how do you POWER up?
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Elder User
Joined: May 2007
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how do you POWER up?
Just thought about what we need for our new camper, and I just remembered that this new 5er is a 50A unit. I am used to our 30A and using the adapter to plug into 15A/20A services. But how do you guys do it. Most campgrounds have 30A, so I can get a dog bone adapter, but do you ever drop it down more to a 15A/20A?
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Joined: Aug 2008
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From: Frederick, MD
lower you drop down then you will have to decide what to run. Just lights and maybe a tv you could drop down but that is about all you could run. Then you will have to shut stuff off to run other items.
You really need at least 30A and even then it will probably blow if you get too hungry.
I have two dog bones and the 110 adapter just in case though...I also have generators.
You really need at least 30A and even then it will probably blow if you get too hungry.
I have two dog bones and the 110 adapter just in case though...I also have generators.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 400
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From: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
At our full time lot we have 30 amp and the unit is 50. We find it best to shut off things like the tv, auxilary electric heater if we want the microwave to operate effectively. Otherwise everything works fine.
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Elder User
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From what I have read on here and other forums, I should be good to go with using a 30A service on my new rig. it only has 1 A/C (we almost never used our old one), 2 fridges (which I had on my old unit), 2 microwaves (obviously wont get used at the same time). The step down to a 15a/20a would only be when plugged in at home to chill the fridge and charge the battery.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2008
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From: Cape Girardeau, Missouri
Everything in your camper can be used while adapted to a 15-20 amp service except your a/c. You only need 30 amp service when runnng the a/c. You only need a 50 amp service if you have a camper with and are running 2 a/c's at the same time. Those adapters are perfect for keeping your batteries up and your fridge working, and anything else in the camper while at home....except the a/c. One thing to remember is that everything generally works on 12 volts in your camper(factory installed) except the a/c, microwave, and tv(sometimes even the tv is 12 volts too). Everything else operates off of your battery, and being plugged in to a/c power just keeps the battery(s) charged.
New User
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: TX for now, soon... TN
I just thought about this same issue and found a product at CampingWorld that I am really debating (seeing as it's more expensive than a whole village of Thai hookers): Jtb Manufacturing - JTB Power Solution - Electrical Adapters - Camping World
It allows you to couple a 20 amp GFCI with the 30 amp standard RV hookup. Seems logical enough to me. I'm guessing it at least gives you the flexibility... but dang it that thing is expensive.
It allows you to couple a 20 amp GFCI with the 30 amp standard RV hookup. Seems logical enough to me. I'm guessing it at least gives you the flexibility... but dang it that thing is expensive.
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Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 950
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From: Waco, Texas
I just thought about this same issue and found a product at CampingWorld that I am really debating (seeing as it's more expensive than a whole village of Thai hookers): Jtb Manufacturing - JTB Power Solution - Electrical Adapters - Camping World
It allows you to couple a 20 amp GFCI with the 30 amp standard RV hookup. Seems logical enough to me. I'm guessing it at least gives you the flexibility... but dang it that thing is expensive.
It allows you to couple a 20 amp GFCI with the 30 amp standard RV hookup. Seems logical enough to me. I'm guessing it at least gives you the flexibility... but dang it that thing is expensive.
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Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Bristol, TN.
The only problem I see with this, is that in my many years RVing, a lot if not the majority, split the electrical off of the 30 amp to get the 20 amp. So if you try to tie in the extra 20 ontop of the 30 to get 50, you may and will overload somewhere. I know next to me in Gallup, NM that happened, a 50 amp Class A hooked into the 30 and then split and added the 20. What a mistake, breakers blew, cut a lot of people off in their RV's in the park. The guy claimed he did it all the time as some. Then I found out he was doing it to save 3 bucks so he did not have to pay for 50 amp. If you can drive a quarter to half million dollar rig, you surely can afford an extra 3 bucks for insurance!
Hope everyone reads this.
Steve
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Joined: Jan 2010
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From: Bristol, TN.
Everything in your camper can be used while adapted to a 15-20 amp service except your a/c. You only need 30 amp service when runnng the a/c. You only need a 50 amp service if you have a camper with and are running 2 a/c's at the same time. Those adapters are perfect for keeping your batteries up and your fridge working, and anything else in the camper while at home....except the a/c. One thing to remember is that everything generally works on 12 volts in your camper(factory installed) except the a/c, microwave, and tv(sometimes even the tv is 12 volts too). Everything else operates off of your battery, and being plugged in to a/c power just keeps the battery(s) charged.
Steve
New User
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 10
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From: TX for now, soon... TN
The only problem I see with this, is that in my many years RVing, a lot if not the majority, split the electrical off of the 30 amp to get the 20 amp. So if you try to tie in the extra 20 ontop of the 30 to get 50, you may and will overload somewhere. I know next to me in Gallup, NM that happened, a 50 amp Class A hooked into the 30 and then split and added the 20. What a mistake, breakers blew, cut a lot of people off in their RV's in the park. The guy claimed he did it all the time as some. Then I found out he was doing it to save 3 bucks so he did not have to pay for 50 amp. If you can drive a quarter to half million dollar rig, you surely can afford an extra 3 bucks for insurance!
Most likely I will be getting an auto transformer if anything, but mainly for if I "have" to plug in. I'll be boondocking as much as possible.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 950
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From: Waco, Texas
When I am in a hurry, Walmart is my rv park. But when I am planning ahead and stopping earlier in the day, I use RV Park Reviews :: Home as a reference to rv parks. It at least gives me an idea of the parks in the area and what others have experienced. It has been pretty well on spot as long as there are rather recent reviews. If I do not have the oppritunity to do a little research, then I do go for the KOA's or if a Casino has an RV park. These places usually have clean electricty.
Hotshot
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,060
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From: Bristol, TN.
The entire issue of dogbone adapters and campground pedestals is an interesting one as so often I think the tendency is too assume campground power is good, when in fact, there are huge variations.
I most often have to confront it when I have gone through a unit for a dealer before delivery and then get a call when it is hooked up and something is not working. One of our local campgrounds is so problematic we tell customers at the time of sale, if they camp there, we will not warranty the camper. I commonly make service calls there to find the ends completely melted off the end of the 30-amp shoreline.
You would think a 30-amp breaker would trip before the end of the cord melted off, but I guaratee you that is not the case. I always have spare 30-amp replacement ends in my truck on service calls. In most of the newer units, it is not hard at all to pull more than 30 amps in many larger travel trailers and fifth wheels.
Steve
I most often have to confront it when I have gone through a unit for a dealer before delivery and then get a call when it is hooked up and something is not working. One of our local campgrounds is so problematic we tell customers at the time of sale, if they camp there, we will not warranty the camper. I commonly make service calls there to find the ends completely melted off the end of the 30-amp shoreline.
You would think a 30-amp breaker would trip before the end of the cord melted off, but I guaratee you that is not the case. I always have spare 30-amp replacement ends in my truck on service calls. In most of the newer units, it is not hard at all to pull more than 30 amps in many larger travel trailers and fifth wheels.
Steve
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