Need assistance with electrical questions

[Darlene Hardin]

Hi We own a 16 foot Shasta. We have been remodeling it and getting it road ready for the past few months. But we are stumped on something. During our renovation we have added a small air and heat unit and we need at least 20 amp for our trailer. My question is, does the parks that Retro trailers can stay in have both 30 and 50 amp? Or do we need to get both converters. April will be our first trip and we really need some help with this. Thanks a lot for your help. Darlene Hardin

[Russell E Johnson]

All campgrounds will have 30 amp service as it is still the most popular.  50 amp is growing but I doubt it will replace 30 amp anytime in the foreseeable future.  A 39 amp adapter to 15 amp I have seen, but not one for 30 amp to 20 amp.

[James and Yvonne Hoak]

A 30amp converter is all that yiu need 50 amps are for bigger rigs with 2 acs

[Brian Lindsey]

I guess I'm a little confused.  Is your trailer wired with a 20 amp plug?  If you changed out the plug make sure the wiring is a heavy enough gauge to handle the new, higher load.  The best bet would be to wire the trailer with a 30 amp pig tail. You will be set for almost all campgrounds.  In my 18 years as a firefighter I don't recall a fire from a light load on heavy wiring, I do recall fires from too heavy of a load on light wiring. You will occasionally run into a camping space where only 15 amp is available so if you obtain an adapter for 30 to 15 you can run "almost" everything and as long as they have a breaker right at the plug the worst you can do is trip their breaker.  

If you ever get through North Little Rock, AR spend a night at the campground on the river downtown.  The good folks there sell a 50 to 30 amp adapter for next to nothing.  A year ago it was only $7.95  They only have 50 amp and try to help people out by eating some of the cost.  If you have all 3 you can plug in anywhere.  

[Lakota Wolf]

30 amp is the normal.... make sure you have the correct fuse or breakers in your power panel box. And you should be ok with no problems....... 30 amp plugs are 3 prong and 50 amp are 4 prong, and 50 amp is for the larger coaches and RV's.

[Rich Thomas]

I think most parks that offer 50 amp service also have a 30 amp service. One deviation might be a gated luxury RV park but, who would want to take a nice vintage camper in among st that drama. For the most part 30 amp is the standard or norm. There are other folks on here with more experience than I on the verity of options you have to power up but I think you'll get by just fine on 30 amps. 

[John "T" Nordhoff]

 First of all lets set the record since you say you require 20 amps:

 A NEMA 5-15R Receptacle is for 120 volts rated for 20 amps (accepts 15 amp but NOT 20 amp plugs)

 A NEMA 5-20R Receptacle is for 120 volts rated for 20 amps (accepts 15 or 20 amp plugs)

 NEMA 5-15P Plugs (120 volts rated for 15 amps) fit into EITHER of the above

 NEMA 5-20P Plugs ONLY fit into 5-20R Receptacles (one prong is sideways)

 ONLY extreme old under equipped RV parks have only 120 volt 15 or 20 amp receptacles

 MOST RV parks have AT LEAST 120 volt 30 amp NEMA TT-30R Receptacles PLUS 120 volt 15/20

 MANY RV parks have BOTH 120 volt 30 amp 3 prong PLUS 120/240 volt 4 prong 50 amp plugs PLUS

                  120 volt 15 or 20 amp Receptacles 

 SOOOOOOOO do you actually require 20 amps orrrrrrr 15 amps of true loads?????

 If you require a max continuous load of 12 amps, you should use AT LEAST a 15 amp rated cord and plug and protect it with a 15 amp overload protection device/circuit breaker  (of course you can still use a 20 amp rated plug and cord) REGARDLESS Id use a 20 amp supply 12 Gauge cord etc., never ONLY 15 amps

 If you require a max continuous load of 16 amps, you need AT LEAST a 20 amp rated cord and plug and protect it with a 20 amp overload protection device (i.e. circuit breaker)

 If you require MORE THEN 16 amps continuous (but less then 25) you should use a 30 amp rated cord and plug (NEMA TT-30P)

 NOTE If I were installing a new service and cord Id go ahead and wire it for 30 amps,,,,,,,Use a 10 Gauge 3 Conductor (Hot, Neutral, Ground) cord and a NEMA TT-30P 3 prong typical RV Plug. NO WAY would I wire it for ONLY 15 amps of service (IE use 20 amp rated 12 Gauge wire).

 NOTE DO NOT,,,,, I REPEAT DO NOT bond the White Neutral and the Green Equipment Ground in the RV's service entrance panel (they remain separate and isolated) and use a main circuit breaker to match the supply. The Green Equipment Ground, however, should bond to the RV chassis/frame.  

 Sorry for too much info, but I'm a retired electrical distribution design engineer and I can't help myself lol

 I'm just WIRED that way, its in my DNA

 John T

[Russell E Johnson]

Very good explanation John T, Hopefully that will set Darlene straight on what the need to wire up for the TT.

Russ

[Rich Thomas]

Ask and ye shall receive. Both thumbs up for John T.

[david craft]

I'll write this just because its possibly pertinent if not for you then maybe someone else. If your load meets John's criteria for being under a 12amp continuous load and a 15amp circuit will suffice, I would look at a motor base receptacle to supply power to the coach. They make a nice little unit with a door,very affordable and make a great install.

[John "T" Nordhoff]

MY BAD, a NEMA 5-15R Receptacles is rated for 15 Amps NOT 20 as I hurriedly posted above, SILLY MEEEEEEE

The 15 amp NEMA 5-15R has the two slotted inlets while the 20 amp NEMA 5-20R has sort of a T shaped slot and the 5-20P Plug has one sideways terminal which fits there. The 15 amp 5-15P PLUG fits in EITHER but the 20 amp plug ONLY fits into the 20 amp receptacle.

  John T