Run power off two 20amp receptacles?

[KYAirstream]

I am at a site, a relatively permanent one at that, with two 20 amp GFCI receptacles. I am currently plugged into only one, which seems to work fine most of the time. A couple questions though....

With the campground owner's permission of course, is there a way for me to utilize the existing wire for the two separate 20 amp circuits to wire a single permanent 30amp receptacle?
If this isn't doable, is there some kind of adapter, either pre built or custom made, that can be used to utilize power from both?

[perryg114]

Are you sure that each receptacle is on a separate 20A breaker? You could get yourself into a situation where you are putting 220V on the trailer, if you combine two of them. Does the supply pole have 220V as well? All this being said, if they are on separate breakers and measuring hot on one to the hot on the other and you get close to 0V you are ok. If you get 220V they are are different circuits from a 220V supply box. If there is 50A 220V you can run off of one leg of that and be ok. Proceed with caution.

Perry

[KYAirstream]

I'm not sure how to answer your question, but let me see if this helps.


At my site, there are two separate 20amp GFCIs, each controlled by a different breaker that is in a main panel that services breakers for many other sites as well. The owner of the campground would likely be open to modifying these two circuits in the main panel (and at the site for a 30amp receptacle) if there is a way to utilize these two circuits to establish 30 amps.

[DaveFL]

Perry's answer is correct, but another way of testing is to see where the breakers are located in the main panel, usually breaker boxes alternate power source. Are they physically located next to each other? If they are a good guess would be each is feeding off a different wire, combining would give you 20 amps at 220.

Are the two breakers at the main panel getting their power from the same strand of wire?
Then you have available 40 amps at 110 but they are still breakered at the main panel at 20 amps. You would need to supply a 30 amp breaker at the site box.

Now your only problem is if you pull 30 amps and one of the wires pulls more than 20 amps it will blow the breaker at the main panel, they should be matched in resistance.

I am not a certified electrician but the the person doing the work, should be.

[KYAirstream]

I've seen those cheater boxes for 50amp circuits. Anything like that for 30 amp?


While my arrangement isn't a duplex receptacle on separate circuits, but this is interesting....
http://www.ebay.com/itm/260977725458..._rdc=1&afsrc=1

[KYAirstream]

Originally Posted by DaveFL

Perry's answer is correct, but another way of testing is to see where the breakers are located in the main panel, usually breaker boxes alternate power source. Are they physically located next to each other? If they are a good guess would be each is feeding off a different wire, combining would give you 20 amps at 220.

Are the two breakers at the main panel getting their power from the same strand of wire?
Then you have available 40 amps at 110 but they are still breakered at the main panel at 20 amps. You would need to supply a 30 amp breaker at the site box.

Now your only problem is if you pull 30 amps and one of the wires pulls more than 20 amps it will blow the breaker at the main panel, they should be matched in resistance.

I am not a certified electrician but the the person doing the work, should be.

I have not taken the box apart, so I'm not sure of the answer yet. First off, iwas just trying to determine whether this was possible, and safe?

[KYAirstream]

Please disregard my post about the link to ebay. I completely misread the description. Wishful thinking at work.

[idroba]

To answer your original question, no, there is no simple way to combine 2, 20A rated 120 volt GFIC outlets into one which will supply more power, say 30 amps. To start with, the GFIC's will trip out because of the way they sense loads to keep the system safe.

The issues compound from there.

[perryg114]

What size wire is leaving the box? Unless you are using resistance heating no need for more than 20A in the winter. If the wire is #10 or smaller gage the just put in a bigger breaker and 30A socket at the camper pole.

[KYAirstream]

I just assumed the wire is 12 gauge since it is a 20amp receptacle, but I will verify.


So nothing like this for two 20amp circuits?
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg

[idroba]

Originally Posted by KYAirstream

I just assumed the wire is 12 gauge since it is a 20amp receptacle, but I will verify.


So nothing like this for two 20amp circuits?
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg

No, for technical reasons and safety reasons and GFIC reasons. The outlet shown is a 50 amp 240 volt one used on larger coaches, and even though they do not use 240 volts they use 120 volts in a different way than a coach wired for a 30 amp input.