Dear Readers,
It seems like the number of emails I get about licensed electricians accidentally wiring 30-amp RV outlets for 2-pole 240 volts instead of 1-pole 120 volts is rapidly accelerating. Some of this is probably due to a huge influx of new RV buyers in the last few years. And some is likely because RV owners want to use their RV trailer at home for an “outside” office or visitor’s bedroom.
In any event, installing a dedicated 30- or 50-amp pedestal outlet on your house is a great idea. Just make sure your electrician wires it correctly. Read this email…
Fanmail from some Flounder (Thanks, Bullwinkle)
Hey Mike,
Still no RV inlet installed here, but you’ll be delighted (sarc) to know that I just had a 10-minute debate with another experienced electrician that insisted that my trailer had to be wired for 220 and required a dual pole breaker.
That’s TWO Licensed Electricians – with at least 20 years’ experience each – that both insisted on the same wrong thing. If I didn’t know better, I’d have gone along with it!
When I showed them the 30AMP receptacle and asked them to look very closely at the markings, their eyes nearly popped out of their heads. “It looks like a dryer receptacle, doesn’t it? But it is slightly different! Check out the markings!”
Anyway, you saved my butt TWICE. Thank you! —Mark in Massachusetts
Here’s why this happens
This is a common mistake made by residential electricians because the TT-30 receptacle closely resembles an old-school 230-volt dryer outlet that was common in the 1960s. So, a casual look at the RV outlet they’re about to install may make them believe it needs 240 volts, when it’s actually wired for 120 volts.
If you allow them to wire it to 240 volts and plug your 120-volt RV into it without an EMS Surge Protector to monitor the voltage, it can do thousands of dollars in damage in just a few seconds.
Now hear this!
Please make your electrician read my article on Pedestal Power Principles before they begin any RV pedestal outlet installation at your house. Getting repair parts for a burned-up electrical system in your RV is getting nearly impossible.
Read Power Principles HERE.
Let’s play safe out there….
Mike Sokol is an electrical and professional sound expert with 50+ years in the industry. His excellent book RV Electrical Safety is available at Amazon.com.
##RVT1176
This is exactly right. When we were doing a remodel in the house I talked to the electrician about a 30A outlet for the RV. He was talking 240V like a dryer outlet and I could not convince him that an RV is different even after showing him the plug. I dropped the subject with him and got an electrician that knew what he was doing.
Good article I’m always surprised at the number of electricians that don’t understand how an RV 30 circuit is wired.
At a campground I was asked to troubleshoot a hot skin problem on a horse trailer. I was informed that the trailer had no issues with hot skin at their home base. Visual inspection and ringing the trailer plug showed no obvious problems.
Checking voltage at the pedestal showed 120vac between one leg and gnd and between one leg and the other. Looking at the outlet, it appeared to be the standard dryer outlet and I informed the owner to contact the campground personnel as I didn’t understand why there was only 120vac supplied. They found an open ground and explained that it was only a 120vac single phase outlet. Looks can be deceiving!!! Poor choice of connection devices by someone.
As a followup to my previous response that was word limited…I have almost 50 years working with voltages from +/- 5vdc to 480vac 3ph. I have seen electricians who couldn’t understand how to troubleshoot an SLC 500 or similar but could run rings around others t-shooting relay logic.
I stopped trying to locate the problem in the campground as I was not familiar with the wiring method. Not having any training on that type of wiring told me to get someone who was.
I don’t know who thought having “look alike” devices was a good idea.
YMMV
Another follow-up… I’m Mike (not Sokol). And to further my education on RV type wiring, I purchased his book and did quite a bit of research on that type of wiring. I don’t claim to be an expert by any means but I think I am a good bit less dangerous than before.
Thanks for the education Mr. Sokol.
Thank you for the recommendation, Mike! I have been thinking of ordering it, but delaying. I will delay no more. Have a great week and safe travels! 🙂
Thank you, RV Travel and Mike! 🙂 I found diagrams somewhere (here, elsewhere?) that showed how to correctly wire both a 30-amp RV receptacle and a 50-amp RV receptacle. I sent it to the electrician hired to install a pedestal at our RV barn to attempt to ensure that he avoided the “oh, wire it like a dryer” mistake. Thankfully, it worked! 🙂 Both outlets have been used without incident over the last 8 years. 🙂 Thanks again, have a great week, safe travels, and safe stays! 🙂
Maybe have an RV30A 125V to Household 15A 125V or 20A 125V adapter? https://www.amazon.com/Leisure-Dogbone-Adapter-Electrical-Converter/dp/B07BZ2B22F/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=rv+30a+male+to+15a+female