30 amp electrical cord

[paulitzlee2]

We have a FunFinder X139. We have a normal outdoor extension cord, probably 15 amp, that we use for lawn equipment, Christmas lights, etc... We bought a 15 - 30 amp converter and hooked up the trailer to the house. No problems. We've never stayed in the trailer nor taken it out yet, but we have turned on lights, the fridge for a day test or so, and the A/C for a few minutes to test it.

When I called the local KOA tonight to ask them questions, the lady there said it was dangerous to use the smaller cords for RV's. She said you should have a 30 amp cord for RV's, and not use a smaller cord with a converter. Otherwise, it's a fire hazard. I went to WalMart tonight and bought the 30 amp cord.

Questions:

1) Is she correct? Should we use the 30 amp cord when we're camping at a place with hookups? Vs. a smaller cord with converters?

2) At home, we only have the smaller 15 amp outlets in our garage. The typical electrical outlets with 3 prongs. Is it safe to use a normal 15 amp cord, with a converter on the RV end to convert to 30 amp, and use it when our trailer is in the driveway for lights, charging the battery, using the fridge, etc...? What about A/C? The hot season is coming, and I was hoping to use the trailer as a cool spare room. Is it dangerous to use the A/C in the trailer with a 15 amp cord? Everything works. I've used the fridge and A/C with the 15 amp cord, and didn't blow any fuses.

Was I just lucky?

Please advise.

 

[jb_dd]

1) Is she correct? Should we use the 30 amp cord when we're camping at a place with hookups?

Simple Answer.. yes.

2) At home, we only have the smaller 15 amp outlets in our garage. The typical electrical outlets with 3 prongs. Is it safe to use a normal 15 amp cord, with a converter on the RV end to convert to 30 amp, and use it when our trailer is in the driveway for lights, charging the battery, using the fridge, etc...? What about A/C? The hot season is coming, and I was hoping to use the trailer as a cool spare room. Is it dangerous to use the A/C in the trailer with a 15 amp cord? Everything works. I've used the fridge and A/C with the 15 amp cord, and didn't blow any fuses.

If you don't require the a/c or microwave, then use the 15amp without the convertor. If you require A/C/microwave get the 30amp.

I think you got lucky. If I were you, I'd get a 30amp plugin installed. It is fairly cheap to do. Alot safer.

 

[paulitzlee2]

Ok. Another question.

What about using a 30 amp cord, with a converter to 15 amp on the house side? The outlet would still be 15 amp.

Still a bad idea?

 

[jb_dd]

I'm not exactly sure how these convertors work. But I would say yes. Bad idea.

You're basically bottle necking the system.

Look at it this way. your house is probably getting ~100amps at the box, then it is split into 15amp throughout the house (maybe higher ones for washers/dryers), then you are using 15/30amp convertor with a 30 amp cord plugged into the trailer. All the wires between the 30-15 amp convertor to the breaker box are going to be drawing more power (heating up) than they may be designed for. Not good.

I would highly recommend getting an electrical contractor to come in and run a 30amp, might as well run 50amp to the location of the trailer. I bet it would be ~$100. Alot better piece of mind as far as I'm concerned.