Camco 50 to 30 or 15 amp adaptor

[Moto4play]

Hello all! I recently bought an adaptor "Y" has a 50 amp plug for the RV and the choice of using a 30 amp plug, 15 amp plug or both to get 45 amps. I used it yesterday for the first time to pull 15 amps while we are parked waiting to go back out on Thursday. We were unable to get the fridge to work and after testing I only have power to the GFCI outlets and the lights. Is this normal to only have power on half the unit? Theoretically it makes sense to get half the power off of a 110 when normally pulling from a 240. We ended up running a cord directly to the fridge but I was wondering is this normal or do I have a bad adaptor or is it Dutchman quality again?

[Wanderer]

Everything will work (not at the same time, of course) when I'm plugged into a 15 amp circuit.

[Moto4play]

Originally Posted by Wanderer

Everything will work (not at the same time, of course) when I'm plugged into a 15 amp circuit.

Interesting, I guess the only way to test is to get a different adaptor?

My cord only has one light on showing it is only powering one leg on the 50 amp cord.

[eightydo]

I would test the unplugged adapter with a meter. Then the same with the unplugged cord.

[Moto4play]

Originally Posted by eightydo

I would test the unplugged adapter with a meter.

Not sure what I am testing for, continuity or resistance?

[eightydo]

To me they are one in the same Zero Ohms.

[Moto4play]

Originally Posted by eightydo

To me they are one in the same Zero Ohms.

Not a pretty picture but I attached what I found. Only one pole is showing hot when plugged in but two show continuity. Not an electrician, I am a Carpenter by trade so any help I can get would be appreciated!

[eightydo]

Is this on adapter? If it is your adapter is bad. The pole on the right should be continuity on with the pole on the right (50amp side), or left (15 amp) to both right / left on 50amp. Just checked mine it has voltage to both left and right on 50amp connector. My cord from my trailer has two blue lights on the male end each hot leg/pole Hope it helps.

[Fanboy]

Mine is same as eightydo

[DesertRat]

Originally Posted by Moto4play

Interesting, I guess the only way to test is to get a different adaptor?

My cord only has one light on showing it is only powering one leg on the 50 amp cord.

At home I only have a 30 amp set-up for my RV. My cable only shows one light when pulled it but everything works just fine. If plugging ito 15 amps then I just have another 30 to 15 amp I plug in. Don't have the "Y" set-up like you do. Mine are Camco also.

[EricNSTL]

On a 30 amp service it will power everything, on a 50 amp service, the 15 amp will only power half and the 30 amp will power the other half.

If you are going to use this adapter all the time, you could switch the fridge circuit to the other side of the panel with a equal sized amp circuit that you don't need when using the adapter.

I have a 15 to 30 adaptor, and a 30 to 50 adaptor. This will give me power on both legs.

The Y adaptor is really made to be used when you have both the 15 and 30 amps circuit available like when your hooked into a 30 amp service at a camp site.

[HornedToad]

Ditto above...

A four prong 50 amp RV connector is really two 120 volt circuits that feed a split panel, 50 amps on each side. With 50 amp shore power you really have two 50 amp circuits = 100 amps X 120 volts = 12,000 watts.

So with a Y connector plugged into only the 15 amp side you are only powering one side of the split panel with only 15 amps. ie the red or black side in the diagram.

When using both sides of this type Y connector it would be the equivalent of running an Onan 5500 (watt) generator with 30 amps to one side (the house) and 20 amps to the other side (main AC) of the split panel.

With a two straight adapters, 15 to 30 into a 30 to 50, you would still be powering only 15 amps, but to both sides of the split panel.