

This plug is commonly found on electric ranges, and is similar to–but different from–the typical dryer, which uses a NEMA 14-30. Which brings us to another plug, the RV 50-amp plug, which is a NEMA 14-50.
#20 AMP POWER CONVERTER RV INSTALL#
If having an electrician install a 30-amp service for an RV, make sure that it’s a TT-30 configuration, and that it’s properly wired to supply 120V with separate ground and neutral.
#20 AMP POWER CONVERTER RV CODE#
The National Electric Code prohibited that practice in new home construction beginning in 1994, and a 4-wire plug has been used since then. This bonding means that the ground–which is designed to be a safety feature–is also current-carrying, which negates that function under certain conditions. The dryer plug supplies 240V, with a ground-neutral bond.

The two plugs are physically different in the center pin, but more importantly, they’re wired differently. Perhaps the most confused RV plug is the 30-amp TT-30, which looks very similar to the common 3-wire clothes dryer plug (10-30) which was installed in homes built prior to 1994. read moreĭifferences between RV Plugs and Common Household Plugs RV 30 AMP TT-30 male receptacle with handle, easy to pull and push. 100% copper wire conductor inside RV 50 AMP 14-50 female receptacle with handle, easy to pull and push. Heavy-duty power Splitter adapter cord for RV and power inlet pedestal. Also, if you look closely at the second one below, the handle for unplugging is a thin rubber strap that hooks on to the sides–that style isn’t very easy to unplug, and they’ll break, usually long before the plug itself needs retired. The bigger issue is that you have a 15-amp or 30-amp receptacle protected by a 50-amp breaker. Power adapter shown has 15-amp female receptacle (NEMA 5-15R) and 30-amp female receptacle (NEMA TT-30R) that are split from a 50-amp (NEMA 14-50P) plug. It either doesn’t work, or it does and you’re working off of electrical service that’s old enough to have concerns of its own.Īny combination of 15-amp and 30-amp receptacles plugged into 50-amp source Any 15 or 20-amp receptacle installed since the 1970s is required to be protected by GFCI. read more 50-amp Receptacle plugged into 30-amp and 15/20-amp sourceįirst of all, these adapters won’t work on any receptacle that’s protected by GFCI. Power adapter has 50-amp female receptacle (NEMA 14-50R) and 30-amp male plug (NEMA TT-30P)Īdapter Connection: Designed to connect to a standard 30-amp power pedestal and adapts the connection to fit a standard residential plug Contoured Design: Allows for easy removal from the outlet NEMA Configuration: TT-30P / 5-15R Rating: 125 Volts /. Look for UL-listed versions of these adapters, preferably with rigid grab handles. Power Adapters that are Safe to UseĪll of these power adapters will have a smaller, lower amperage plug (male blades) on one end, and a larger/higher-amperage receptacle (female terminals). If a plug goes in with little resistance, the receptacle probably needs replaced. A loose connection can easily generate enough heat to melt your plug or start a fire without tripping a breaker. Note that in any of these situations, and even when plugging your RV directly into a pedestal, a receptacle in poor condition is still a hazard. If there was a problem with the appliance, or its cord, you could easily melt it before the breaker is overloaded enough to trip. Now suppose you don’t have a 15-amp receptacle on the pedestal, or that you have something else plugged in.Ĭan you adapt down from a 50-amp or 30-amp receptacle on the pedestal to one for your 15-amp appliance? NO. That includes a patio light, a heated hose, space heater or a string of flamingo awning lights. Let’s say you have something you want to power with a normal 15-amp plug.
