Electrical Question

[Davidmnc]

I have a 30amp (from source) to 50amp (to motorhome) adapter. It's about 18 inches long. We plan to cut off the 30amp plug and splice two 15amp "household" plugs into the adapter. Does your "RV Guru" think this is safe?

It would not make a difference. If the two 15 amp plugs are running off the same 15 amp circuit you still only have 15 amps. It's just split between two plugs. It's not the plug that is limiting you. It's what's feeding the plug. Just use a 30 to 15 adapter (http://www.go-rv.com/coast/do/catalog/page?index=A&pageNext=TRUE&dealerId=1746&pageNum=92), and plug it in the house hold plug. Then minimize your your power usage and you should be okay. There should be no need to cut any thing.

 

[Davidmnc]

Get some extra fuel and run the generator, IMHO

:iagree::iagree::iagree::iagree:

 

[Wardey]

Clay, Think of it this way.....You have (1) small water line. You want to flush (2) engines which require alot of water each......you can't take that small diameter hose and make it pump out more water. You can only divide the water into (2) seperate locations dividing the water with not enough pressure to flush the engines at the same time. Now, let's put a large hose with more pressure, then divide into (2) smaller hoses and wallla, it will work. The problem is, you don't have a large enough hose at the start. So you need to make a larger source, then divide it. Dave

 

[Davidmnc]

Clay, Think of it this way.....You have (1) small water line. You want to flush (2) engines which require alot of water each......you can't take that small diameter hose and make it pump out more water. You can only divide the water into (2) seperate locations dividing the water with not enough pressure to flush the engines at the same time. Now, let's put a large hose with more pressure, then divide into (2) smaller hoses and wallla, it will work. The problem is, you don't have a large enough hose at the start. So you need to make a larger source, then divide it. Dave

Go tto put things in terms boaters understand! I like it! :sifone:

 

[clayinaustin]

Clay, Think of it this way.....You have (1) small water line. You want to flush (2) engines which require alot of water each......you can't take that small diameter hose and make it pump out more water. You can only divide the water into (2) seperate locations dividing the water with not enough pressure to flush the engines at the same time. Now, let's put a large hose with more pressure, then divide into (2) smaller hoses and wallla, it will work. The problem is, you don't have a large enough hose at the start. So you need to make a larger source, then divide it. Dave

The "source" is a generator. The "hose" is one of the drops from the generator. Let's say that it is 200 feet long and has 20 "quad boxes" along it to supply 110volt AC to 40 RV spots. If 40 RV's are each running their air-conditioner units off of this one circuit, then why can't I power two air-conditioners? I believe I can with the right guage wire.

Our problem is the low gauge connection at the 15amp plug. Trying to run more than 15 amps thru it causes it to overheat and fail. We want to run two 15 amp plugs into a 30 amp wire and into the motorhome.

Understand?

 

[clayinaustin]

Just use a 30 to 15 adapter (http://www.go-rv.com/coast/do/catalog/page?index=A&pageNext=TRUE&dealerId=1746&pageNum=92), and plug it in the house hold plug. Then minimize your your power usage and you should be okay. There should be no need to cut any thing.

This is exactly what I am looking for, except I want to have two 15amp plugs feeding the one 30amp.

Something like this Y adapter but two 15a to one 30a and on the same phase.

 

[Davidmnc]

The "source" is a generator. The "hose" is one of the drops from the generator. Let's say that it is 200 feet long and has 20 "quad boxes" along it to supply 110volt AC to 40 RV spots. If 40 RV's are each running their air-conditioner units off of this one circuit, then why can't I power two air-conditioners? I believe I can with the right guage wire.

Our problem is the low gauge connection at the 15amp plug. Trying to run more than 15 amps thru it causes it to overheat and fail. We want to run two 15 amp plugs into a 30 amp wire and into the motorhome.

Understand?

I think you are making a mistake. Good luck.

 

[Chris]

To use an adapter like that, you'd have to have two separate outlets on separate breakers AND ensure they were on the same leg of the 220. If not- boom.

And, now you take the risk of back-feeding into a circuit. Essentially, anything on either of those two breakers that was disconnected wouldn't be disconnected- If you popped one breaker open, the electricity would now be supplied to the open side of that breaker, coming backwards from your Y. You could kill someone.

Why not isolate that second AC unit and do a temp wire-around for a second connection?

 

[clayinaustin]

I think you are making a mistake. Good luck.

I agree. However, I need to convince my friend that it is a mistake.

So, I am debating his side and looking for either solutions or a very good reason not to do it.

 

[clayinaustin]

To use an adapter like that, you'd have to have two separate outlets on separate breakers AND ensure they were on the same leg of the 220. If not- boom.

And, now you take the risk of back-feeding into a circuit. Essentially, anything on either of those two breakers that was disconnected wouldn't be disconnected- If you popped one breaker open, the electricity would now be supplied to the open side of that breaker, coming backwards from your Y. You could kill someone.

Why not isolate that second AC unit and do a temp wire-around for a second connection?

Thanks! I will tell my friend and try to convince him not to do it.

 

[Wardey]

Yep.....but what do I know........i'm only a unlimited electrical contractor in (3) States...... Dave

 

[clayinaustin]

Yep.....but what do I know........i'm only a unlimited electrical contractor in (3) States...... Dave

Cool! I have a little more info. My friend tells me that each "quad box" has four 15a outlets and they are each on a separate circuit. He thinks we can find two "quad boxes" on two separate circuits with opposite phase. If we can find this, then we should be able to use this...

Quick 220 Voltage Converting Power Tap Systems

What do you think, Dave?

 

[Chris]

I don't know that it solves any of your problems. It seems as if you have 110v air conditioners. You don't need 220 since they don't run on that voltage. All that's happening is the 220 plug that goes into the side of the RV is being used as two discreet 110 feeds to two circuits inside the unit.

Most likely all you need is a 220 plug for your 220 input on the side of the unit, then run two separate 3-prong 110 volt leads out of it and plug them into separate receptacles. There is no 220 appliance on-board, correct? I'm guesing it has a breaker panel- look for a double-pole breaker.

 

[Davidmnc]

I don't know that it solves any of your problems. It seems as if you have 110v air conditioners. You don't need 220 since they don't run on that voltage. All that's happening is the 220 plug that goes into the side of the RV is being used as two discreet 110 feeds to two circuits inside the unit.

Most likely all you need is a 220 plug for your 220 input on the side of the unit, then run two separate 3-prong 110 volt leads out of it and plug them into separate receptacles. There is no 220 appliance on-board, correct? I'm guesing it has a breaker panel- look for a double-pole breaker.

A 50 amp service is 220v. This is correct. The phases are split in the pannel box of the motor home.

 

[Davidmnc]

Cool! I have a little more info. My friend tells me that each "quad box" has four 15a outlets and they are each on a separate circuit. He thinks we can find two "quad boxes" on two separate circuits with opposite phase. If we can find this, then we should be able to use this...

Quick 220 Voltage Converting Power Tap Systems

What do you think, Dave?

But you still only have 30 amps. And it will be split between phases. You may get away with this, but I still HIGHLY recommend a plug in volt meter, and minimizing power usage. You will NOT have 50amps of service. You will only have approximately 30 - 40 amps. Not enough to run the entire motor home.

 

[Wardey]

Cool! I have a little more info. My friend tells me that each "quad box" has four 15a outlets and they are each on a separate circuit. He thinks we can find two "quad boxes" on two separate circuits with opposite phase. If we can find this, then we should be able to use this...

Quick 220 Voltage Converting Power Tap Systems

What do you think, Dave?

Yes that will work but keep in mind, you need (2) 115 Volt Ckts. on different phases for this to work. A single phase electrical panel has (2) legs of electricity at 115 to 120 volts each. The 115 volt receptacles you are plugging into, must be on different phases. Say one is on "A" phase and the other is on "B" phase. Not knowing the electric you are plugging into, be safe and bring gas too for the gen !!! Dave

 

[Wardey]

But you still only have 30 amps. And it will be split between phases. You may get away with this, but I still HIGHLY recommend a plug in volt meter, and minimizing power usage. You will NOT have 50amps of service. You will only have approximately 30 - 40 amps. Not enough to run the entire motor home.

David, I think he is only concerned only with the A/C load ???? Not a full 50 amps ??? Dave

 

[Chris]

I've been fooling with remote and on-location electricity for years. Trade shows and demos in parking lots, convention centers, etc. All with powered equipment (stuff involving dynamic loads- not just lightbulbs) Not once- I repeat... not ONCE has the power been as advertised. The odds are against you. Especially if they're bringing in a generator.

 

[Davidmnc]

David, I think he is only concerned only with the A/C load ???? Not a full 50 amps ??? Dave

I understand, but there are curtain things he can not control. Each AC will have a start up of 14 to 18 amps. They will run at about 10 to 12 amps. The converter will pull 5 amps constantly, and more depending on the amount of 12v usage. So just to run the AC he needs a minimum of 30 amps plus the 5 for the converter. That's 35 amps minimum to run the camper.

 

[Davidmnc]

I've been fooling with remote and on-location electricity for years. Trade shows and demos in parking lots, convention centers, etc. All with powered equipment (stuff involving dynamic loads- not just lightbulbs) Not once- I repeat... not ONCE has the power been as advertised. The odds are against you. Especially if they're bringing in a generator.

The funny part is, he would not have to worry about it if he would just accept the 100 gals of gas it will take to run his on board generator. How many guys around here burn that in a couple hrs of boating.