marypay
georgia
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My motorhome is 30 amps....I bought a electrical pigtail adapter so I can use a 50 amp hookup - but the pigtail does not have a circuit breaker or a fuse.
As I have not yet used the adapter...my question is...is it OK to use, or should I find one that has the fuse or circuit breaker?
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Executive
California/Arizona/South Dakota
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The circuit breakers are in your coach. A 50amp service uses two legs, each providing 120V. The pigtail disables one leg, leaving you with only one 120V circuit. You will be fine as long as you are using a good adapter...go have fun....Dennis
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KD4UPL
Swoope, VA
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You won't find one with a fuse or circuit breaker. Some people get concerned but there really is no reason too. It's no different then plugging in a lamp in your house where the lamp cord is 18 gauge and the breaker is a 20 amp.
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crasster
Dallas
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They are on your coach. But if you worry, you could always rig up a 2nd circuit breaker.
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hmknightnc
Wilmington, NC
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It's really just a special extension cord. Extension cords don't have fuses or breakers. Your fine go have fun and enjoy
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Hi,
What you have is safe.
You could have one made up especially with a breaker. Mine has a 30 and two 20ties each with their own breaker and uses "both sides" of a 50 amp outlet.
As I now have two auxiliary shore power cords this is quite useful to me.
Regards, Don
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Old-Biscuit
Across the USA
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With the adapter you can plug into a 50A receptacle at a CG but you can only draw up to 30amps total before your main 30A breaker will trip.
The adapter is a good 'tool' to have...just in case the 30A receptacle is worn out or CG pedestal only has 50A service.
You can even get a 30A to 15A adapter for plugging in at home.......but you will be limited to 15amps (20amps if outlet is on 20A breaker) total draw. Good for pre-cooling fridge, charging batteries, lights.
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smkettner
Southern California
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Your 30 amp main in the RV is the only breaker you need.
A direct short in the 30a cord will still trip the 50a breaker.
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69gp
New England
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marypay wrote:My motorhome is 30 amps....I bought a electrical pigtail adapter so I can use a 50 amp hookup - but the pigtail does not have a circuit breaker or a fuse.
As I have not yet used the adapter...my question is...is it OK to use, or should I find one that has the fuse or circuit breaker?
Most people here are giving you the wrong advice for your application. If you are plugging into a 50 amp receptacle with with a cord that is rated for only 30 amps then this cord will not be protected properly.
Can you do it? yes, but is it right? NO
The breakers or fuses in your MH or TT protect the wiring only within your MH or TT. They will not protect the wire that runs from your MH or TT to the source that you are plugging into. The wire that runs from your MH or TT is protected by a breaker that is located back at the source where the power is distributed from. Just because you have a 30 amp breaker does not mean that the cable is protected.
If you use the 30 amp cord fused at 50 amps you risk overloading the cable and electrical connections therefore risking a fire.
Think of it this way. You have a 50 amp range receptacle and a 30 amp electric dryer. Would you change the end of the dryer cord to a 50 amp cord cap and plug it in?. If you do make sure your smoke detectors are working and your insurance is current.
* This post was
edited 07/17/12 10:55am by 69gp *
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Rick Jay
Greater Springfield area, MA
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69gp wrote:
Most people here are giving you the wrong advice for your application. If you are plugging into a 50 amp receptacle with with a cord that is rated for only 30 amps then this cord will not be protected properly.
I must respectfully disagree with you, 69gp. The advice the OP has been given is sound. Here's why:
The panel inside the RV should have a 30A main breaker. If anything in the RV starts pulling much more than 30A, the 30A main in the trailer will trip, ceasing the current and the adapter is saved (no current flowing through it).
If someone accidentally cuts the 30A shore power cable creating a direct short between hot & neutral or hot & ground, I can guarantee you that the 50A breakers in the pedestal will trip just about as fast (to a human observer, anyway) as a 30A breaker would. Again, protection is available.
KD4UPL's comment "It's no different then plugging in a lamp in your house where the lamp cord is 18 gauge and the breaker is a 20 amp." is a good analogy to what is being discussed here.
Your concern would only be valid if his shore power cord did not go directly to his RV, bur instead went to a distribution device to feed other circuits. Then it's possible he could draw up to 30A from his RV and up to 20A of additional current from the other devices before tripping the pedestal breaker. But this is not what most campers do, or at least, I've never seen or heard of it being done.
~Rick
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