30 amp into 50 amp connections

[pianolaw]

At home I have a 30 amp power pedestal (been there for years - came with the house). My AS is 50 amp. Right now I have a 30-50 dogleg converter going into a 50 amp surge protector. The 50 amp power cable is plugged into the surge protector and then into the AS. As many know the 50 amp cable is huge and heavy. I want to buy a shorter 30 amp cable (10'-15' max; can be shorter if such a length exists) and store the 50 amp cable while at home. I still want to use the 50 amp surge protector. What connections/plugs/convertors would you recommend without having a bunch of doglegs which would cause the surge protector to extend so much it lays on the ground?

[mikeinca]

Since your outlet is 30A, both your must-use surge protector and AS are 50A, and you want to use a 30A cable, there's no way to avoid having multiple adaptors at the house end and another adaptor at the trailer.

A different solution would be to buy a 15' Mighty Cord 50A cable. (see link below). The Mighty Cord cables are much lighter and easier to handle than standard 50A snakes. My 25' 50A Mighty Cord is coiled up in a 15" square box in the rear compartment of my trailer. With a 50A cable you could use the same hook up arrangement you have now without any additional adaptors. Just a suggestion...

https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Wiring/M...10-5015EH.html

[pianolaw]

Originally Posted by mikeinca

Since your outlet is 30A, both your must-use surge protector and AS are 50A, and you want to use a 30A cable, there's no way to avoid having multiple adaptors at the house end and another adaptor at the trailer.

A different solution would be to buy a 15' Mighty Cord 50A cable. (see link below). The Mighty Cord cables are much lighter and easier to handle than standard 50A snakes. My 25' 50A Mighty Cord is coiled up in a 15" square box in the rear compartment of my trailer. With a 50A cable you could use the same hook up arrangement you have now without any additional adaptors. Just a suggestion...

https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Wiring/M...10-5015EH.html

Thanks great suggestion. I am going to look for one with a locking plug

[mikeinca]

Originally Posted by pianolaw

Thanks great suggestion. I am going to look for one with a locking plug

You're welcome. I know it's longer than what you were looking for with your home setup, but the 25' version I have does come with a locking ring. The advantage would be that you could then leave your current giant 50A snake at home permanently, and use the 25 footer when you travel as well. It's such a relief not to have to drag that huge stock cable around everywhere. Cheers!

https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Wiring/M...-5025ED90.html

[UncleBad]

We use this while one the road and it is MUCH simpler to move and coils up nicely. We only use the “anaconda” when the shorter cord just won’t reach (only once so far)!

https://amzn.to/2JKAD3o

It’s like the one above but has a 90 degree angle to reduce stress on the AS connector and has a locking ring.

It has made life much easier....

[mikeinca]

Originally Posted by UncleBad

We use this while one the road and it is MUCH simpler to move and coils up nicely. We only use the “anaconda” when the shorter cord just won’t reach (only once so far)!

https://amzn.to/2JKAD3o

It’s like the one above but has a 90 degree angle to reduce stress on the AS connector and has a locking ring.

It has made life much easier....

That's the same as the one I linked to in post #4 but at a lower price, so good catch!

[greenflag]

My solution to the heavy 50 amp cord was to buy a Marinco Park Power 30 amp cord that has a 50 amp head. I also purchased a 30 amp surge protector. I also have a 50 amp surge protector. I only use my 50 amp cord when two air conditioners are needed. The Marinco cords are also more flexible in cold weather than the Airstream supplied cords.
I bought my Marinco cords on Amazon.

[Wconley]

There are many times we don’t need 50amps, especially in cooler or winter climates when the Airstream 50amp cable is stiff as rebar. Unless we are going to be in one place for an extended period I have found this 30amp cable with a 50amp female (trailer) end to be the ticket. Every connection through adapters introduces potential for a bad connection that can overheat. Our old trailer was a 30amp unit so we had a 30amp surge protector to use.

I have to say I like the idea of a more flexible 50amp cable, especially with a 90-degree terminus to reduce stress on the trailer connection.

[oldenavy]

We use a 15' 50A cord as well. I'm not sure of the brand (yellow ends, might be Camco) but it's MUCH more flexible than the factory cord and meets our length needs ~90% of the time.



We do the same thing with potable water hoses. Have 15' and 35' hoses, rarely have to break out the longer one.

[Wconley]

Originally Posted by mikeinca

Since your outlet is 30A, both your must-use surge protector and AS are 50A, and you want to use a 30A cable, there's no way to avoid having multiple adaptors at the house end and another adaptor at the trailer.

A different solution would be to buy a 15' Mighty Cord 50A cable. (see link below). The Mighty Cord cables are much lighter and easier to handle than standard 50A snakes. My 25' 50A Mighty Cord is coiled up in a 15" square box in the rear compartment of my trailer. With a 50A cable you could use the same hook up arrangement you have now without any additional adaptors. Just a suggestion...

https://www.etrailer.com/RV-Wiring/M...10-5015EH.html

Be aware this link is for an extension and not one with the correct female end to plug into your trailer.

[mikeinca]

Originally Posted by Wconley

Be aware this link is for an extension and not one with the correct female end to plug into your trailer.

You are correct. In my haste I missed that it was an extension; thanks for the correction. A better choice would be the cable I linked to in post #4, which while longer than the 15' the OP was looking for, could be used both at home and on the road.

[Mollysdad]

I have this one.

Using a 30 amp outlet is problematic if you still want the surge protector and no dog bones, but you have some choices.
1. Replace the receptacle in the box with a 50 amp one. Just jumper the two "hot" leads.
2. Buy a 30 amp surge protector. I did this because my storage facility has 30 amp power and I'm using more state parks that might have 30 amps. I went with the mid level Progressive Industries SSP-30XL.
3. Wire your RV with an internal surge protector.
4. Pull wire for a real 50 amp outlet.

[Alumaholic]

I just purchased a 2019 Flying Cloud 27 FB with two air conditioners and 50 amp service installed at the Airstream plant.
I don't take delivery until August 1.
1. How long and how heavy is the 50 amp cord that comes with my new Airstream?
2. Why is the "Mighty Cord" lighter per lineal foot?
3. Are the two air conditioners on separate breakers at the main electrical panel? In other words can I turn off one AC at the breaker and just run one AC?
Thus allowing me to use all the 30 amp extension cords I already have 90% of the time.

[UncleBad]

Originally Posted by Alumaholic

I just purchased a 2019 Flying Cloud 27 FB with two air conditioners and 50 amp service installed at the Airstream plant.
I don't take delivery until August 1.
1. How long and how heavy is the 50 amp cord that comes with my new Airstream?
2. Why is the "Mighty Cord" lighter per lineal foot?
3. Are the two air conditioners on separate breakers at the main electrical panel? In other words can I turn off one AC at the breaker and just run one AC?
Thus allowing me to use all the 30 amp extension cords I already have 90% of the time.

1 - I believe the stock cord is 25 feet long.
2 - Cant speak to why the Mighty Cord is lighter other than it is shorter?
3 - You can run either AC unit separately using your thermostat.

I can't speak to the use of your 30am cords with the 50amp service.

[mikeinca]

Originally Posted by Alumaholic

I just purchased a 2019 Flying Cloud 27 FB with two air conditioners and 50 amp service installed at the Airstream plant.
I don't take delivery until August 1.
1. How long and how heavy is the 50 amp cord that comes with my new Airstream?
2. Why is the "Mighty Cord" lighter per lineal foot?
3. Are the two air conditioners on separate breakers at the main electrical panel? In other words can I turn off one AC at the breaker and just run one AC?
Thus allowing me to use all the 30 amp extension cords I already have 90% of the time.

1. The 50 amp cable that came with my trailer is 25' long and weighs 26lbs. The 50 amp Mighty Cord cable is also 25' long and weighs 16 lbs.

2. It must have to do with the construction and materials in the sheath because the Mighty Cord cable actually has heavier duty conductors. The stock cable (mine is from Marinco) has 8 gauge conductors while the Mighty Cord has 3-6 gauge conductors and 1-8 gauge conductor. In addition to being lighter the Mighty Cord is much more flexible and can be coiled more tightly to save storage space.

3. As mentioned above, you should be able to control the AC units independently from your thermostat control.

[rmkrum]

The other thing may be the Mighty cord has insulation that takes more heat to be rated as that size conductors.

Wire capacity is figured on physical wire size and the temperature rise the insulation can handle. Expensive insulation can handle more temperature rise.

[pianolaw]

Originally Posted by UncleBad

1 - I believe the stock cord is 25 feet long.
2 - Cant speak to why the Mighty Cord is lighter other than it is shorter?
3 - You can run either AC unit separately using your thermostat.

I can't speak to the use of your 30am cords with the 50amp service.

Correct. I have 2 ACs and 50 amp service. You can shut off either AC using the thermostat. Very easy. At home where I only have 30 amp service I only run 1 AC at a time. No problem since it's ducted and both ACs use the same ductwork. And I use the 50 amp cord with a 30 to 50 amp dogbone connector.


Speaking of 30 vs 50 amp - since I started this thread - thanks for all the input and comments. I've learned a lot. Since I have 2 30 amp outlets on my power pedestal (which was installed many years ago) I may have an electrician convert one to a 50 amp to try and minimize the number of additional connections and dogbones.