What is standard 50amp while traveling

[John Suter]

Hi Gregg (KB9BG @ arrl),

Best way to check/tell is to first plug in your
Surge protector. I have to add that close to 1/2 of
50A I've plugged my Surge protector into in last
couple of years do not register the 240 that they
should.

For others not familiar, each leg of a 50 amp
connection carries 120 volts when measured/compared to
the neutral and/or the ground. The 240 volts referred
to, is developed when each of the 120 volt legs is
"out of phase" (60 cycle alternating current) with the
other leg such that when measured from one hot leg to
the other hot leg, 240 volts is the net result.
Notice, neither measured to the neutral nor the
ground.

My experience is that many campgrounds have
"jerry-rigged" their older pedestals so each 50 amp
leg has its own breaker but many actually carry the
same phase and therefore 240V is really not present
across the two hot legs. All this is just academic in
most cases, as most coaches do not need or use 240V
but be careful in either case.

John Suter
WA5QCT (formerly WA9JPU & WA4JAB)



--- Gregg Kizer wrote:
> Question for the group....
>
> What is the (normal)standard 50amp camp ground hook
> ups while
> traveling? Is the 50amp boxes in most camp grounds
> 120v @ 50amp or
> 240v @ 50amp?
>
> Does one always want to make sure before hooking up
> if there seems to
> be not a general 50amp standard (check for 120v vs.
> 240v)? Most camp
> grounds have 120v @ 30amp & 20amp as I recall, but
> not for sure on the
> 50amp hook ups that handle the big coaches.
>
> I am wanting to do the 50amp box (for my coach)at my
> house along with
> the additional 30amp box to cover all needs (in case
> some one comes to
> see me), thus the reason for the question. It seems
> I've alway got by
> with the 30amp box hook ups and I want to cover all
> situations of need.
>
> Gregg Kizer
> New Castle,IN
> 85PT40
>
>
>
>

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