge. Progressive Industries, Hughes WatchDog, or Southwire are all rated well. Post, dogbone,(autoformer if you have one)EMS,RV is the order I do mine.

[Bobbo]

Roadpilot wrote:
I use one all the time because the 50 plugs are usually in better shape than the well used 30 amp plugs. You can't overload anything by doing this. It's like to plugging a shaver into a 20 amp outlet.

This ^^^^^^^^^^^.

[Deano_1]

Thanks for all the responses. I will invest in one of these soon. One more question on this topic. I want to by a surge protection. Would I put a 30 amp protector “after “ the dog bone?

[BB_TX]

Simple answer. No problem using that adapter. Your 30 amp RV is protected by its internal 30 amp breaker.

[Lwiddis]

I always use the plug that looks the least used…usually the 50…when in a rare campground with electricity. I check polarity every time.

[wa8yxm]

I carried a full set. Some parks there is an issue with the 30 amp outlets and the plug on some RV's (Seen it) so we hooked the RVer to the 50 amp outlet. via ye old bone. I've hooked 50 amp RV's into 30 amp sockets same way

Some folks yammer about how the 30 amp cord can't take 50 amps.

Well for hours on end yes. for the time it takes the 50 amp breaker to trip should somehthing short out.. No problem

[delwhjr]

The typical 50 to 30 dog-bone only uses one of the hot wires available in the 50 supply. It will be perfectly fine. I have taken apart some which had been damaged to put on new ends. They were all wired this way.