beginner pop up questions

[cwilson]

i need some help, your input would be great?
I have a  2002 coleman sun valley
Someone told me to use 50 watt to 30 watt adapter on my electrical hook up for my pop up.  Do you recommend this? if so, why?

also, What is the best way to level the camper? i have crank down stablizers, but my owners manual says not to use them for leveling?  any recommendations

[Spoon]

i need some help, your input would be great?
I have a  2002 coleman sun valley
Someone told me to use 50 watt to 30 watt adapter on my electrical hook up for my pop up.  Do you recommend this? if so, why?

also, What is the best way to level the camper? i have crank down stablizers, but my owners manual says not to use them for leveling?  any recommendations

I'm no help w/ the power thing, but as far as the stabilizers they only stablize after the leveling has been done. You level side to side by raising or lowering the tires using blocks, or a leveler like the BAL. Then level front to back using the jack on the tounge. Once it is level. Drop the stabilizers. It will keep you from doing a circus act when everyone walks to one end... :yikes:

It makes for good laughs for others though!!

good luck,
Spoon

[dthurk]

i need some help, your input would be great?
I have a  2002 coleman sun valley
Someone told me to use 50 watt to 30 watt adapter on my electrical hook up for my pop up.  Do you recommend this? if so, why?

also, What is the best way to level the camper? i have crank down stablizers, but my owners manual says not to use them for leveling?  any recommendations

I would suspect you mean amps instead of watts.  There are adapters to allow you to use a 50 amp circuit with a 30 amp cord, but I wouldn't recommend this.  You might be risking a remote possibility of lethal shock or fire.  You could use a 30 amp power cord in a 30 amp socket, or use an adapter to hook up to a 20 amp or 15 amp supply.

[howlinowl]

Actually, a 50 amp circuit will handle a load from 0 to 50 amps.  So, using an adapter to adapt to the 50 amp circuit should be ok.  I believe that the converter has circuit breakers in it to break the circuit if you try to over amp it.  I worry about using an adapter to connect to service under 30 amps.  If you use an adapter to adapt to a 15 amp circuit, and your camper is rated at 30, you could pull 25 amps and still not trip the breakers in the camper and pull too many amps for the supply circuit (although, I would think there would be a circuit breaker in the supply circuit to trip if you pull more than the 15).  I've got a 15 amp adapter for my pop-up, but I haven't bothered to check the amp ratings (starting and running, because to start the unit pulls more amps than to keep it running) of my A/C to see if I think it would be safe to run it off of a 15 amp supply.  

Allan

[SpeakEasy]

Are there campgrounds that offer ONLY 50 amp service? I doubt this, although anything is possible. It seems to me that I've only seen the following three types of campgrounds:  (1) 50 amp AND/OR 30 amp (two separate outlets) or (2) 30 amp AND/OR 15 amp (two separate outlets) or (3) ONLY 15 amp. It seems to be dependent on how recently they did the wiring of the campground. The higher amperages being available only on the more recently-wired campgrounds.

Since your camper has the 30 amp cord, you can use options #1 and #2 directly. The only one that you need an adaptor for is option #1. The adaptor needed would convert your 30 amp cord to enable you to plug it in to a 15 amp outlet. This is what howlinowl and dthurk mentioned.

Now, in the event that you found yourself at a campground that offers ONLY 50 amp service, you would be unable to use their electricity without an adaptor that converts 50 amp to 30 amp. That would be the only situation that would relate to your original question. And like I said, I have not seen campgrounds that offer only 50 amp service.

By the way - I love the Sun Valley! If I could have felt comfortable towing that much weight I would have purchased that model. I think it is a wonderful floorplan.

Enjoy your camper!

[dthurk]

Actually, a 50 amp circuit will handle a load from 0 to 50 amps.  So, using an adapter to adapt to the 50 amp circuit should be ok.  I believe that the converter has circuit breakers in it to break the circuit if you try to over amp it.  I worry about using an adapter to connect to service under 30 amps.  If you use an adapter to adapt to a 15 amp circuit, and your camper is rated at 30, you could pull 25 amps and still not trip the breakers in the camper and pull too many amps for the supply circuit (although, I would think there would be a circuit breaker in the supply circuit to trip if you pull more than the 15).  I've got a 15 amp adapter for my pop-up, but I haven't bothered to check the amp ratings (starting and running, because to start the unit pulls more amps than to keep it running) of my A/C to see if I think it would be safe to run it off of a 15 amp supply.  

Allan

A 50 amp service can handle a 30 amp demand, but the same does not hold true the other way around.  A 30 amp power cord is not rated heavy enough to handle a 50 amp service.  This is why we shouldn't use a #14 extension cord to carry 30 amp service.  #10 wire is rated to 30 amps.  50 amps most likely requires #8 wire, or heavier.  If something weird were ever to occur, the 30 amp cord could be overloaded, overheat and create a dangerous situation.  A 30 amp cord can be plugged into a smaller supply, such as a 15 or 20 amp service, and not damage anything.  If you were to overdraw the service, the service breaker would trip.  

I would still not recommend plugging a 30 amp system into a 50 amp service.  I don't think the wiring is capable of handling it safely.  Electrical service and propane are potentially lethal.  Better to err on the side of caution with both these areas.

[howlinowl]

A 50 amp service can handle a 30 amp demand, but the same does not hold true the other way around.  A 30 amp power cord is not rated heavy enough to handle a 50 amp service.  This is why we shouldn't use a #14 extension cord to carry 30 amp service.  #10 wire is rated to 30 amps.  50 amps most likely requires #8 wire, or heavier.  If something weird were ever to occur, the 30 amp cord could be overloaded, overheat and create a dangerous situation.  A 30 amp cord can be plugged into a smaller supply, such as a 15 or 20 amp service, and not damage anything.  If you were to overdraw the service, the service breaker would trip.  

I would still not recommend plugging a 30 amp system into a 50 amp service.  I don't think the wiring is capable of handling it safely.  Electrical service and propane are potentially lethal.  Better to err on the side of caution with both these areas.

But, if the 30 amp system were plugged into the 50 amp service, and were pulling, say, 17 amps, everything would be ok.  If you plugged in enough load to pull 40 amps, it wouldn't trip the breaker for the 50 amp service, but the circuit breaker in the converter in the 30 amp system would trip, protecting the 30 amp system, wouldn't it?  If you were plugged into a 30 amp service, and were to pull 40 amps, you would still trip one or both of the breakers.  I always thought that it really didn't matter how big the pipes were for the supply was, as long as my 30 amp system was protected by its own breaker, I'd be ok.  I may be wrong, though.

Allan

[dthurk]

But, if the 30 amp system were plugged into the 50 amp service, and were pulling, say, 17 amps, everything would be ok.  If you plugged in enough load to pull 40 amps, it wouldn't trip the breaker for the 50 amp service, but the circuit breaker in the converter in the 30 amp system would trip, protecting the 30 amp system, wouldn't it?  If you were plugged into a 30 amp service, and were to pull 40 amps, you would still trip one or both of the breakers.  I always thought that it really didn't matter how big the pipes were for the supply was, as long as my 30 amp system was protected by its own breaker, I'd be ok.  I may be wrong, though.

Allan

In most cases, you'll be OK.  There are situations that would exist that your converter breakers add up to more than 30 amps.  Our converter is actually a 25 amp converter, yet we have a 15 amp and 20 amp AC circuit.  DC is added to this.  One would HOPE the main breaker would trip when you exceed a 30 amp draw, but yet there's a risk you may begin drawing more than that without that breaker tripping.  

If you do exceed the amp rating of the power cord, overheating could occur.  It all depends on how much risk you're willing to assume with you and your family.  As I said earlier, electric and propane systems can be suddenly and quickly lethal (add towing concerns also).  I believe it's better to err on the cautious side in these areas.  Stay safe.  Take your calculated risks in other areas.  

In the end, the whole discussion may be moot as I can't imagine a 50 amp only box in a campground.   Any power supply box with a 50 amp supply should also have 30 amp and/or 15 or 20 amp supplies.  Just plug into the appropriate supply for your camper.

[hoppy]

Everyone seems to have answered your electrical question, so I will chime-in on your second question regarding the leveling.

 Your manufacture's instructions regarding the stabilizers are right on the mark. They are only used to "stabilize" the four corners of the PU after the PU has been leveled properly in both directions.

 I recommend that you first level the side to side direction by raising the low side wheel using one of many methods. One being the cheapest is to figure how low is the low side wheel of the PU, and raising this side using boards by pulling up on to them. The next method but a little more expensive is using plastic interlocking blocks (Lynx) and driving up on them just like the wood blocks. Another method that I use (the most expensive of the three) is a BAL single axel leveler. After the side to side of the PU is level, chock both wheels front and back of the tires. Disconnect the PU from the TV, and now level the front to back direction using the tonque dolly jack. The PU is now leveled in both directions.

  Most manufactures will recommend to raise the roof at this point, and then drop down the stabilizers into position. This helps prevents binding of the lift system on many models, and the PU is level enough so that the roof will go up level and four lift posts are "plumb"

 Drop down the "stabs" just to the point they are taught and not lifting the frame in any manner. One thing to remember, make certain that the "stabs" are in position before entering the PU. (at least the rear one's) Just about everyone has experienced the "SPUT" of climbing up into the rear bunk, and the PU tipping over on to the rear bumper without the rear stabs in position. This can be rather embarassing, and expensive if there is damage to the PU.

  Hope this helps.

[lmack]

But, if the 30 amp system were plugged into the 50 amp service, and were pulling, say, 17 amps, everything would be ok.  If you plugged in enough load to pull 40 amps, it wouldn't trip the breaker for the 50 amp service, but the circuit breaker in the converter in the 30 amp system would trip, protecting the 30 amp system, wouldn't it?  If you were plugged into a 30 amp service, and were to pull 40 amps, you would still trip one or both of the breakers.  I always thought that it really didn't matter how big the pipes were for the supply was, as long as my 30 amp system was protected by its own breaker, I'd be ok.  I may be wrong, though.

Allan

You are 100% correct, if your camper is a 30 amp camper you will have a breakers to prevent overloads...

[wavery]

That is correct. However, whenever you use any kind of adapter, going either direction, you add resistance at the adapter. A poor quality or corroded adapter can add a lot of resistance (increasing the amp draw) and you may experience a melted adapter or CG outlet. I can't tell you how many outlets that I have seen that are melted in CGs. I had one this last weekend in Oceanside. 90% of the time it is caused by using an adapter.

When I was on my boat, I had to replace my adapters often because of melting.

I've never heard of a fire or any problem on the RV but I'll bet the CGs don't appreciate the melted outlets.

[tlhdoc]

Someone told me to use 50 watt to 30 watt adapter on my electrical hook up for my pop up. Do you recommend this? if so, why?

Did they say why you should use the adapter?  There is no need to use an adapter if a 30 amp receptacle is available.  The only time I used a 50 to 30 amp adapter was to plug a friends camper into my site.  Many campgrounds charge more for a 50 amp plug.  
 

What is the best way to level the camper? i have crank down stabilizers, but my owners manual says not to use them for leveling? any recommendations

First level side to side.  You can do this by backing (pulling forward) onto a stack of wood, Lynx Levelers or by using a BAL single axel leveler.  After you are level side to side, use the tongue jack to level front to back.  The jacks are for stabilizing only as your owners manual says.
 
Have fun camping.