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03-18-2017, 09:27 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21
Posts: 185
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Electrical adapters
Being newbies to camping with a trailer we've been studying up on what to do when we arrive at a campsite. I keep coming across mention of plugging the shore power cord into the campsite receptacle that matches the trailer requirements, and that electrical adapters may be needed.
Do we need to bring adapters with us so we can usually connect?
Gary
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Gary & Linda
2017 Escape 21 (April 04, 2017 )
2015 Nissan Pathfinder
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03-18-2017, 09:34 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: North Van., British Columbia
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19, sold; 2019 Escape 21, Sept. 2019
Posts: 8,813
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You should have a 30 amp to 15 amp adaptor so that you can plug into an ordinary home type 110 volt outlet.
Most power poles in campsites etc. have an 15 amp, homestyle outlet, a 30 amp and a 50 amp outlet. Normally you can just plug your 30 amp cord in but it's good to have the option of using a household type 110 outlet. I've never had to use a 50 amp outlet and don't have an adaptor for them.
Ron
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03-18-2017, 09:54 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21
Posts: 185
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Ron, so this is what I would need? If so, I probably have one somewhere in one of my electrical bins.
Gary
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Gary & Linda
2017 Escape 21 (April 04, 2017 )
2015 Nissan Pathfinder
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03-18-2017, 09:58 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,552
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Quote:
Originally Posted by garysd
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Yes, a 15A to 30A is what you want, not the other way around (they usually list line side first, load side second....usually). I have never bought one, but some folks say that a 50A to 30A is good to have for pedestals that don't have a 30A outlet.
That one looks almost exactly like the one Escape gives out.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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03-18-2017, 10:02 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21
Posts: 185
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Ron and Jim, thank you! I love to learn.
Gary
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Gary & Linda
2017 Escape 21 (April 04, 2017 )
2015 Nissan Pathfinder
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03-18-2017, 10:14 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2015
Location: Seatac, Washington
Trailer: "The Trailer", 2nd Gen 21' & a 2017 Tundra CrewMax in Blazing Blue Pearl
Posts: 2,888
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ETI will give you a 30 to 15 amp plug when you get your trailer. I used it when I had the trailer plugged to a 20 amp outlet in our house.
I also purchased, when I did a motorhome rental, a 50 to 30 amp adapter. Yep, did use it once. It's in the trailer, just in case. Since it's there it'll never be needed. But when I take it out - yep, I'll need it. Never fails, does it?
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03-18-2017, 10:26 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21
Posts: 185
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You're right, Laura. Better to have than not!
Gary
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Gary & Linda
2017 Escape 21 (April 04, 2017 )
2015 Nissan Pathfinder
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03-19-2017, 08:22 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Trailer: 2013 Casita (Sold) 2017 Escape 21
Posts: 286
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I also recommend having a 50 to 30 amp connector. We've run into reverse polarity several times with the 30 amp connector but for some reason they always seem to get get the wiring correct for the 50 amp receptacle. Easier to break out the 50 to 30 than to head back to the office to switch sites.
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Dave
Never underestimate a man with a Degree in Physical Education.
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03-19-2017, 10:59 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Oswego, New York
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21C, 2018 Ford F150
Posts: 5,373
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Quote:
Originally Posted by H46Driver
I also recommend having a 50 to 30 amp connector. We've run into reverse polarity several times with the 30 amp connector but for some reason they always seem to get get the wiring correct for the 50 amp receptacle. Easier to break out the 50 to 30 than to head back to the office to switch sites.
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I also carry one. On this trip I have used it 3 times (including today) at sites that only had a 50 amp connector (not even a 15/20 amp receptacle) and once when the 30 amp connector is "iffy".
Since I have a detachable power cord, I made a 3' #12 cord with a standard household 15 amp connector on one end and a Marinco twist lock on the other that I use with a 25' #12 extension cord when only 15/20 amp receptacles are available.
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03-19-2017, 12:20 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: San Antonio, Texas
Trailer: 2013 Casita (Sold) 2017 Escape 21
Posts: 286
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For those who want belts and suspenders, or just like carrying around gadgety stuff, I made a 30 to 30 amp plug that reverses polarity just in case I get a pedestal that is reversed and doesn't have 50 amp. I know, I know, just a bit over overkill!
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Dave
Never underestimate a man with a Degree in Physical Education.
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03-19-2017, 01:11 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21
Posts: 185
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All great ideas, everyone, thanks! I'll make some adapters that hopefully will cover anything we come across.
Gary
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Gary & Linda
2017 Escape 21 (April 04, 2017 )
2015 Nissan Pathfinder
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03-19-2017, 01:29 PM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Grand Saline, Texas
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21
Posts: 21
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Also, a surge protector is highly advisable. Not every campground is fully protected. Just FYI.
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03-19-2017, 02:50 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Portland, Oregon
Trailer: 2017 Escape 21
Posts: 185
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Thanks, Art, we have the ETI surge protector on our build sheet.
Gary
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Gary & Linda
2017 Escape 21 (April 04, 2017 )
2015 Nissan Pathfinder
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03-19-2017, 06:18 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Asheville, North Carolina
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 895
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An extra 30 amp to 30 amp extension cord can also be helpful. (along with an extra water hose)
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Kevin
Thanks to the interstate highway system, it is now possible to travel across the country from coast to coast without seeing anything - Charles Kuralt
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03-19-2017, 07:43 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19' and 2016 GMC Yukon SLT SUV.
Posts: 500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by H46Driver
I also recommend having a 50 to 30 amp connector. We've run into reverse polarity several times with the 30 amp connector but for some reason they always seem to get get the wiring correct for the 50 amp receptacle. Easier to break out the 50 to 30 than to head back to the office to switch sites.
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Dave,
How do you make a 30 amp to 30 amp reverse polarity plug? thanks.
Tonny
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03-19-2017, 08:30 PM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Opelika, Alabama
Trailer: 2012 19
Posts: 130
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There is a lot of good info in this thread on how to make verious adapters to plug a trailer rated at 30 amp into 15,20 and 50 amp outlets but not much about why you should not do this or what precautions you need to take if you do so. There are different plugs and breakers for a reason and adapters should be used with caution.
Graham
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03-20-2017, 09:22 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19' and 2016 GMC Yukon SLT SUV.
Posts: 500
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gyuill
There is a lot of good info in this thread on how to make verious adapters to plug a trailer rated at 30 amp into 15,20 and 50 amp outlets but not much about why you should not do this or what precautions you need to take if you do so. There are different plugs and breakers for a reason and adapters should be used with caution.
Graham
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Hi Graham,
You are right. It could be dangerous, but can you buy any certified plug for reverse
polarity?
Tonny
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03-20-2017, 10:21 AM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,552
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kstock11
An extra 30 amp to 30 amp extension cord can also be helpful. (along with an extra water hose)
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I carry that, along with a cheap sewer hose connector, for when we place the trailer in a nice spot that is too far from the service hookups. Rarely used, but nice when needed. When we travel with friends it is handy to have one set between us so one of us can reorient our RV to face the other.
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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03-20-2017, 10:27 AM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Calgary, Alberta
Trailer: 2017 Escape 5.0 TA
Posts: 15,552
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Quote:
Originally Posted by H46Driver
For those who want belts and suspenders, or just like carrying around gadgety stuff, I made a 30 to 30 amp plug that reverses polarity just in case I get a pedestal that is reversed and doesn't have 50 amp. I know, I know, just a bit over overkill!
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I would be very cautious with that, Dave. You know full well what it's intended use is, but I would take every precaution to make sure nobody else got hold of it and used it improperly. Slim chance, I know, but not sure I would want to take it.
I do have an EMS in my new trailer, but have never had one before, and never have I ever checked the outlet at a campground even though I have a meter on me. If there was a problem, would it not be found by one of the hundreds of others who used the connection before me, or be caught by the EMS if you have one?
__________________
2017 Escape 5.0 TA
2015 Ford F150 Lariat 3.5L EcoBoost
2009 Escape 19 (previous)
“Most folks are about as happy as they make up their minds to be.” — Abraham Lincoln
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03-20-2017, 12:28 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Opelika, Alabama
Trailer: 2012 19
Posts: 130
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tonny LR
Hi Graham,
You are right. It could be dangerous, but can you buy any certified plug for reverse
polarity?
Tonny
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I don't think there would ever be such a thing available for sale.
Graham
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