mookie6
fallbrook
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Taking our 34ft 30 amp MH to an event. The lady says their generator has a 20 amp or 50 amp plugin. Can I plug a 30 amp system into this generator without burning out my system? thanks
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wolfe10
Texas
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IF (big IF) we are talking about an RV 50 amp outlet (two hots, neutral and ground), THAT would give you the most available power (all 30 amps your coach is set up for). Just make sure that the center straight is neutral, center round is ground and the side straights are hots (with your adapter, you will only use one of the two hots).You would need a 50 male to 30 female adapter from any RV store.
Or, if you can get by with 20 amps, purchase a 15/20 male to 30 amp female adapter from any RV store.
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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YES. but you will need an adapter
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
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UltraKen
Ohio
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The OP said he was taking his 30 Amp coach.
Information about 50 Amp plugs seems to be irrelevant.
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hershey
Albuquerque,(fulltime) NM, USA
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Yes. The generator is producing the same voltage and amperage as a shorepower electrical feed.
Just plug your RV's 30 amp cord into the 30 amp circuit or use the 50/30 dogbone adapter to use the 50 amp circuit.
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barlow46
Edgewater, FL
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mookie6 wrote:Taking our 34ft 30 amp MH to an event. The lady says their generator has a 20 amp or 50 amp plugin. Can I plug a 30 amp system into this generator without burning out my system? thanks
Should not be a problem with a 50A to 30A adapter pig tail but take a close look at the generator set-up before you plug in. Also, make sure the breaker on the generator is off before you plug in, then after you plug in throw the generator breaker into the on position, just like you would do at a campground pedestal. You might also want to look at the grounding issues with the generator in case you end up in a "mudhole". I am not an expert on electricity and generators but exercise caution and find someone around who is an "expert" No sense in ruining your equipment and having someone seriously injured over misinformation.
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wolfe10
Texas
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UltraKen wrote:
The OP said he was taking his 30 Amp coach.
Information about 50 Amp plugs seems to be irrelevant.
Ken,
OP has choice of plugging into a (we HOPE) 50 amp outlet or 20 amp outlet. If the 50 is wired correctly, that allows him to use more appliances than if he just adapts DOWN to 20.
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TubaPete
Comstock Park, MI
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mookie6 wrote:The lady says their generator has a 20 amp or 50 amp plugin.
Just a tad vague from my perspective. Other posters seem to know what this lady is talking about. I'm not so sure. The question in my mind is the 50 amp side at 120 volts or 240?
Plugging in and having a mismatch in amps available can be dealt with. Not so if you plug a 30 amp, 120 volt RV directly into 240 volts.
Tuba Pete
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barlow46
Edgewater, FL
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TubaPete wrote:mookie6 wrote:The lady says their generator has a 20 amp or 50 amp plugin.
Just a tad vague from my perspective. Other posters seem to know what this lady is talking about. I'm not so sure. The question in my mind is the 50 amp side at 120 volts or 240?
Plugging in and having a mismatch in amps available can be dealt with. Not so if you plug a 30 amp, 120 volt RV directly into 240 volts.
Doesn't quite work that way with an RV Plug. Each leg of RV 50a is separate so to speak. 240v box is wired as normal but what goes into rv changes. I'm no good at explaining this but here is a link that will help: RV Wiring
50 amp RV service can deliver approximately 12,500 watts (125 volts X 50 amps X 2) to the RV. Some people believe that the 50 amp RV receptacle is a "special" part. This is absolutely not true. In fact, it is a commonly available 50 amp, 250 volt receptacle. Unlike the 125 volt, 30 amp Travel Trailer receptacle, this one is used in many different 250 volt applications. It carries part number 14-50R. The matching plug is a number 14-50P.
"There is a lot of misunderstanding about how MOST 50 Amp RV's are wired. Some of the larger bus type diesel pushers are all electric and in fact, do have 250 volt appliances in them. In that case, both sides of the 50 amp circuit are used to power those devices (just like your home) and those coaches MUST have 50 amp, 250V service in order to run things like the 250V stove, AC and the electric water heater. In the case of the rest of the 50 amp RV's, 250 volts is still supplied to the coach just like your home electrical service but typically one side of the line is used for all the 125 volt appliances except the rear AC and the other side is used for the rear AC only. The service coming into the RV is still 50 amp, 250 volts. Please note that all of the 50 amp RV's (at least in the US) use the SAME receptacle wired in the SAME way. If they didn't, they couldn't all plug into the same outlets at the RV park."
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wa8yxm
Wherever I happen to park
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Thbe poster said "Generator" I'm not sure if he's plugging into a generator or a park pedistal but the advice is the same in either case.
Odds are the 50 amp outlet is 120/240 volt (it will be on a pedistal but may or may not be on a generator) this is a 4 wire outlet L-1, L-2 Neutral and Ground not in that order.
With the PROPER 30 amp adapter, Either RV-50 to RV-30 or Twist Lock 50 to RV-30 he can plug into it, pick up just one leg (L 1 or L-2 don't matter) and run his 30 amp rig without any issues.. NOTE the only difference between a generator, where the high current jacks are usually twist lock, and an RV park is the plug on the adapter.
So, the answer is YES, but he will need an adapter.
NOTE: if it is a generator, there may be a "120/240" volt switch
Set it to 120 volts.
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