Adapter Confusion

[TRizzuti]

I'm not only a newbie but also completely electricity-illiterate, so I'm not even sure how to ask this question, but here goes. My 2006 22' CCD is 30-amp and I'm going to a private campsite next summer that will only have a 50-amp connection. Do I need an adapter, and if so, which one? I'm confused by the numbers. Is there such a thing as a 50- to 30-amp as well as a 30- to 50-amp adapter? Does it matter which way the adapter is hooked up between the Airstream electrical cord and the campsite plug-in? Thanks in advance for any help.

[polarlyse]

YES. There is a 30a-50a adaptor. Likely there is one for the other direction also. You should have one and also get one for 30a-20a for those times too. You will then be prepared for whatever you should encounter. They are pretty self explanatory when you see them. One side ( for the trailer end 30a) is a female plug and the campground end is a male plug 50a.

[Phoenix]

This is what you need:

Road Power 09554-90-08 10/3-Gauge 30-50-Amp RV Adapter Power Cord, 18-Inches - Walmart.com

The 4-prong, plug goes into campsite's 50 amp electrical box, and your Airstream's shore power connector plugs into the 30 amp socket.

[idroba]

Very often campsites which have 50 amp service also have a 30 amp outlet in addition, so you would need no adaptor. You might call the campground and ask if they have both at their sites.

The adaptor is nice to have though, just in case.

[Phoenix]

I bought an adapter, to have "just in case". Last spring, it got used for the first time after carrying it around for a couple of years.

One of the Washington State campgrounds on the coast had both 30 and 50 amp receptacles, but the 30 amp socket was worn out and corroded. However, the 50 amp connector was brand new and unused. This adapter saved us from having to move to another campsite.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Phoenix

I bought an adapter, to have "just in case". Last spring, it got used for the first time after carrying it around for a couple of years.

One of the Washington State campgrounds on the coast had both 30 and 50 amp receptacles, but the 30 amp socket was worn out and corroded. However, the 50 amp connector was brand new and unused. This adapter saved us from having to move to another campsite.

I've had the same thing happen at one Louisiana State Park and two Mississippi State Parks. The 50-male to 30-female adapter was a trip-saver— in more ways than one; it saved my camping trip, and prevented circuit breaker trips!

In all three cases, the 30-amp socket was discolored, which was an immediate cue that the socket was bad. If the contacts don't fit tightly for whatever reason, an electrical arc will form across the contacts, causing the socket to get hot and causing the plastic of the socket to discolor due to the heat.

[az-streamer]

on a somewhat related note.

i have 2 30 amp power cords each with a twist-lock at one end [ into the the AS ] and the usual plug end for the campground electric box at the other.

i have read that some campgrounds have the boxes somewhat far from where you park your RV.

is there a way [or an adapter] to connect the 2 power cords?
i see that CAMCO sells an adapter used for connecting a 30 amp cord to a genterator.

i know that this would be a rather extreme circumstance where one of my cords wouldn't reach but it might be a good gadget to have.

anyone had the same thoughts?

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by az-streamer

i have 2 30 amp power cords each with a twist-lock at one end [ into the the AS ] and the usual plug end for the campground electric box at the other.

i have read that some campgrounds have the boxes somewhat far from where you park your RV.

is there a way [or an adapter] to connect the 2 power cords?
i see that CAMCO sells an adapter used for connecting a 30 amp cord to a genterator.

I've never seen a twist-lock adapter. However, you can buy an RV extension cord with 30-amp male on one end and 30-amp female on the other. I have one that I bought at Cabelas. Used it yesterday, in fact, when I was using a friend's courtesy parking, and his 30-amp service was just a bit too far for my cord to reach.

[az-streamer]

thanks for the reply.

yup - i'll probably just by an ext cord with 30 amp plugs.

an adapter, if one was available, would likely cost almost the same.

even though our AS has an electrical hook-up at each end, i would hate
to get to a campground where the box is on the wrong side and hard to
reach.

same for the water.

[Payan]

I read many times these posts about adapter confusion. But I did not find the answer about :

For 30 amperes AS is there more or less secure to use an adapter 50 amperes to 30 amperes because it is not the same voltage and I am afraid to use this kind of adapter?
Thanks in advance for any help.



Envoyé de mon iPhone à l'aide de Airstream Forums

[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by az-streamer

on a somewhat related note.

i have 2 30 amp power cords each with a twist-lock at one end [ into the the AS ] and the usual plug end for the campground electric box at the other.

i have read that some campgrounds have the boxes somewhat far from where you park your RV.

is there a way [or an adapter] to connect the 2 power cords?
i see that CAMCO sells an adapter used for connecting a 30 amp cord to a genterator.

i know that this would be a rather extreme circumstance where one of my cords wouldn't reach but it might be a good gadget to have.

anyone had the same thoughts?

You should be able to find a 30A female connector, probably at a Camping Supply place, and a twist-lock male connector. Add a couple of feet of 10 ga. SO cord from the same place you bought the twist-lock connector and hook it all up. Hard to go wrong, the connectors usually have the wire colors printed or engraved on them.

I added a twist-lock mating pair in my power cable. On my 2001 Safari the cable was permanently attached in the bumper storage compartment. Every stop I had to fish 25' of power cord through a cover in the bottom of the compartment. I cut the cord and put in the twist-lock connectors and now I pull the whole cable out the top and stuff a couple of feet back in through the cover plate.

Al

[Al and Missy]

Originally Posted by gaetannicole

I read many times these posts about adapter confusion. But I did not find the answer about :

For 30 amperes AS is there more or less secure to use an adapter 50 amperes to 30 amperes because it is not the same voltage and I am afraid to use this kind of adapter?
Thanks in advance for any help.



Envoyé de mon iPhone à l'aide de Airstream Forums

50 Amp service is like two 30 Amp feeds, that is why there are four wires. The adapter you need has a male plug with four blades. Three of them are wired to a female receptacle with 3 sockets. The fourth wire is not connected. You can use a 50A to 30A adapter to run your 30A trailer on 50A service with no problems.

Al

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Al and Missy

You can use a 50A to 30A adapter to run your 30A trailer on 50A service with no problems.

In some parks you SHOULD use an adapter, even if 30amp service is available. Especially at State Parks in my experience, the 30-amp outlet is often worn from overuse, and the plug doesn't make good contact, which can lead to arcing across the contacts and therefore increased resistance and increased heat. The 50amp outlet is never as heavily worn as the 30amp outlet, so there's no problem getting good contact.

When you arrive at a campground, look at the 30amp outlet before you plug in. If it's discolored— especially if it looks heated or scorched, don't use it. Use the 50amp outlet with the adapter instead.