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02-24-2017, 09:46 PM
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#1
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Rivet Master
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 7,620
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How is a campground plug wired.
Although I give advice, I stumped myself.
I know a 50 amp service has (2) 50 amp 125v. legs.
The plug is the same as a stove plug for 240v.
Is it wired the same way? RV's are not 240v.
But I don't see any way other than two hot legs, a neutral and a ground, pretty straightforward.
The 240v. is only present across the two hots, and the RV is not wired to use that configuration, so each leg sees 120v. from hot to neutral.
In theory (for the sake of discussion) you could plug a household 50 amp. stove into a campground outlet and it would work.
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02-25-2017, 12:16 AM
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#2
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Rivet Master
2015 30' Classic
Pleasanton
, California
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 745
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You're correct. The plug is wired as a standard 120/240 V 50 A 3 pole with 4 prongs.
Although the airstreams don't benefit from 240 V, there are some trailers with 240 V dryers, so yes you could plug in a stove too.
__________________
Al, K6IV
2015 30' Classic, "Chez Nu"
2014 RAM 2500 w/Cummins Diesel
ProPride Hitch, 400 W Solar
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02-25-2017, 06:01 PM
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#3
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Rivet Master
1986 25' Sovereign
2008 F350, 6.4L diesel
, Oak Harbor, WA
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 605
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I would think if you installed a 2 pole breaker the output would be 240V.
It sounds like the panel only has single phase 1 pole breakers.
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02-25-2017, 06:33 PM
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#4
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Rivet Master
1974 Argosy 26
Morrill
, Nebraska
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 6,014
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A 2 pole breaker is required in order to provide 2 120 volt legs. You will also require a neutral and ground.
The devices in your coach are connected between one or the other of the 120 volt legs and the neutral. Not between the 2 hot legs.
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02-25-2017, 10:02 PM
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#5
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Rivet Master
1999 34' Excella
Currently Looking...
Hillsboro
, Texas
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 6,406
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RVs use power similar to your household 120VAC outlets.
The "50AMP" power has 2 legs... these are never connected together. Rather, the two HOT feeds(legs).
Here is a quick overview:
http://www.myrv.us/electric/Pg/50amp_Service.htm
Here is how the outlet is to be wired (connected)..
http://www.myrv.us/Imgs/PDF/50-amp%20Service.pdf
Anyway.. try this site for some insight..
http://noshockzone.org
There is lots to know.. and sorta simple.. always to be RESPECTED!!! Good luck
__________________
Peace and Blessings..
Channing
WBCCI# 30676
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02-26-2017, 06:19 PM
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#6
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Rivet Master
2015 25' Flying Cloud
2016 30' Flying Cloud
Blenheim Ontario
, Ontario
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 1,263
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cwf
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BOTH of those upper sites state that 'X' and 'Y' are 180 out of phase; and yet further down, they state that 'X' and 'Y' are interchangeable.
How is that possible? Would that not pop a C.B?
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02-26-2017, 06:39 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 7,620
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MelGoddard
BOTH of those upper sites state that 'X' and 'Y' are 180 out of phase; and yet further down, they state that 'X' and 'Y' are interchangeable.
How is that possible?
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Interchangeble, as in 'Y' and 'X', still 180 out.
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03-01-2017, 07:50 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master
2012 23' FB International
Woodstock
, Ontario
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,423
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Think of it this way...In your standard RV on 50 amps you have two separate 120 volt supplies... period ..just like your household 120V circuits. If your RV is wired for 240 appliances then it will get 240 V across the hot sides of the two 120 V circuits (because they are 180 degrees out of phase...one side is 120V positive while at the same time the other side is 120V negative; same as your stove or dryer circuit in the house.
JCW
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03-01-2017, 08:02 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 7,620
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Thanks. I let common sense slip away.
Occam's razor: "The simplest solution is the correct solution."
I tried to make it more difficult than it is.
The post is wired normally. The RV takes what it needs.
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03-01-2017, 08:24 AM
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#10
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Rivet Master
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 7,620
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Okay, if I may, one more question.
In the "Y" adaptor that has a 30 amp plug and a 15 amp plug that combine to make a 50 amp source (sort of) how are they wired?
Does the 30 amp go to one side of the 50 amp socket and the 15 amp to the other? I can't imagine they're paralleled. Has anyone metered one for continuity?
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03-01-2017, 08:44 AM
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#11
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Rivet Master
2002 30' Classic S/O
Fleming Island
, Florida
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,667
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mollysdad
Okay, if I may, one more question.
In the "Y" adaptor that has a 30 amp plug and a 15 amp plug that combine to make a 50 amp source (sort of) how are they wired?
Does the 30 amp go to one side of the 50 amp socket and the 15 amp to the other? I can't imagine they're paralleled. Has anyone metered one for continuity?
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I'm guessing here, but with a background of electrical engineering and circuit design. I suspect that the two neutrals from the 15 amp and 30 amp plugs are wired to the neutral of the 50 amp socket. Same for the safety grounds (green wire). The 15 amp plug hot wire is connected to one of the 50 amp socket hot wires and the 30 amp plug hot wire is connected to the other 50 amp socket hot wire. The only problem I see with that is you have 30 amps of capacity on one 50 amp leg and only 15 on the other. If the loads in the trailer don't match, you may not be able to run some things, e.g. if a 15,000 BTU AC is on the 50 amp circuit that ends up connected to the 15 amp plug, it will probably trip the 15 amp breaker. Maybe the Y adapter is configurable.
Al
__________________
“You cannot reason someone out of a position they have not been reasoned into"
Al, K5TAN and Missy, N4RGO WBCCI 1322
2002 Classic 30 Slideout -S/OS #004
2013 Dodge 2500 Laramie 4x4 Megacab Cummins
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03-01-2017, 11:05 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 7,620
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Al and Missy
I'm guessing here, but with a background of electrical engineering and circuit design. I suspect that the two neutrals from the 15 amp and 30 amp plugs are wired to the neutral of the 50 amp socket. Same for the safety grounds (green wire). The 15 amp plug hot wire is connected to one of the 50 amp socket hot wires and the 30 amp plug hot wire is connected to the other 50 amp socket hot wire. The only problem I see with that is you have 30 amps of capacity on one 50 amp leg and only 15 on the other. If the loads in the trailer don't match, you may not be able to run some things, e.g. if a 15,000 BTU AC is on the 50 amp circuit that ends up connected to the 15 amp plug, it will probably trip the 15 amp breaker. Maybe the Y adapter is configurable.
Al
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My thoughts exactly, except you have no choice on which buss has the 30 amps. I'm guessing that the campground pedestal has a 30 amp and a 20 amp breaker.
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03-01-2017, 11:41 AM
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#13
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Rivet Master
2017 26' Flying Cloud
Tampa
, Florida
Join Date: Feb 2017
Posts: 7,620
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Upon more research, it appears that the 30 amp leg feeds one side of the 50 amp plug, and the 15 amp leg feeds the other.
However, modern campgrounds have GCFI protected service on the 15 amp plug, and the GCFI will trip, I'm guessing because the two neutrals are tied together.
With real 50 amp service you get 100 amps, while here you max out at 45, and unevenly distributed.
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