Using a 30amp cord on a 50amp connection

[Pat Cassity]

I am trying to find a pigtail that will allow me to connect a 30amp cord to my 2015 Serenity that has a 50amp connection. I purchased a Furrion 50amp (F) to 30amp (M) adapter. However, I need another adapter that will allow me to connect the 30amp (M) to the female end of the 30amp cord. I have found various 3 plug connectors online that appear that will work but they state that they are male plugs for generators. Is the 30amp female plug on a generator the same configuration as 30amp female connection on a single A.C. trailer? I have attached attached pictures of adapter and female end of 30amp cord. Thanks for your help!


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[Shacksman]

Would this be it? RV Power Cord Adapter 30 Amp Male to 50 Amp Twist Lock Female camper Detachable | eBay

[Pat Cassity]

Thanks Shacksman but that is similar to the one I have now. I need an adapter for the male end that will attach to female end of my 30 amp cord. As a last resort I can purchase a 30 amp extension cord for this adapter. Want to avoid doing so if possible.


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[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Pat Cassity

I am trying to find a pigtail that will allow me to connect a 30amp cord to my 2015 Serenity that has a 50amp connection.

I think I see the problem. Apparently you purchased a twist-lock adapter. You really needed an adapter for the pedestal end of the cord instead. A 30-to-50 adapter for the pedestal end looks like this…

Your 50-amp cord plus into the adapter, and the adapter plugs into the pedestal.

If you need more than one adapter at the same time, you've got the wrong setup.

[tjdonahoe]

Why not buy a 30 amp to 50 amp cord ,they are easier to handle and are not that much money on amazon...

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Al and Missy

How do you plan to ensure that the 30 amp cord will not be overloaded?

When you plug a 50-amp system into a 30-amp socket through an adapter, you've only got one hot wire, one neutral, and one ground, instead of two hot, one neutral, and one ground. The other "hot" wire in your 50-amp cord will not be powered at all.

Your circuit breakers will ensure that your one powered circuit will not be overloaded. A bit of experimenting will show what you can power and what you can't while you're plugged into 30 amps. Probably almost everything, except you'll only have one air conditioner that works, and you won't be able to run that A/C and the microwave at the same time.

[Pat Cassity]

My intent is to be able to use a much lighter 30amp cord in those situations where 50amp service is not available. To do so, I purchased the twist lock adapter to connect to the 50amp connection on my TT. The issue is with the male end of this connector. It needs to be able to plug into a female 30amp twist lock connector of the 30amp power cord. Pro, the adapter that you posted will not plug into the TT and the male end is the same as the adapter that I have now. Thanks.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Pat Cassity

Pro, the adapter that you posted will not plug into the TT and the male end is the same as the adapter that I have now. Thanks.

I didn't realize that you wanted to carry a 50-amp cord AND a 30-amp cord. The 30-amp cord is lighter and more flexible than a 50-amp cord, that is true. But a "dogbone" adapter like I suggested takes up less storage space than a 30-amp cord, so you have less to store in your trailer. Still, that's your choice. But I've never even SEEN a twist-lock-to-twist-lock adapter to let you plug a 30-amp cord into a 50-amp trailer. Does anybody even make one?

[Pat Cassity]

Pro, I am a bit confused about how you are suggesting to use the adapter. The adapter that I purchased ( see pic) is a 50 amp twist lock that is the same as on a 50 amp cord. This plugs into the 50amp receptacle on the TT. The other end of the adapter is a 30amp male plug similar to the one that plugs into the power receptacle at a campground. I want to be able to plug this into my old 30amp cord in those situations where 50 amp service is not available. Yes, I would be carrying both a 50 amp and 30 amp cord in a storage box in the back of my truck. Using a 30amp cord in this situation would be much more convenient than dealing with the much heavier 50 Amp cord.


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[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Pat Cassity

Pro, I am a bit confused about how you are suggesting to use the adapter.

I was suggesting that you use the "dogbone" adapter with your 50-amp cord, and not even use a 30-amp cord. But since you have rejected that notion, you can simply forget everything I've said and press on with what you were doing.

[Pat Cassity]

Gotcha, thanks again Pro. In my original post I asked if the 30amp receptacle on a generator was the same as the the female end of a 30amp RV cord. If so, I have found an adapter that appears to be what I need. See attached pic.


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[xrvr]

Get a 30 amp rv extension cord. The kind used for rvs without a twist lock.

[markdoane]

I use a 30a RV cord with a 30a male RV blade end and a 50a female on the other end. I use a jumper between the two hots on the female plug so I can power both sides of my distirbution panel. Has worked fine for several years.

Won't work if you have any 240v appliances. Does not give you more than the 30 amps available at the pedestal.

[pattonsr]

Protagonist,

I have found that 30 to 50 adapters usually bond the two 50 amp hots together so 3600 watts is available to share across both legs. The second A/C is usually by itself on leg 2. So one can run either A/C (only one) along with the normal stuff on leg 1.

Barry

[aftermath]

I am with Pro on this. I am a believer of the KISS principal. You have a heavy 50 AMP cord that works well for you. If you get the adapter pictured in Pro's post you can hook your trailer up to a 30 AMP service with little work. You will have to carry the adapter in your coach but that will be far less expensive and far lighter than having to carry an additional 30 AMP service cord. A simple solution to your problem.

[gr.austin]

What you are asking is to connect a 30 amp 120 V supply to a 50 amp 240 V load. That is not a good thing. Only half of the circuits in the RV will be powered. If you have any 240V loads in the RV you could end up causing damage to those loads. This would be doable but you really need to understand the many limitations. Strongly recommend that you do NOT attempt this.

If you are really interested in plugging your 30 amp 120V RV into 50 amp 240 V shore power this is very common and the adapter cord is readily available at Camping World and maybe even at Walmart. What you need is 50 A 240 V male to 30 A 120V Female.

Happy Camping
GRA

[Pat Cassity]

Looks like the extension cord may be the way to go. Having second thoughts of an adapter into another adapter. In fact, the 50 amp female to 30 amp male 25 ft cord may be an even better idea. Hopefully I can return the adapter I purchased.


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[xrvr]

Originally Posted by gr.austin

What you are asking is to connect a 30 amp 120 V supply to a 50 amp 240 V load. That is not a good thing. Only half of the circuits in the RV will be powered. If you have any 240V loads in the RV you could end up causing damage to those loads. This would be doable but you really need to understand the many limitations. Strongly recommend that you do NOT attempt this.

If you are really interested in plugging your 30 amp 120V RV into 50 amp 240 V shore power this is very common and the adapter cord is readily available at Camping World and maybe even at Walmart. What you need is 50 A 240 V male to 30 A 120V Female.

Happy Camping
GRA

Are the fifty amp rv plugs one twenty or two forty? Really don't know.

[Pat Cassity]

Gr.,what I. Am trying to do is no different than using a 50amp cord connected to 30amp adapter to a 30 amp power supply. I am well aware that I can only run one AC at a time when doing so. Since I already have a 30amp cord from a previously wrecked TT, I thought I would save myself from having to deal with the 50 amp cord when camped at a 30amp only site. I keep my 50 amp cord in a plastic storage box in my truck while in transit. The barely over 6 lb 30amp cord would sit in the same box and be much easer deal with when setting my and taking down the campsite.


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[NevadaGeo]

Is there 240 volt equipment on airstreams? Just an old foggy, didn't know there were any 240 volt airstreams.