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We were parked at Nat-Soo-Pah Hot Springs in Southern ID. Temps
on the low 100's, fires to the SE, S, SW and W, with smoke everywhere,
and all we had was 30 amp service. I asked Jim, the owner if I built
a device to use 2, 30 amp receptacles, could I use it. Sure he said,
and let me know if it works. If it does, I'll get some and let folks
with 50 amp service use them, for an additional daily charge of
course.
I went over to Gary's RV in Eden, ID and picked up 2, 30 amp male
pigtails that were about 18" long. They also had a 50 amp,
wall mount receptacle. Back to the RV, and wired it all up. Plugged
it in, tested it, and it worked. It took about 20 minutes or so
to put it together, and another 30 to take it apart and make sure
both plugs pointed in one direction, and the receptacle pointed
the other way.
This device will work best if you have 2, 30 amp receptacles that
are on opposite sides of the supply buses. Test it by measuring
across the two parallel plugs of the 50 amp receptacle with a volt
meter. If you're on opposite sides of the bus, you will get 240
+/- volts. If you're plugged into receptacles on the same side of
the bus bar, you will measure zero volts.
In the first case you have 30 amp, 120/240 volts for a total of
7200 watts, and a safe load for the neutral wire. In the second
case you have 30 amp, 120 volts, but a full 30 amps to each bus
bar, for a total of 7,200 watts. The potential problem is that in
the second case it is possible, but not probable to overload the
neutral wire.
Cost for the device was:
Pigtails.....$13.39 each
Receptacle....$18.00
Total Cost....$44.78
Usual warning. Unless you have greater than average knowledge of
electricity, and are comfortable working with wiring, do not do
this yourself. The products are available for purchase online at:
http://www.progressiveindustries.net/ADT230.asp
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