No 110v shore power

[mattyj858]

hi guys, I have a couple questions in regards to my 110v shore power. My power appears to be the standard household 110v three prong.

1 when I plug into shore power I am getting no power. I believe there is a switch somewhere I need to flip? Is it by the breaker box? Anything else I need to do? I wire brushed th prongs for a clean connection but that's as far as I have gone so far.

2 when I pulled into a campsite it it did not have 110v hook ups, only the 220 type. Is there an adapter for this issue or how do you guys deal with this issue?

[Surfinhurf]

Strange,
1. Check the breaker on the shore power box, make sure the shore power is on, plug in a fan or light at the box, check your extension cord from box to rig with the fan or light, check your breaker in the rig, unplug your generator.

2> Yes there is an adapter, $4-5 at an RV store or check the campground store.  Most of us have 2 or 3 rolling around in our rigs, if you cant find one local, ask to borrow one from another camper.

Good Luck

HURF

[mattyj858]

Thanks, I am hoping the breaker flipped. I plugged into my house and all outlets were dead, dint have time to chase electrical at the time.


So there is an adapter for  the traditional 110v household three prong to the "shore power" three prong? Went to two Walmarts and didn't find anything.

[TerryH]

You'll find some helpful information here:

http://www.myrv.us/electric/

click on the topics on the left, particularly
30 Amp Service
Outlet Testing and
Campground Service

[mattyj858]

Cool thank you

[Surfinhurf]

Thanks, I am hoping the breaker flipped. I plugged into my house and all outlets were dead, dint have time to chase electrical at the time.


So there is an adapter for  the traditional 110v household three prong to the "shore power" three prong? Went to two Walmarts and didn't find anything.

http://www.walmart.com/ip/23500635?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=0&adid=22222222227017151124&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=40838757392&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=78652153832&veh=sem

[HamRad Mobile]

Good morning, MattyJ858; 

     You mentioned that the campground where you went did not have any 120 VAC electrical power connectors; "only the 220 type."  That is probably not true. 

     Most likely the three prong socket that you saw on the electrical power pedestal at the RV campsite was the NEMA TT-30R 120 VAC 30 Ampere type, and the NEMA TT-30P type three prong plug on most RV electrical power 10 AWG three wire cables will go into it.  The terminal configuration will look something like; 

          o 
        \   /   

     That is the NEMA TT-30P or TT-30R terminal configuration for the "plug" or "receptacle," where the "TT" stands for "Travel Trailer," and you will find some people who will call it the "RV-30" electrical connector, but the NEMA designation is the "TT-30P" or "TT-30R." 

     That has been the standard "Recreational Vehicle" 120 VAC 30 Ampere rated electrical service plug for about 50 years now.  There is also a larger four pin configuration 120/240 VAC 50 Ampere rated electrical service receptacle or socket that you probably saw right beside the three pin 120 VAC 30 Ampere receptacle or socket. 

     You can also buy a simple plug-in adapter that will allow you to convert that TT-30R socket to a common household type NEMA 5-15R type 120 VAC 15 Ampere rated receptacle or socket that you can plug in the common household type three prong NEMA 5-15P 120 VAC 15 Ampere rated plug.  Usually that cable will be made from three 14 AWG stranded copper wires, but some of the better quality ones that are longer in length will be made from 12 AWG or 10 AWG wire for a lower voltage drop over that longer distance, but they are still rated for only 15 Amperes.   The NEMA 5-15P plug will look something like; 

            o 
           |  | 

     The major difference from the illustration that I can produce from my keyboard is that one of the parallel flat blades will not be as wide as the other one, where the wider one is for the white wire or the Neutral conductor. 

     You did have a 120 VAC electrical power source at that campground, but I do agree that it does look an awful lot like a 240 VAC household electrical dryer connection, but it really is different.  If you look up "NEMA Electrical Plugs" on the Internet, you will see that there really is a whole bunch of different plugs and sockets for all kinds of different voltages and current ratings, and a lot of them are different in the shape of the prongs, such as "L" shaped, and different angles and locations that make them very difficult to put them together incorrectly.  I  will not say that it is impossible, because I have seen some very creative ways that people have come up with to modify them and even force them together.  And that is done sometimes with disastrous results.  I do not recommend forcing them together, or getting a bigger hammer to make them go together. 

     So, go back to your local RV equipment supplier and ask if they have the adapter to go between a NEMA TT-30R socket and a NEMA 5-15P plug.   The Camco brand is one popular maker for that adapter.   

          Enjoy; 

          Ralph 
          Latté Land,. Washington 


         

[mattyj858]

Awesome thank you! I didn't ask anyone at Walmart, just looked on my own. I'll ask Camping World for a 30-15

Thanks

[bluebird]

Matty. how did you plug in at home if you don't already have an adapter?

[Rickf1985]

Probably has a standard 15 amp plug on his shore line that someone cobbled up for home use. That was why he could not plug in at the campground. Might have a hard time finding an adapter to go from 15 amp UP to 30 amp. I have one that goes the other way so I can plug into a standard outlet.

[mattyj858]

Exactly, didn't think that the previous owner changed out the plug. It's a standard home use 15 plug. I guess step 2 is replacing the entire cord or plug. Is this a fairly easy swap?

[Rickf1985]

Yes, You can buy the entire cord at most camping stores, I am going to guess that what is there is probably nothing more than a garage extension cord wired into the campers box. Get a new cord and then follow the present cord to where it attaches to the camper. You will see the connections in the box. You will want the 30 amp, not the 50 amp cord. Length is up to you.

[BrianB]

This is an extension cord (I bought it last month) that you could install on the RV by removing the female end: www.amazon.com/Premium-25-Feet-Extension-Trailer-Motorhome/dp/B00QQYWG5Q
(Amazon says that exact one is out of stock, comparables are : http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=sr_nr_p_n_feature_keywords_2?fst=as%3Aoff&rh=n%3A228013%2Cn%3A495266%2Cn%3A495334%2Cn%3A6359402011%2Ck%3ARV+cord%2Cp_n_feature_keywords_two_browse-bin%3A7067556011&keywords=RV+cord&ie=UTF8&qid=1459725722&rnid=7067553011 )

This adaptor will allow you to plug a 30A RV cord into a 15A household outlet. Good if at home you just need to plug in and aren't going to do things like run the AC: http://www.amazon.com/Coleman-Cable-09521-33-88-Straight-Adapter/dp/B002G9TMYS

The combination of these two items will allow you to plug in at campgrounds while retaining the plug-at home capability you currently have.

Personally, I added an RV outlet with 30A breaker in the panel in my workshop so I can just plug in with the extension cord.

[M & J]

Brian, someone cut the 30 amp plug off his cable and wired in a 15 amp so he's looking for another shore power cord. Once that's replaced, he can then look at adapters and extensions such as you have posted.

[Rickf1985]

That is what Brian is saying, buy that cable and cut the female end off and wire it into the camper. I have seen them in Campers World ready to wire in though without the female end on them.

[M & J]

I missed the part about removing the female end.

Sorry about that.

[mattyj858]

Great thanks guys, yes I am going to replace the entire cord and do it right. I was able to get power through the to the 110 outlets finally but the ac isn't working (assuming because of the cable, works on generater)
Appreciate the help guys!