Has anyone used a 30 amp adapter at a campsite? Will everything work or are some items like one of the ACs disabled? I’m trying to figure out if a portable solar battery generator with only a 30 amp outlet will Satisfy my needs rather than creating my own battery bank.
You can use a 30 amp “dog bone” adapter to connect your 50 amp RV plug to a 30 amp pedestal service. The big limitation will be the 30 amp service (3600 total watts) compared to 50 amp service (12000 watts).
That adapter combines the single 30 amp input across both hot legs of your 50 amp shore power cord. You’ll get power to both sides of the breaker panel but will be limited in the power availability. You may be able to run one AC (~15amp draw, more at startup) and some other lower draw items. I’d advise against trying to run higher draw items like the electric water heater, electric fireplace (really a 1500 watt space heater), microwave or similar things at the same time. That’ll just cause the pedestal breaker to trip.
I’d also suggest getting an EMS like the Progressive Industries models EMS-HW50C hardwired or portable unit that plugs into the pedestal. That will allow you to monitor your electrical draw on each leg to have a better understanding of your power usage. Using 30 amp really hampers what you can run since it’s only about 25-30% capacity of a 50 amp service.
Stuart
Great information everyone- thank you!
Dan Vogel
3077 Woods Ave.
Wildwood, MO 63038
| Stuart
October 29 |
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You can use a 30 amp “dog bone” adapter to connect your 50 amp RV plug to a 30 amp pedestal service. The big limitation will be the 30 amp service (3600 total watts) compared to 50 amp service (12000 watts).
That adapter combines the single 30 amp input across both hot legs of your 50 amp shore power cord. You’ll get power to both sides of the breaker panel but will be limited in the power availability. You may be able to run one AC (~15amp draw, more at startup) and some other lower draw items. I’d advise against trying to run higher draw items like the electric water heater, electric fireplace (really a 1500 watt space heater), microwave or similar things at the same time. That’ll just cause the pedestal breaker to trip.
I’d also suggest getting an EMS like the Progressive Industries models EMS-HW50C hardwired or portable unit that plugs into the pedestal. That will allow you to monitor your electrical draw on each leg to have a better understanding of your power usage. Using 30 amp really hampers what you can run since it’s only about 25-30% capacity of a 50 amp service.
Stuart
The usage of battery / solar generators is increasing for the ease of the install. I am several conversion groups (van, bus, uitility trailer) and many have changed to using one of those solutions because they are easy and more “plug and play”. It really comes down to the same question when you are installing a full system - how much power will you need.
We were buying a tent trailer last year and instead of running our gas generator for our main power needs we were going to use a Bluetti that had a 30amp outlet and charge as needed with shore or generator. I have seen buses that have done a full stack of those devices rather than the more traditional install (pictures of that install). That individual still placed a full array of residential panels on the roof to keep that stack charged. His hardware costs were more than a similar powered Victron setup however he was just absent some of the complexity of the install.
If I was in the tent trailer I would not have any issue carrying one of those with a few portable panels to keep things alive. I have been considering my configuration for our next unit and will stay with the more traditional installation.
If you go with the “traditional” electrical upgrade of installing a dedicated inverter, along with lithium batteries and solar for recharging and go with Victron equipment. You’ll also get access for, no additional cost, the VRM portal which allows for remote monitoring and configuration over the internet in addition to their mobile apps.
Here’s my VRM site if you want to see what that looks like. 
After doing quite a bit more research, it seems that the Delta pro ultra, which will give me 12 kW and 7000 Watt inverter, with a 240 V connection but limited to 30 amp may be my best option since I can get it for near $4000 which is about what it would cost me to build a system, I think.
Does anyone know if I had 240 V 30 amp that would mean I have two 110 lines of 30 amp correct? Is there anything that really wouldn’t run on that? I suppose they put in 50 A for a reason, but if you manage to situation like this with a 240 V connection into the 50 amp cord, but simply limited to 30 amp wouldn’t that accomplish most of my needs even allowing me to do air conditioner, and microwave at the same time?
Sorry, just in case any was was wondering the $4000 would be for 6 kW, $5900 is the cost for 12 kW, but both have 240 V 30 amp connnections (not Nema 15-50, but the goofy 4 prong generator connector that will need an adapter).
The starting load on the AC unit may cause you problems at 30 amps with other equipment running. You may want to look at a soft start addition to each AC unit if you go down this path. The soft start would reduce the starting load of the AC unit and potentially allow multiple items to be operated at the same time.
As an example, I have a 30 amp output generator that I run for our 370 GB Vilano when it is in the yard or storage and running several large items at the same time will trip the generator breaker.
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