Surge Protectors

[Alek&Lucia]

Just wondering, is it OK to use the EMS-PT50C on a 30 amp connection using a 30 amp adapter?

Any problems doing this?

Works fine, I connected that way few times with no problem.

Alek

[Willis Michell]

James, I checked also trying to Google an ans and it led me to the POG site. Several years ago this subject came up and their seems to be no problem with 30A or even 20 on a 50amp serge protector. Willis

[James]

Thanks, haven't tried it yet and was just wondering.

[Ray Davis]

Just wondering, is it OK to use the EMS-PT50C on a 30 amp connection using a 30 amp adapter?

It works fine, BUT there are a couple of caveats. Remember that a 50A circuit is really two 50A legs, and the PT-50 measures both. A 30A circuit is one 30A circuit, so generally a 30-50 adapter joins both of the 50A legs together. The readout on the PT-50 will still attempt to show each leg, even though they are the combined. I'm pretty sure you have to double the amperage readout to get the real 30A amperage. For example, if my battery charges are each drawing 3A, then the PT-50 will indicate 3A per leg. The total 30A circuit draw will be 6A.

Ray

[Sid Tuls]

I just ordered a 30 amp surge protector from Progessive this afternoon. They have them priced @ $89.00 includes shipping. The reason being the new place that I now have my bus stored at only has 30 amp. So now I'm protected either way

[Willis Michell]

To follow up with Sid, it is common where I keep my coach to have a 50 Amp plug but they warn you it is really only 30 Amp's per leg. So I usually set the inverter down from 48 to about 28. I assume I am still ok with the 50amp surge protector?...What do you think. Willis

[truk4u]

Willis,

The 30 amp Sid is talking about is really only 120v, not to be confused with 50 amp that is 240v, 2 legs of 50amp. If the 50 amp power you are talking about is only 30 amp on each leg, something is really wrong!

Maybe Gary will jump in here...

[Gary & Peggy Stevens]

I just ordered a 30 amp surge protector from Progessive this afternoon. They have them priced @ $89.00 includes shipping. The reason being the new place that I now have my bus stored at only has 30 amp. So now I'm protected either way

But Sid, if all you have is the 30amp capability, you won't be able to take it with you when you go camping to get 50amp protection at the campground posts, which is probably more important when you are away from home?

Just my 02 cents worth.

Gary S.

[Sid Tuls]

Hi Gary, I also have the PT50C surge protector. I thought (thats the problem me thinking) That I needed a differant unit for 30 amp. I should of called Progressive before ordering it online.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Willis,

The 30 amp Sid is talking about is really only 120v, not to be confused with 50 amp that is 240v, 2 legs of 50amp. If the 50 amp power you are talking about is only 30 amp on each leg, something is really wrong!

Maybe Gary will jump in here...

Let me jump in. Since Jamestown Advanced makes the electric boxes perhaps I can make some general comments.

There are three receptacles found in the typical electric box in an RV park. One is 20 amp, GFCI protected. It is generally unsuitable for us to use as a power source for the bus because the way most of our conversions are set up the ground is not established until the transfer switch sees incoming power, and because of that the GFCI will trip. It can be used as a site power outlet such as for a vacuum or any 120 Volt device, but is generally not suitable for our coaches. There are exceptions however. I think Thompson coaches are set up so when there is incoming power it establishes a ground and because of what is called a "soft start" it does not trip the GFCI because it does have a ground connected.

The 30 amp receptacle is an RV specific one and it is 120 volts like the 20 amp receptacle.

The 50 amp receptacle is a completely different animal. It is actually two 120 volt legs each providing 50 amps of power. Depending on how the coach is wired it can provide 100 amps at 120 volts or 50 amps at 240 volts. When Willis mentions he only has 30 amps per leg, that means he can use his 50 amp plug, but if he pulls more than 30 amps from either leg he will trip the breaker in the distribution box. It is probable the owner of the facility did not want excessive electrical use so he limited it by installing 30 amp breakers. I suspect however because he uses a 50 amp receptacle the codes required him to pull heavy wire for 50 amp service.

So specifically 20 amp receptacle is 20 amps. a 30 amp receptacle is 30 amps, but a 50 amp receptacle is 100 amps. If whoever named the receptacles as 20, 30 and 50 instead said 20, 30, and 100 there would be less confusion.