30 Amp RVs vs 50 Amp RVs
RV electrical systems can be difficult to understand at first, but it’s important to know what you’ll get when deciding between a 50 amp RV or a 30 amp RV.
Related Product: See how level your RV is using an App on your phone with the LevelMatePro Wireless RV Leveling System (click to view on Amazon)
In this article, I’ll outline some of the key differences to help you get a better understanding of the two.
I’ll talk about what it would take to convert a 30 amp RV to a 50 amp.
Also, why you may hear 50 amp hookups referred to as 100 amp at some RV parks and campgrounds
See Also: What Do I Need To Use Hookups At An RV Park Or Campground?
RV 30 Amp vs 50 Amp Surprising Facts
A 50 Amp RV Get 3x More Power Than A 30 Amp RV
The most surprising thing about 50-amp vs. 30-amp RVs is that 50-amp RVs receive more than three times the power of 30-amp RVs.
I know, 50 isn’t three times 30, but when you break it down into watts, the difference is clear:
- 30-amp RVs: 3,600 watts (30 amps × 120 volts)
- 50-amp RVs: 12,000 watts (50 amps × 120 volts × 2)
This massive increase is due to the power delivery system. A 50-amp plug has four prongs, with two prongs supplying 50 amps each, while a 30-amp plug only has one power prong.
I’ll dive deeper into how this works later in the article.
See Also: The Best Camping Gas Generators That Will Run Your RV AC
50 Amp RVs Can Run Way More Appliances At The Same Time
Another big difference is how many appliances you can run simultaneously.
In a 30-amp RV, running just one air conditioner and the microwave at the same time can push the system to its limit.
In contrast, a 50-amp RV can handle multiple high-power appliances with ease—like two air conditioners, the microwave, a washer or dryer, and a TV—all without risking a tripped breaker.
Different Power Centers
A 50-amp RV is equipped with two 50-amp circuit breakers (4-wire system) because two wires deliver 50 amps of power each. This setup allows multiple appliances to run simultaneously without overloading the system.
For example, in a 50-amp RV, two air conditioning units can operate on separate circuits, leaving other appliances like the microwave and washing machine to run on their own dedicated circuits and breakers. This separation prevents interruptions and makes the system highly efficient.
See Also: How To Connect/Plug RV Camper Into Generator (15/30/50 Amp)
In contrast, a 30-amp RV has just one 30-amp circuit breaker powering everything. Here’s how quickly it adds up:
- A 13,500 BTU RV air conditioner typically uses around 1,600 watts while running and even more during startup.
- A microwave uses about 1,000 watts, bringing the total to 2,600 watts for just these two appliances.
- Add an electric water heater drawing another 1,000 watts, and you’ve exceeded the 3,600-watt capacity of a 30-amp system, causing the breaker to trip.
This limitation is why 30-amp RVs struggle to run multiple high-demand appliances at once.
Outlets
The wiring and number of outlets in 30-amp and 50-amp RVs are significantly different.
A 30-amp RV typically has fewer outlets than a 50-amp RV, and even if you upgrade a 30-amp RV to a 50-amp system, the amount of power you can draw from existing outlets remains limited.
To fully utilize the increased power capacity, you’d need to add more outlets, each on its own dedicated circuit, to distribute the load effectively.
See Also: RV Life Hack: 6 Things You Can Do To Fix A Broken RV Outlet
The Plugs
Let’s talk about the differences in plugs for 30-amp and 50-amp RVs, as they play a big role in power delivery.
A 50-amp RV plug has four prongs supporting a 4-wire system. Two of those prongs supply 50 amps of power each, allowing for a much higher maximum wattage to run multiple appliances simultaneously.
A 30-amp RV plug, on the other hand, has three prongs, operating on a 3-wire system with a single 30-amp breaker.
Using Adapters:
- 30-amp RVs on 50-amp outlets: You can use an adapter to connect a 30-amp RV to a 50-amp outlet. The 30-amp power cord will safely draw only 30 amps, and everything in your RV will function as it would on a 30-amp outlet. A good 30-to-50 amp adapter is all you need.
- 50-amp RVs on 30-amp outlets: Plugging a 50-amp RV into a 30-amp outlet using an adapter significantly limits power availability. Your RV will function like a 30-amp trailer, and you won’t be able to run as many appliances simultaneously.
While not ideal, 50-amp RV owners may occasionally need to use 30-amp outlets, especially at older or smaller RV parks. I recommend always carrying a 50-to-30 amp adapter for those situations.
Can I Turn My 30A RV Into A 50A RV?
If you’re finding the 30-amp system too limiting, it’s possible to upgrade to a 50-amp system or explore other ways to increase power.
However, converting to 50 amps isn’t as simple as swapping out the power cord or breaker. The original wiring and outlet system in a 30-amp RV are only designed to handle 30 amps, which means circuit breakers will often trip if overloaded. To properly upgrade, you’ll also need to:
- Add new outlets on dedicated circuits to handle the increased power.
- Possibly reconfigure your RV’s internal electrical system.
See Also: Best Portable Power Station/Solar Generator for Camping
Alternative Solution: Dual 30-Amp Systems
A simpler and more affordable way to increase power is to install an additional 30-amp panel and change the main power cord to a 50-amp one. This allows you to connect new outlets and appliances to the second panel while maintaining a functional dual system.
Get Professional Help
RV electrical systems are complex and critical to get right. If you’re not highly skilled in electrical work, don’t attempt this upgrade on your own. A licensed electrician can safely perform the conversion, advise on the number of outlets to add, and ensure your system is properly configured. This is the safest and most reliable way to turn a 30-amp RV into a 50-amp RV.
What Does 100 Amp Service Mean At An RV Park?
Some RV parks and campgrounds advertise what’s called “100-amp service.” Before I started full-time RVing, I used to wonder what kind of RVs could possibly need 100 amps.
Over time, I learned that 100-amp service doesn’t mean a single outlet provides 100 amps. Instead, it refers to power pedestals equipped with 50-amp, 30-amp, and 20-amp outlets, which together total 100 amps of available power.
See Also: Will A 50A RV Surge Protector Work In A 30A Outlet?
Surge Protectors
A high-quality RV surge protector is essential for protecting your RV’s electrical system and appliances from most types of power surges. Every RV owner should have one, regardless of their RV’s amperage.
To learn more about surge protectors—including how they work, compatible outlets, and the best options available—check out this detailed guide here.
Have questions about 50 amp RVs vs 30 amp RVs? Leave a comment below.
I would like to recommend to edits to this post. I am an electrician and some of the information is incorrect in the post.
The wattage for the 30amp plug is correct. As well as the wattage for the 50mp.
The 50amp plug is a 4-wire 240v plug. Which uses a 2 pole 50amp breaker not ‘100amps’. If you attempt to run ‘100’ amps over that wire and breaker it will tell the breaker. They don’t provide 50amps on each leg rather a combined total of 50amps.
They are called 100amp services because they have a 50amp RV plug, 30amp RV plug and a 20amp GFCI outlet. Total all those together and you get 100amps.
Also surge protectors will prevent surges from happening but can not guarantee it will stop every single surge.
***and it will trip the breaker.***
I took a look at the article and made the proper changes. Thanks so much for the input and the clarification, I really appreciate it.
Hate to break it to you but you do get 50 amps per leg on a RV. The RV splits the two legs so they are used independently…
The company AM Solar has designed and patented an ATS that delivers 50 Amps to both legs simultaneously. I think they call it the smartATS.
It’s two separate 120v systems if you hook it up to 220v you will fry the sysrem
I Agree with Jason and Kurt and Disagree with Andrew. You do get 100 amps from a campground pedestal with a single 50 amp RV plug. The campground system supplies 120 volts at different current phases (or circuit legs). The 50 amp RV plug delivers 50 amps on one phase and 50 amps on a different phase or leg. On most RVs roughly half of the RV connections are on one leg and roughly half on the other so each half has 50 amps available to it. While 240 volts can be available to the RVs circuitry, typically none of the RV circuits combine the two phases or legs to get 240 volts to any appliance or outlet.
Does this mean that the neutral wire in a 50 amp system could potentially carry 100 amps?
No , because the legs (phases) , are 120 electrical degrees apart , so too will be the peak voltages , which is the ability to deliver power . The total current on the neutral will be … I think , 0.707 times 100 , or 70.7 A . Due to the odds of 100% power usage being really low , they roll the dice and give just enough ampacity for most normal use. Think of your home panel . It has a 200 Amp main … But if you add up the total of the individual breakers its way more than the main breaker . That panel gets you 40 spots for loads , but never all at once . Hope this helps
I think you are thinking of a 3 phase system. On a single phase system they are 180 degrees apart. The neutral carries the unbalanced load, so if A phase was pulling 40A and B phase had 30A, the neutral would only be carrying the 10A difference. Worst case scenario on a single phase 3-wire 50A system would be one leg with 50A and the other with 0A, this would put 50A across the neutral. This is why the neutrals are sized the same or slightly smaller than the ungrounded phases.
No. It’s rated for a max of 50 amps.
Only if wired wrong such as two L1 legs (L1 & L1) instead of L1 & L2.
WOW
This artical and comments are very confusing. Made me more confused the I already was.
Same here.
Back to tent camping… much simpler and less aggravating.