Camp site wiring??

[pawnguy]

Hello again,
I'm a little confused about plugging my new well 1975 sovereign
To a campsite. I was told it wasn't a 220 system. I was told it was only
110 AC. Is this true... They said there was somewhere on the camper
To select 220 or 110.. Could someone please explain what I need to do
When I get to a campsite. Thanks so much again... These forums are
great for the help it's members offer...
Mark

[newroswell]

Mark, your Airstream is going to be all 110AC unless it's been modified significantly. I think you're visualizing the 110AC at the campsite looking like a home outlet. It doesn't, home outlets are typically 15/20 amps.

At the campsite you're looking for a 30 amp with 3 large prong socket. Some sites will have a 50 amp 4 prong socket (usually in addition to the 30 amp socket). You don't want the 50 amp.

[moosetags]

Mark, Airstreams operate on 110 volt ac systems. The plug that goes into the campground outlet is a 110 volt ac, 30 amp. The plug on your airstream may look similar to a 220 volt clothes dryer plug at home but it is not 220 volt. Some RV are 50 amp, but still 110 volt.

Brian

[CapnTom]

Actually, I believe if you measure the voltage on a 50amp plug you will get 220 volts across both hot legs, but 110v when measuring from one or the other leg to neutral. However, the trailers using the 50amp plug do in fact use 110v. They get the 50amps from the double legs on the 50amp plug via 25amps per each leg. In this case the trailer wiring would be setup so that 1/2 the breakers are fed from one leg and 1/2 the breakers from the other. If by chance you had a 220v appliance then you would have a double breaker using both legs to get your 220v.

Basically if your trailer has a 3 prong plug it's using a 30amp hookup, if it has a 4 prong plug it's using a 50amp hookup.

[markdoane]

Originally Posted by CapnTom

Actually, I believe if you measure the voltage on a 50amp plug you will get 220 volts across both hot legs, but 110v when measuring from one or the other leg to neutral. However, the trailers using the 50amp plug do in fact use 110v. They get the 50amps from the double legs on the 50amp plug via 25amps per each leg. In this case the trailer wiring would be setup so that 1/2 the breakers are fed from one leg and 1/2 the breakers from the other. If by chance you had a 220v appliance then you would have a double breaker using both legs to get your 220v.

Basically if your trailer has a 3 prong plug it's using a 30amp hookup, if it has a 4 prong plug it's using a 50amp hookup.

Thats 95% true, except that a 50A outlet provides 50A of 120V across each leg, for a total 100A at 120V.

[TG Twinkie]

Don't plug your trailer into 220! It is wired for 110 volts. The 30 amp plug is specifically designed for RV's. It has 3 wires, 1 hot leg, one neutral, and the ground. If you go to a big box store like Home Depot, they will have the receptacle. It is marked "FOR RV USE ONLY" Labeled 110/120 volt 30 amp.

[pawnguy]

Thank you all for the help and putting it in country boy
Turns.. I'll pass that info on to the person that misguided me... Thanks a ton.

[CrawfordGene]

But someone could have rewired the trailer for some personal desires, or just used the wrong cable that plugs into the side of the trailer and goes to the campground power. Unlikely, but people do crazy things. If it does have a 50 amp plug, check the converter and see how its wired—a 50 amp main breaker would tell you the trailer has been seriously rewired and may be ok, maybe not. An RV tech should (but may not) figure this out if you can't. A 35 year old trailer may have undergone a lot of changes.

Gene

[Dave Park]

As Gene says...

It is always best to err on the side of caution when AC is involved.

[pawnguy]

Thanks to all of you for the help... Think I'm clear on it now.. Really appreciate you all taking the time to help.. Blessed Airstreaming..