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Karst · Feb 6, 2013, 02:37 PM

Hello all,

I have been searching for answers to this question for awhile now and found the internet says one thing and everyone I talk to in person says another, so maybe you all can help me.

How much more electricity are you getting in a 50 amp rv over a 30 amp?

A 30 amp plug has 3 prongs: one hot, one ground, and one neutral. The one hot lead is 120 volt so you are getting 3,600 watt (120v x 30amp).

A 50 amp plug has 4 prongs: two hot, one ground, and one neutral. The two hot leads are 120 volt each so you are getting 12,000 watt (2 hot leads x 50amp ea. x 120v).

So some say you are actually getting 100 amp total to your rv while others say you only have 50 amp total (2-25 amp).
Which is correct?

I currently own a 30 amp rv and am constantly flipping breakers and having a terrible time trying to live off only 30 amp. So I'm wondering if going to a 50 amp rv would make it easier but since most of them have one more a/c than 30 amp rv's, I still might be pushing the limit since I would have more amps total but they would be used on the second a/c.

Thanks for any insight you can provide.

ma0641 · Feb 6, 2013, 03:46 PM

Now that would be real magic and you could sell the excess energy. Put in 50 and get out 100!! Sorry, 50 amps.

Karst · Feb 6, 2013, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by ma0641

Now that would be real magic and you could sell the excess energy. Put in 50 and get out 100!!. Sorry, 50 amps.

Hi, not sure if I can post links here or not but here goes. This is just one place I got this information from.

RVcruzer.com Electrical Tutorial - Chapter 3 - 30 Amp versus 50 Amp

stanfortyman · Feb 6, 2013, 05:49 PM

One is 30A-120V, or 3,600 watts. The proper way to say this is 30A @ 120V.
The other is 50A-120/240V, or 12,000 watts. This is 50A @ 240V.

The whole amperage thing is very misunderstood by lay folks.

donf · Feb 7, 2013, 06:59 AM

Basically, a 30 amp service can deliver 30 amps to you. A 50 amp service gets you 50 amps.

Will the additional 20 amps ease the load on your RV panel, yes. Will it be enough to meet all of the demand all of the time, maybe.

Remember though and RV is used for recreation, kind of roughing it style of life. For example, my wife considers "Roughing it" to be a Hilton or Shereton as opposed to a Marriot Resort Spa.