50 amp service with a 110 plug !!

[Michel pouliot]

Hi everyone !

I am a proud first time trailer owner. I and the family just got a 17 feet Big Foot trailer. we are planning to go out to deception pass in Washington state and I am a little puzzled when it comes to the electrical service and hook up. I currently have it plugged in in my driveway and I am running the fan to keep condensation from getting the trailer mouldy. so I know the electrical works well ! Now I have just booked a campsite at the deception pass campground and the site has electrical service and it is described as 50 amp. Can I plug in my regular 110 plug in or do I need an adapter or a transformer ?? can Anyone help ?

[Gina D.]

The 50 amp refers to the CURRENT available to you. The voltage is 110. You are already set up.

You will need and adaptor plug to make your standard household looking 3 prong plug convert to the odd looking "Dryer" type plug.

You should carry a set in your trailer all the time as you never know what kind of outlet you will get. Most parks have a regualr plug and a 15 amp service, and an option for the bigger different plugs for the higher current outlets.

Camping World or Wally World has them that go both ways, from little to big, and big to little.

Be careful on what you run with the standard plug.. the breaker will probably trip if you try to run your air, microwave and electric cricket chaser all at the same time on a 15 amp service, but it's better safe than sorry.

[Brian B-P]

Like Gina said, plus there are two "big" sizes (50 amp with four pins, and 30 amp with three pins). An adapter for each might be a good plan, but I think you'll find that RV park power setups with 50 amp or 30 amp power also have regular 15 amp receptacles, in which case no adapter is needed at all if you only need the 15 amp connection. I suppose this varies by area... I'm thinking of Alberta and BC campgrounds.

A 15-amp power cord seems surprising to me on a Bigfoot - even my ancient Boler has a 30 amp setup. Michel, is there an adapter already on the end of your cord to make a big 30 amp plug fit in your household 15 amp sockets? You might want to check, so you get the right adapters.

[Pete Dumbleton]

It helps to define the voltage as well as the amperage because the campground pedestal supplies 50Amps @ 240 Volts whereas the RV is wired to break that down into *two* 50Amp circuits at only 120Volts (usually for BulgeMobiles so they can run an a/c and MW or two a/cs simultaneously).

OTOH, the pedestal's 30Amp service is at only 120 Volts, unlike your dryer at home which is 30 Amps @ 240 Volts. If you managed to plug your egg into your dryer outlet, you would have a fried egg....

It is possible to wire up a 50A240V-30A120V adapter but unlikely it would ever be needed because CG pedestals with 50A240V will have 30A120V and 15/20A120V wired in addition.

[Roger H]

Your Bigfoot should have a 120v, 30 amp service cord and plug supplied from the factory. Generally speaking every campground will have 30 amp service that fits your standard plug at a minimum. The 50 amp service is advertised for the big mohos, but every 50 amp outlet box will also have a 30 amp plugin and most will have two 15 (or 20) amp household plug outlets as well, and there will be breakers in the box for each outlet. Each of the plugs is unique, so without an adapter, you can't plug into the wrong size outlet.

I only carry the 30 amp to 15 amp converter plugs for those situations where I have to plug into a standard household socket some where. And don't run your air conditioner when you're only on 15 amps. You'll stand a good chance of tripping the breaker.

Good luck!

Roger

[Gina D.]

Roger, some of the privately owned parks around here do not have the 15 a outlet. Most of those are the newer places that rarely cater to us Beverly Hillbilly types with our mini trailers.

It hurts to be slummin....

[LindyW2]

Here is a link to adapters online


http://www.rvwholesalers.com/catalog/home.php?cat=94