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easler7267 · 03-19-2015, 01:42 PM

My wife and I just bought our first Airstream (2015 Flying Cloud 25FB Twin). We are complete novices to RVing and are trying to book our first trip to an RV park.

Some parks offer 30amp, some offer 50amp service. I believe usual plug in for our Airstream model is 30amp, however, there's a 2d plug for 50amp for a generator. Can I use that 2d 50amp plug to plug into 50amp electric service at the RV park instead of a generator?

Also, what equipment/cables do I need to have to ensure I have what I need to do this correctly & safely?

I've read lot of stories on these forums about novices blowing inverters, rectifiers, fuses etc and we are hoping the experienced people here can tell us what to do so we avoid that!

Thank you in advance!

xrvr · 03-19-2015, 01:48 PM

Should say on the plugin what voltage required. If you have only one ac then you have thirty amp service. Two acs, fifty amp. I would think. Peace,Jim.

gandttimes · 03-19-2015, 01:57 PM

Not sure what this second 50amp plug is that you have on your trailer?

George

AnnArborBob · 03-19-2015, 02:01 PM

If you have only one air conditioner on the roof then your Airstream is set up for 30 amp service. The second receptacle on the front of your trailer is not a 50 amp receptacle but a second 30 amp one that can be used instead of BUT NOT IN ADDITION TO the main on on the side of the trailer. Some people will use that second receptacle to hook up a generator that may be in their truck bed and capable of providing 30 amp service.

If you only have one AC unit you do not need 50 amp service since you really won't be able to take advantage of it. So when you reserve a campsite, specify a 30 amp service and you'll save a couple of dollars and probably increase the number of available sites.

If you find yourself in camp site which only has a 50 amp plug, then you can use a special adapter so that your 30 amp cord can be plugged in such as this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Arcon-14018-Ge...30+amp+adapter

Msmoto · 03-19-2015, 02:02 PM

Unless you have a second A/C unit you are 30 Amp only....as I understand it. What many of us like to have is an electrical protector so as to insure the RV Park shore line (Plug in) is correctly wired. I use this EMS-PT30C
although mine is 50 Amps as I have two A/C units. Also, some security may be desired and you can see here the cables so as to lock the unit when the trailer is unattended.

Voltage monitor by Fantinesvoice.com, on Flickr

RVDreamer · 03-19-2015, 02:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Msmoto

Unless you have a second A/C unit you are 30 Amp only....as I understand it. What many of us like to have is an electrical protector so as to insure the RV Park shore line (Plug in) is correctly wired. I use this EMS-PT30C
although mine is 50 Amps as I have two A/C units. Also, some security may be desired and you can see here the cables so as to lock the unit when the trailer is unattended.

Voltage monitor by Fantinesvoice.com, on Flickr

Not trying to redirect this thread but I was curious about Msmoto's security cables.

As I see it the one cable that goes out of the picture would be wrapped around a post or attached to some anchored point. But why do you have the cable that goes down and wraps around your shore cable plug?
Are you concerned about someone stealing the entire shore cable too?

easler7267 · 03-19-2015, 05:59 PM

Thanks everyone for the good information. To be very clear, I don't have the trailer yet (picking it up on 4 April), so I'm completely relying on the owners manual, which says:

"Remote Generator Hookup

NOTE

The remote generator hookup is not available with 50 amp service.

On units 25 foot and longer a remote generator hook up will be located on the front plate of the trailer behind the LPG tanks. A generator can be plugged into the 110-volt system using this feature."

So with all of your comments I've figured out that I have 1 AC system, therefore I am 30 amp.

But this part of the owners manual makes it sound like you could plug into 50 amp service using this remote generator hook up. Am I wrong about this? As I said before my wife and I are newbies at this and would appreciate any advice!

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RVDreamer · 03-19-2015, 06:27 PM

No, you would not hook up to 50 amp service. You will have a 30 amp shore cable and your Airstream is wired for 30 amp service. The generator hookup is on the front of the trailer and is used if you want to run off of a generator instead of shore power.
I don't comprehend the manual in the same way that you do. It is clearly stating that the remote generator hookup is 30 amp.

easler7267 · 03-19-2015, 07:19 PM

Thank you!

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Sbb · 03-19-2015, 07:45 PM

Good point by Msmoto to get yourself a surge protector. Not every post in every campground is wired the same at all times, to protect your beautiful investment, get the surge protector

I am 30 amp. Just a 19' Bambi. I came across situations where there is only 50 amp service. That is where I use my 30-50 amp pigtail to plug into the post.

Since you r a newbie as I was with mine, here is another little tidbit. I almost and I mean within an inch almost destroyed my airstream. On one of my first outings my grown daughter was with me. I usually do all hookups, but she offered to hook up the city water. I was 10 feet away plugging in power, pigtail and surge protector and turning on circuit. She called over to make sure hose was in correct intake for city water. I did not walk over and look. I asked her what it said and she replied fresh water inlet. I said ok, we each finished our jobs.

We were going to go get groceries but decided to relax first. Thank goodness because about a half hour later the lightbulb went off. She had screwed into the black tank cleanout receptacle not the CITY WATER. I was not hooked up to sewer, so tank was closed. I ran to the bathroom and toilet had filled to within one inch of top. I ran out shut water off and thank God we had not left to shop. Otherwise we would have come home to a mess beyond repair.

It was in no wAy her fault. I take full responsibility in not actually walking over and checking it. I now do all my own hookups in my own way and order. I dodged a huge bullet that day.

Welcome to the forums and enjoy your new Airstream!

Msmoto · 03-19-2015, 08:38 PM

Sbb made some good points. Once you have an awareness of the various functions of the parts of your new rig, I have found it helpful to have a check list much like pilots have before takeoff.

One can have an arrival check list and departure check list. And I walk through my trailer every time I am about to depart, going over everything.

My check list, for the TV and AS are four pages long and are worked on over about a week prior to departure.

I also do a walk around after hooking up and driving forward slightly.

cwf · 03-19-2015, 08:49 PM

Welcome!
Careful, slow, read and reread...the owners manual.

Watch all you can,, like this quick tutorial: http://youtu.be/wVYBei5BZmw

tevake · 03-19-2015, 08:59 PM

The plug for a 30amp hook up is different in the prongs from the plug for 50amps.

As mentioned there are adapters/ splitter pigtails to plug into a 50 amp. Source and then be able to plug in your 30 amp plug.

All the best in getting settled in with your new trailer. It all starts to make sense quickly once you are doing it.

Cheers Richard

graysailor · 03-20-2015, 11:28 AM

Yes, you have 30amp service on your trailer. On occasion I have stayed at parks that only have 50amp spaces available which in this case you must have an adapter to step down from 50amp to 30amp. They are not expensive and good to carry with you.

I have a 50amp trailer and am currently staying at a park that only had 30amp service available. Again no biggie just got out my adapter and plugged 30amps into my 50amp trailer.

VT Wanderer · 03-20-2015, 04:12 PM

Welcome Easler 7267 - Your new AS friends above have given you great information. Just a couple extra notes. 1. The 30 amp connector in the front can be used for both a generator or shore (campground) power. We used our's last summer when the campground's power supply was far in front of the site. It serves the same purpose as the 30 amp on the side of your AS. 2. If there is 50 and 30 amp offered, I have found every campground has 2 electric hookups on the electric post - one 30 - one 50. Your 30 amp power cord that was given to you with the AS will fit all 30 amp supplies. If there is a 20 amp ONLY on the electric post (no 30 or 50) you should carry an adaptor for 30 amp to 20 amp. It may even be in your AS package. Do not use your AC with 20 amp hookup.

m.hony · 03-23-2015, 12:10 PM

If you have a 30 amp trailer, you can get a 30 amp to 50 amp adapter to plug into power and vice versa.

johnnywood · 04-05-2015, 10:53 PM

But this part of the owners manual makes it sound like you could plug into 50 amp service using this remote generator hook up. Am I wrong about this? As I said before my wife and I are newbies at this and would appreciate any advice!

Hey easler7267, could you take a picture or a scan of that part of the owner's manual? Maybe this is something that Airstream needs to fix and update.
Just very curious.

-johnny

petermday · 07-05-2017, 05:17 PM

I am a newbie also and have a 50 amp service. I wanted to know if I'm connected to a 30 amp service can I still use one of my two AC's?

**DKB_SATX** · 07-05-2017, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by petermday

I am a newbie also and have a 50 amp service. I wanted to know if I'm connected to a 30 amp service can I still use one of my two AC's?

Yes, a proper connection to 30A service should run one of your ACs. A "proper connection" would be a good-quality 30A-to-50A adapter and a 30A socket in good repair.