15 amp plugged into 30 or 50 amp??????

[kitti in texas]

Well, my husband is working on the ac problem in our "new" 1985 Skamp 13' but here is my next problem. We have always gone camping before in family member's trailers that were bigger and plugged into 30 or 50 amp. Now with our little Skamp, it has 15 amp on the cover where the cord is and I don't know if we can plug into 30 or 50 amp safely. The place we want to go only has 50 amp in the area we want to camp. Will the cord on our Skamp even plug into the 50 amp (or 30) and if it will, is it safe? Any takers on this one????

[rabbit]

The electrical equipment in the trailer doesn't know what's available; it knows what it requires. Get a 15 to 30 and/or 15 to 50 adaptor and be happy.

jack

[Pam Garlow]

The amperage referrs to the maximum amount that you can draw from the circuit (or the circuit breaker will 'trip' if you exceed that amount.) So you can plug your 15 amp into a 30 amp without a worry. Go to your local camper rv store, and they sell adapters. Just tell them that you need to plug your 15 amp cord into a 30 amp receptacle.

[Byron Kinnaman]

Originally Posted by kitti in texas

Well, my husband is working on the ac problem in our "new" 1985 Skamp 13' but here is my next problem. We have always gone camping before in family member's trailers that were bigger and plugged into 30 or 50 amp. Now with our little Skamp, it has 15 amp on the cover where the cord is and I don't know if we can plug into 30 or 50 amp safely. The place we want to go only has 50 amp in the area we want to camp. Will the cord on our Skamp even plug into the 50 amp (or 30) and if it will, is it safe? Any takers on this one????

Not to worry.

A little explanation. In your house most outlets circuits have a 15 amp breaker, making them a total 15 amp outlets. When you plug a lamp with a 60 watt bulb you don't worry about the fact that it's a 2 amp lamp.

What this all means 30 amp or 50 amp connectors are maximum current. Any thing less is OK.

[kitti in texas]

Wow, that's all? From everything I've been reading it sounded way more complicated and possibly dangerous. So all I need to do is go buy an adapter. Thanks y'all!!!!!

[Robin G]

The issue would be if you tried to pull 30/50 amps of power through your 15 amp wiring.


Just because you can plug into a 30 amp outlet (with a adapter) does not mean you can use 30 amp's of power! Believe me, I have witnessed people trying that. When we owned a rv park, had many people take an adapter and think well heck, we can now use 50 amps! Not so! You still only want to use 15 amps!



When you say, ac you mean electircal current as in ac/dc? correct? Your not speaking of ac as in airconditioning right?


Good Luck, enjoy your new trailer!

[john warren]

may need an addapter, but your trailer will only use up 15 amps,,,no worries, those numbers just mean whats available to use if you need it.

[kitti in texas]

When I say ac I mean air conditioner. We have a 5000 btu in the trailer. Will that make a difference on what kind of adapter I need?

[Daniel A.]

Having just upgraded my 15 amp service to 30 amp one thing I needed to do was change the power cord to a 30 amp service. Before this I used an adapter.
True the circuit breakers will trip if overloaded but the link between the power source and the circuit breaker should be upgraded meaning the cable/ cord.

It really is no different than using 14 gauge wire to hook the battery up in your car when you need 4-6 gauge.
The power cord is not rated for the 30 amp load or 50 amp load.

No different than extension cords take an extension cord with small gauge and you can feel the heat where one of heavy gauge will be cool.

[RogerDat]

Where people get into trouble is when they use an adapter going the other way. Down to lower amp connection from higher amp drawing trailer.

Trailer with 50 amp plug using an adapter to plug into 30 amp service then trying to run air conditioners wired to expect 50 amp. Local trailer shop has a melted adapter mounted at the counter saying "don't do this".

Going from low amp draw trailer to higher amp source is much better (safer) proposition.

[Roy in TO]

They have been saying the numbers backwards. You will need a 30 Amp male to 15 Amp female. If you need to bump up to 50 amps, then you will need both a 50 Amp to 30 amp, and the 30 to 15.

They looks something like this:
Power Grip Electrical Adapters - Product - Camping World
or this:
Heavy Duty 10/3 STW Power Adapters - Product - Camping World

I prefer the 1st style as it keeps your extension cord closer to the post.

[ThomasE]

You should be fine with just a 15amp to 30amp adapter. 30amp seems to be the most common. I've never had a full hookup site that was a 50amp only.

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by ThomasE

You should be fine with just a 15amp to 30amp adapter.

Like I said, you want a 30 Male to 15 Female, a little harder to find but they exist.

[rabbit]

Roy is spot on correct; we gave you the numbers backward and 50 male to 15 female DOES appear to require two separate adaptors (50 male to 30 female and 30 male to 15 female) rather than only one. Sorry!

jack

[Robin G]

Originally Posted by kitti in texas

When I say ac I mean air conditioner. We have a 5000 btu in the trailer. Will that make a difference on what kind of adapter I need?

Kitti, To my knowledge there isn't a Air conditioner that will run off 15 amp! If you have found one that will, I really suggest upgrading your trailer wiring to 30 amp asap......... If you desire to run anything other than a airconditioner. Fridge, lights, etc.....................

[Daniel A.]

Thats why I upgraded to 30 amp service air conditioning requires a minimum 20 amp breaker to avoid other problems.

[rabbit]

Dometic makes a 9000 btu A/C that draws about 8amps after startup but requires 12awg line and 20 amp breaker protection by code. Most 13,500s draw at least 12 amps operating and a surge at compresser start which doesn't leave much room for a converter or other loads. Whether your A/C unit is pre-existing or you are installing, you should upgrade your electrical service to 30 ampere to be safe and legal.

jack