30amp / 50amp question

[Texas_on_the_ro]

Just sold my 30Amp trailer and buying a new 50Amp trailer that has 2 AC's. When visiting my Father he has a 30A plug. Can I still plug in my old 30A surge/voltage protector, use a 30 to 50 adaptor, and still have power but use only one AC?

[MEXICOWANDERER]

• Gotta be smarter than the problem
• Go to large auto parts store
• Buy a cup of coarse valve lapping compound
• Prep an old unusable 30 or 50 amp plug
• make some sort of Mickey Mouse handle to yank the plug out
• Dab a light coat of compound all over the prongs
• Then push and yank the plug in and out of the receptacle 10 times
• Some compounds are electrically conductive so use a light smear
• Brake cleaner will blast the excess off both the cleaning plug and then into the receptacle
• And yes it is a good idea to trip the breaker while doing this work

[Texas_on_the_ro]

Thank you all for the great info...and education.

[2oldman]

I use a file. Takes just a minute or so. Some people carry a product like De-oxit (sp) to spray into to the pedestal. I don't do that, but I do check my plug often when running air to make sure it's not heating up even with just the air on. A little bit of heat can grow over hours and hours of use. I also turn off the electric water heater, and I use solar for battery charging.

[Kpackpackkelley]

Ok I see what your saying . I talking about I guess perfect conditions which we won’t have. That reminds I should clean my plugs. They do get tarnished .
Anybody ever clean them with brass cleaner then wipe them with alcohol thinking of trying it. ?

[2oldman]

Kpackpackkelley wrote:
So # 10 wire and a 30 amp breaker and plug can’t be run at 30 amps continuous

The problem is the plug and socket. Most sockets have some kind of corrosion, causing a poor connection and heat. The point of connection of the wires to the plug are also a weak point.

Your mileage may vary.

[Kpackpackkelley]

So # 10 wire and a 30 amp breaker and plug can’t be run at 30 amps continuous.
Do you have to bigger wire or plug or breaker. Plug , wire and breaker are not a generator with a motor ..

[2oldman]

Kpackpackkelley wrote:
Two ac ‘s should be around 30 amps or do they pull more than that.

They pull 5x that much on starting up, but yeah, 30a is about right.

The problem here is that a "30a" system doesn't mean you should be running at 30a continuously. That means max, at least that's been my experience. You run a significant risk of overheating your plug when you do that.

It's like running a 2kw generator at 2k all the time. Ain't designed for that.

[Kpackpackkelley]

Two ac ‘s should be around 30 amps or do they pull more than that.

[Bobbo]

tarnold wrote:
If I recall, on my PC when plugged into 30amp the second a/c is not receiving current thu the panel, so it can’t be turned on.

Depends on how the manufacturer wires the RV. That is not a generally safe assumption to make. A lot, if not most, manufacturers merely put them on separate legs of the breaker panel. Since both legs get power with the 30 to 50 adapter, it is entirely possible that both ACs could be turned on. The manufacturer would have to put in something to detect that it was only 30 amp power, and disable the second AC.

[wolfe10]

theoldwizard1 wrote:

Kpackpackkelley wrote:
Should be able to draw 30 amps any combination of loads.

Concur, IF the adapter connects both hot legs of he 50A plug to the one hot leg of the 30A plug.

100% of the 30 male to 50 amp adapters I am aware of DO connect the single hot on the 30 amp end to BOTH hots on the 50 amp end.

[theoldwizard1]

Kpackpackkelley wrote:
Should be able to draw 30 amps any combination of loads.

Concur, IF the adapter connects both hot legs of he 50A plug to the one hot leg of the 30A plug.

[Kpackpackkelley]

Should be able to draw 30 amps any combination of loads.

[tarnold]

If I recall, on my PC when plugged into 30amp the second a/c is not receiving current thu the panel, so it can’t be turned on.

[2012Coleman]

Texas on the road wrote:
Just sold my 30Amp trailer and buying a new 50Amp trailer that has 2 AC's. When visiting my Father he has a 30A plug. Can I still plug in my old 30A surge/voltage protector, use a 30 to 50 adaptor, and still have power but use only one AC?

Yes - I do this all the time at my home. I run one AC and turn on the fridge - on electric.

enblethen wrote:
It would not trip the rig's breaker, but the breaker you are plugged into whether it be a pedestal or wherever the circuit is fed from.

And this has actually happened because someone turned on the second AC without me knowing - no plugs were burned...