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Tars Tarkas View Drop Down
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Joined: 14 Jan 2013
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Posts: 1452 		Direct Link To This Post Topic: 50 or 30 amp
    Posted: 26 Jan 2019 at 7:33pm
It seems there are often distinct differences of opinion regarding risk.  Some people seem to be very risk averse.  I suppose it makes sense to try to let people understand that a risk exists.  Other people seem okay with risk, especially if they think it's minimal.  And aside from any statistics, there is also the personal level of anxiety, or fear of a given possibility.

Most days I skip the helmet despite the risk of meteorites.

TT
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Joined: 25 Jul 2011
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jan 2019 at 6:54pm
Well.. the fact is.. owners of many many many rigs do it out there every day, and the parks are not littered with burned out campers. 

We used 50A hookups 3 times this last season, because the 30A receptacles were terrible.

We are getting very close to dead horse territory here.
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jan 2019 at 5:24pm
I think there is a misunderstanding about something. Conductors don't spontaneously overheat, they are designed for a specific current flow, called ampacity. If you exceed that current they will overheat and can potentially start a fire. Below that current level that won't happen. The purpose of overcurrent protection is to be sure that all the conductors in a power system are protected by a fuse or circuit breaker that is properly coordinated with the ampacity of the conductors it protects. 


This is power system electrical engineering 101, fundamental.  I worked in electrical power system engineering for 35 plus years, if one of my engineers brought me a design like that he would have been looking for another place of employment. I did not relish being the defendant in a negligence lawsuit.  

By connecting conductors rated for 30A to overcurrent protection rated for 50A you are creating a risk that this overheating could occur. That includes the power cord to the trailer, the trailer connector, and the conductors internal to the trailer between the connector and the trailer power distribution panel. That's why FR places label near your trailer connector saying not to do that. 

I am the last person to tell someone on this forum that they can't do something, that is a personal choice based on an individual's opinion. But there are new members here asking questions and they need the facts in order to make an informed decision. When someone says that this can't result in a trailer burning up that is not a factual statement and I feel an obligation to object.You are entitled to your own opinion but not your own facts, sorry. 
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Posts: 6128 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jan 2019 at 5:07pm
Originally posted by lostagain

Seems to me the significant risk lies in the wire run from the 30A connector on the outside of the trailer to the 30A breaker in the main panel.  The cord from the 50A plug to the trailer could have an issue, but the worst it's going to do is burn up and trip the 50A breaker in the process.

On second thought, that outside cord, if it caught fire, could start a rather impressionable forest fire if it was not promptly attended to under some circumstances.  


Yes.. but of course so could the 30A or 15/20A...
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Posts: 2595 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jan 2019 at 4:15pm
Seems to me the significant risk lies in the wire run from the 30A connector on the outside of the trailer to the 30A breaker in the main panel.  The cord from the 50A plug to the trailer could have an issue, but the worst it's going to do is burn up and trip the 50A breaker in the process.

On second thought, that outside cord, if it caught fire, could start a rather impressionable forest fire if it was not promptly attended to under some circumstances.  
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jan 2019 at 4:08pm
+1 to GlueGuy, the adapter eliminates a leg in the 50 amp supplied circuit. The Pod has protection. You're not getting 50A to the Pod. You're getting one leg of a possible 50A connection. You're Pod is not burning up.
Mike Carter
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Posts: 2702 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jan 2019 at 10:36am
The only hazard is between the 50 amp breaker on the pedestal and the 30 amp breaker in the pod. I would argue that the danger may lie between the power connector on the pod and the main circuit panel but the main risk area is the 30 amp cord outside the pod. This is mainly because it will be laying on the ground and might be subject to hazards like getting frayed and run over, or a number of unforeseen hazards. Ergo, any arcing & sparking would be out in plain sight.

Not to say it is without hazard, but I wouldn't put burning down your R-pod at the top of the list.   
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Joined: 29 Nov 2015
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Posts: 6417 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jan 2019 at 10:23am
If the R-Pod were to draw more than 30A, then it might be an issue. As it is, the 30A breaker in the R-Pod would trip even if the panel has a 50A breaker. The question becomes moot if the only power supply the RV park has is 50A. Then you either use an adapter or you don't have electricity. 
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Posts: 5290 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jan 2019 at 8:51am
It’s like if your electrician screwed up and connected 30A wire to a 50A breaker in your home panel board. Unlikely that you will ever have a problem but if the worst happened you could burn your house down. Would you want to take that risk or would you want that corrected? Up to you...
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Posts: 3419 		Direct Link To This Post Posted: 26 Jan 2019 at 8:48am
+1 to Furpod and TT. I have used my 50 to 30 amp adapter, no issues.
Mike Carter
2015 178
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