30 amp or 50 amp portable EMC?

[pcskier]

I am going to buy a Progressive Industries Surge Protector/EMC for my 2013 Flying Cloud 19. What's the difference between the 30 amp and 50 amp? Everything about the FC seems to refer to 30 amp. But does the EMC needed depend on the amperage of the tower in the RV Park, is that what the 30 vs 50 is all about? And if so...how do you handle it depending on which model you have?

A bit confused by this and want to order, so any help is appreciated!

[jayseejay]

Hi there. Since your FC is 30 amp, not 50 amp, you will need only the 30 amp surge guard. Best, Joe

[pcskier]

In doing more reading, it seems that some RV Park towers are 30A and others are 50A. Just getting back into RV'ing, so I don't know: are most 30A, some 30A and 50A, and more importantly, are any exclusively 50A? And if so, would I use a 50A to 30A adapter plug, and is it safe to do so?

Thanks for the feedback!

[Glenritas]

Originally Posted by pcskier

In doing more reading, it seems that some RV Park towers are 30A and others are 50A. Just getting back into RV'ing, so I don't know: are most 30A, some 30A and 50A, and more importantly, are any exclusively 50A? And if so, would I use a 50A to 30A adapter plug, and is it safe to do so?

Thanks for the feedback!

No you need only a 30 Amp protector.

In the rare case where there is only a 50 amp pedestal you will need a 50 amp to 30 amp adapter to plug in your protector and trailer.

You should also have a 15 Amp to 30 Amp adapter in your kit. For the odd time you find a pedestal that only has a 15 or 20 amp outlet. Of course you would only be able to run some stuff.

Oh and get a circuit tester that you plug into the outlet on the pedestal to be sure its wired correctly.

[BAB]

Good advice from all. I had a 30 amp model in my 30 amp trailer and now a 50 amp PI model in my new Classic. The way it works with a 50 amp is that the meter reads L1 (Leg 1) with volts and amps. Then it reads L2 (Leg 2) with volts and amps on the second leg. When I'm using an adapter on a 30 amp pedestal it only reads L1 (L2 gives zero values). BTW, IF you are plugged into your generator you MUST turn the switch on the meter OFF. If you do not, the PI will not allow any current into your trailer. It has to do with the floating ground on a generator vs. the usual ground process with a pedestal.

[tipidad]

I've been helping friends with their SOB RV. They have a panel/converter that is set up for 50amp, 240volt (2 hots, neutral and ground), with a built in converter that creates 12v DC. They have a 120v, 30amp generator. I told them they should get a 230v generator, or they couldn't use 1/2 of the panels branch circuits. Does 30amp imply 120v, and 50amp 120/240v in RV world? Or can you get get either amperage with either voltage?
Someday I hope to get an AS, but at the moment I just read the forum and dream! Thanks!

[centennialman]

What length of cable lock would you buy to secure the Progressive Industries protector to the post at the campground?

[tjdonahoe]

Originally Posted by tipidad

I've been helping friends with their SOB RV. They have a panel/converter that is set up for 50amp, 240volt (2 hots, neutral and ground), with a built in converter that creates 12v DC. They have a 120v, 30amp generator. I told them they should get a 230v generator, or they couldn't use 1/2 of the panels branch circuits. Does 30amp imply 120v, and 50amp 120/240v in RV world? Or can you get get either amperage with either voltage?
Someday I hope to get an AS, but at the moment I just read the forum and dream! Thanks!

I don't know for sure what you got , on my trailer 50 amp service, using an adapter with 30 amp everything works, just can't use everything , the same with the 15-20 amp adapter, is what I use with the 2000 watt honda, everything is workable....I don't think you have a 240 v converter...

[n2916s]

Okay, so the 50 amp service is two 120v legs. If you measure between them, sure there is 240 volts. But, no RV that I am aware of uses 240. The two 120v legs are split and distributed within the RV at 120.

So, no, you don't need a 240 volt generator.

[TG Twinkie]

Some big bus RV's are 240 but not all.
If you intend on using all a available circuits in your coach you need both HOT legs energized. Which means you will need a 230/240 volt source. The load limit will be determined by the generator size up to the 50 amp service. In other words, if the generator is rated at 20 amps per leg, that is your max capacity. A 2,400 watt generator is only capable of producing around 2,000 watts continuous.

[switz]

The two hots of the 50 amp service stay separated. The power cord coming out of the trailer takes the two hot legs from pole inside the trailer and puts them on one hot pole of the power plug into the pedestal.

Just like in a house, there is usually a 240 Vac main breaker. There typically is only a dryer, air conditioner, water heater, stove or oven on the bus with a double breaker (240Vac). All the wall outlets and lights will be on only on one leg of the bus or the other but not both at the same time.

The Airstream brings in 240Vac at 50 amps which can support 12,000 watts of power load. The 30 amp at 120Vac can only bring in 3,600 watts of power. So the folks with 30 amps have to do serious power management.

[TG Twinkie]

The above statement is incorrect or perhaps poorly stated. 240 volts AC is defined as L1, L2, Neutral, Ground. The power panel in the coach has a split buss. Buss A is connected to L1, Buss B is connected to L2. There are only single pole breakers in the panel, thus only 120 volts is provided to each circuit connected to a specific breaker. Both L1 and L2 use the same neutral as the return path. Every other breaker in the panel is connected to Buss A. The breakers in between are connected to Buss B.
If you look at a 30 amp split buss panel in the coach, in many cases where a household type panel is used you will find a jumper between Buss A and Buss B.
If you would install a similar jumper in a trailer wired for 240 volts there would be a dead short between L1 and L2.
It is possible to wire 3 wire system coach for 6,000 watts by using only one leg of the 240volt 50 amp source. By connecting only L1 from a 50 amp source. Wire size must be considered. 120 x 50 = 6,000 watts.
Since the 240 volt source is a 4 wire system the L2 would need to be taped off in a safe manner to prevent any contact with the coach, L1, neutral or ground.
The afore mentioned jumper would be needed for a split buss system.

[garry]

Originally Posted by pcskier

I am going to buy a Progressive Industries Surge Protector/EMC for my 2013 Flying Cloud 19. What's the difference between the 30 amp and 50 amp? Everything about the FC seems to refer to 30 amp. But does the EMC needed depend on the amperage of the tower in the RV Park, is that what the 30 vs 50 is all about? And if so...how do you handle it depending on which model you have?

A bit confused by this and want to order, so any help is appreciated!

You need a 30 amp as your coach is 30amp.

The camp ground pedestal will have an outlet for 30, a separate outlet for 50 and sometimes a 20 amp.
You can not make a mistake and plug into the wrong one as they are all different and your 30 will only plug into a 30.

There are adapters you can buy that will allow you to mix and match the different connections but you will still be limited to a maximum 30 amps.

[switz]

I was tired and did a poor job of explaining in my post #11 above. Thanks TG Twinkle for restating it so it made sense.

[MacPDX]

Originally Posted by centennialman

What length of cable lock would you buy to secure the Progressive Industries protector to the post at the campground?

I have a 15' Masterlock cable with 2 locks; loop around pedestal and use one lock, lock other end to hasp provided on the Progressive.

Most of the time, however, the pedestal has a locking door and I just use that.

[centennialman]

Thanks! I picked up a cable lock this weekend and will give it a try. I was wondering if the unit would still fit inside the box if I closed the cover....that way may work as well.