Electrical Outlet – Question

Had a shop built a few years ago and had a 50 amp outlet put in on the recommendation of a friend. Not sure if it was for welding or some other high amp situation, seemed like a good idea. Well, I’ve never needed to use it…..

Until now… I bought a camper which has a 30 amp plug. I wanted to plug it into my shop yesterday so I could have A/C in the camper, thinking it had plenty of power. Well, the plug configuration is different. I called and checked around to see if there was an adapter but not having any luck yet.

Does anyone know 1) what this 50 amp outlet would be used for? 2) can I get an adapter to plug in a standard 30 amp RV plug?

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What’s the voltage to it? (stick a multi-meter in it)

I’m guessing it’s probably 240 if it was set up for a welder…..that would turn your camper into a campfire

That is an old style 50 amp 230 volt range outlet. What does you camper need?

It is a 240v 50 amp range outlet. If your camper uses a 4 prong 50 amp circuit you could change the plug to facilitate this. If you have the 30amp 120v then you can not use this plug.

Steve Hix wrote:

That is an old style 50 amp 230 volt range outlet. What does you camper need?

It’s just a standard 30 RV plug. See pic.

I have an adapter that takes it to a regular 110v household outlet…. but was told the A/C could not run on this without blowing a fuse

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supercat wrote:

It is a 240v 50 amp range outlet. If your camper uses a 4 prong 50 amp circuit you could change the plug to facilitate this. If you have the 30amp 120v then you can not use this plug.

So the 50 amp outlet I have is for a range? Like a oven/ stove? Seems odd they would have put that in there…. this was only 5-6 yrs ago and built new.

This is todays quote LOL

B-man wrote:

I’m guessing it’s probably 240 if it was set up for a welder…..that would turn your camper into a campfire

lindyrig79 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>supercat wrote:</div>
It is a 240v 50 amp range outlet. If your camper uses a 4 prong 50 amp circuit you could change the plug to facilitate this. If you have the 30amp 120v then you can not use this plug.

So the 50 amp outlet I have is for a range? Like a oven/ stove? Seems odd they would have put that in there…. this was only 5-6 yrs ago and built new.

Can also be used for a welder if you have the correct plug end on the welder. But being the electrician didn’t know exactly what was going to be used he likely used the cheapest and easiest option available.

lindyrig79 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>supercat wrote:</div>
It is a 240v 50 amp range outlet. If your camper uses a 4 prong 50 amp circuit you could change the plug to facilitate this. If you have the 30amp 120v then you can not use this plug.

So the 50 amp outlet I have is for a range? Like a oven/ stove? Seems odd they would have put that in there…. this was only 5-6 yrs ago and built new.

As munchy said you can use it for various things. These plugs are quit common yet. Yes you have a 30 amp 120 volt plug which you will not find a simple adapter to this outlet. You could change the breaker in the panel and the outlet since the wire in the wall is sufficient for what you would like to do. I know nothing can be a simple as you would like.

Some of those 50 amp outlets in garages are for welders. Most campers take a special camper outlet box, as the wiring is different. Not sure on the 30 amp, but a 50 amp camper outlet, is not the same as a normal 50 amp outlet that you have. You have the wiring for it in your box, you just need to switch the box outlet to a camper style, then get a basic 50 to 30 amp camper outlet adapter, or just put a 30 amp camper outlet in your box, in place of the 50 standard that is there now. Camper Outlets should be available at a camper place, or menards. They are inexpensive, but are wired slightly different than normal house wiring outlet.

lindyrig79 wrote:

<div class=”d4p-bbt-quote-title”>Steve Hix wrote:</div>
That is an old style 50 amp 230 volt range outlet. What does you camper need?

It’s just a standard 30 RV plug. See pic.

I have an adapter that takes it to a regular 110v household outlet…. but was told the A/C could not run on this without blowing a fuse

I plug my adapter into the 110 outlet and run my AC but I can only run 1 not both

Get an electrician to switch the outlets, might save you a lot down the road

you can buy adaptors at Menards to go from the 50 amp 4 wire plug to the 30 amp 120 volt you need but you will have to change the plug from its current 50 amp 3 wire configuration to the 50 amp 4 wire plug or also called a 50 amp range plug. Otherwise you can get an electrician to change the wires around and install a 30 amp plug and breaker, unless you are familiar with wiring.

grizzly wrote:

I plug my adapter into the 110 outlet and run my AC but I can only run 1 not both

We can do the same with our fish house.

as others have said, he has a 50amp 240volt outlet, which probably has 2 hots and a ground. In order to make a 30amp 120 volt, he’ll need an electrician to convert one of the hots to a neutral at the outlet and in the breaker box, as well as install a new breaker.

HRG

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Its actually pretty easy to turn that 220 plug into a 120 using the wires in the box. The hot red wite can be recoded as a neutral with white tape, move some wites and get a 120v 30amp breaker.
I will attach a video.

30 to 50 am RV converter, available at menards/home depot

I have done most all of my own wiring, I also used to drink a lot when I was younger. I suggest killing the power or not drinking when working with electricity, those metal strips in the box are not very forgiving.

sand-burr wrote:

30 to 50 am RV converter, available at menards/home depot

NOT FOR THE TWO HUNDRED AND FORTY VOLT OUTLET HE CURRENTLY HAS IN HIS GARAGE!!!!!!

HRG

What he said ^^

Why wouldn’t you just convert that to a 220 RV outlet ?

big_g wrote:

Why wouldn’t you just convert that to a 220 RV outlet ?

50amp RV outlet do you mean big_g, which uses a 220v 50amp breaker and wiring and a specific 50 amp plug?

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Yes. I put one at my cabin, they plug their castles in and runs the AC like nothing

That outlet is for a welder. It is 240 volts. It needs to be rewired for 110/120 volt. You need to change the breaker to a 30 amp for 110/120 volt and the outlet also needs to be changed to 30 amp. Do not just change the plug as you will not like the outcome of hooking 240 to a 110 /120 appliance. Please call an Electrician if you don’t know what you are doing!!!!!

slowpoke wrote:

Please call an Electrician if you don’t know what you are doing!!!!!

Agreed! Also, up-grading to the 4-pin 14-50 Receptacle shown a couple of posts above (which will require a dedicated neutral to be pulled) also gives you future BEV vehicle charging capability, since many chargers use that style of plug.

HRG

Thanks guys. I will call an electrician, but wanted some info before I do. Maybe I will see about leaving the outlet and just adding a 30 amp somewhere else. Actually, ideally the outlet would be outside anyway for the camper use.

Thanks again

onestout wrote:

I have done most all of my own wiring, I also used to drink a lot when I was younger. I suggest killing the power or not drinking when working with electricity, those metal strips in the box are not very forgiving.

Cant stop laughing,, But so very true.. Thanks for the laugh..

The only answer is CALL an electrician!