mike4947
N. Syracuse, NY
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I'll agree with Broccoli1, we've yet to pull apart a 15 to 30 amp dog bone that had smaller than 12 gage with in it.
We also do not recommend the block style adapters. In cases where an outlet or connecting cord causes resistance and heat due to the resistance we've found more damage than on a dog bone which has more material to dissipate the heat.
As for the dual plug in adapter there is another rare condition that can cause troubles in residential wiring. In cases where the duplex are separated as in one live all the time and one switched we have found the two outlets to be on separate circuits and different legs off the 220 busses. That causes a problem.
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Hurricaner
Hurricane Utah
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Joined: 02/17/2007
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Quote:We also do not recommend the block style adapters. In cases where an outlet or connecting cord causes resistance and heat due to the resistance we've found more damage than on a dog bone which has more material to dissipate the heat.
In addition to the above the block style adapters tend to pull out much more so than the dog bones.
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smkettner
Southern California
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mike4947 wrote:I'll agree with Broccoli1, we've yet to pull apart a 15 to 30 amp dog bone that had smaller than 12 gage with in it.
Can't say I have pulled them apart but I have one where the jacket on the wire is clearly labled 14AWG. I would not use it for running over 15 amps. Most I see now are labled 10AWG on the wire.
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wra
Florida
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Joined: 09/06/2008
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15/30 amp Adapters ---Gale Hawkins is correct.
There has been a lot of smoke about the 15 amp verses 20 amp plugs/sockets, saying that there is no difference in their ability to carry current. The fact is; there is more copper contact in the 20 amp plug/socket than the 15 amp plug/socket. You may not be able to see it, but it is there. You will also note that the 20 amp plugs cost more, for that reason.
Homes are allowed to have a 20 amp circuit connected to 15 amp outlets. It is very likely that a RV owner will draw more than 15 amps through the adapter and plug, in such a case. The standard dog bone adapter, with a 15 amp plug, even though it may have a wire heaver than 14 gauge, still can only carry 15 amps maximum. The weak link would be the 15 amp plug and the socket it plugs into. If more than 15 amps is going through it, the plug and socket will be overloaded. Over several hours, of over current, the socket will over heat, warp and cause a loose connection, get hot, discolor, melt and worse.
The double plug adapter is the best option for current carrying abilities. It is safe to use as long as it is used as directed. It should be used with a STANDARD WALL OUTLET. With proper use neither it, nor the duplex outlet it plugs into, will get hot. The moderator mike’s, post warns of using the adapter in non standard outlets. Using the double plug adapter in a switched outlet, with the switch off, would lower its current carrying ability down to a standard dog bone adapter (15 amps). The double plug adapter is made for 120 volt circuits. Plugging the adapter into a 240 volt duplex outlet would not be very smart. However if it were done, the home breaker would trip immediately. For safety, the double adapter should never be plugged into extension cord/s on the 15 amp (prong) side. If an extension cord is needed, use a 30 amp extension on the socket side of the adapter. This keeps voltage drop to a minimum as well.
Another post warns of plugging into some generators. Most generators have the option to produce 120 or 240 volts. If the generator is wired for 120 volts, the double plug adapter should work. If a generator is wired for 240 volts, the double plug adapter would not work. As its instructions says, it is for 120 volt use only.
I have used many types of 15/30 amp adapters. The dog biscuit melts. The dog bone gets warm and discolors. My orange double plug keeps cool and still looks new.
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vermilye
Oswego, NY, USA
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Quote:The double plug adapter is the best option for current carrying abilities. It is safe to use as long as it is used as directed. It should be used with a STANDARD WALL OUTLET. With proper use neither it, nor the duplex outlet it plugs into, will get hot. The moderator mike’s, post warns of using the adapter in non standard outlets. Using the double plug adapter in a switched outlet, with the switch off, would lower its current carrying ability down to a standard dog bone adapter (15 amps). The double plug adapter is made for 120 volt circuits. Plugging the adapter into a 240 volt duplex outlet would not be very smart. However if it were done, the home breaker would trip immediately. For safety, the double adapter should never be plugged into extension cord/s on the 15 amp (prong) side. If an extension cord is needed, use a 30 amp extension on the socket side of the adapter. This keeps voltage drop to a minimum as well. The problem is identifying a "STANDARD WALL OUTLET." There is no physical difference between a multiwired (one leg to the top & one leg to the bottom with a common neutral) receptacle without pulling it from the box. Although multiwiring is not all that common, it is legal & is done. Before using one of these adapters, be sure to measure the voltage between the top & bottom narrow blade of a duplex receptacle (if switched, with the switch on). "0" volts is good, 240 volts is bad! By the way, if half the receptacle is switched, don't use the adapter - too many chances for problems...
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Harry Havasu
Lake Havasu City, Az.
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Gale Hawkins wrote:Harry Havasu wrote:Gale Hawkins wrote:Harry Havasu wrote:
Caution. This may cause a problem with some Chinese generators. Some use a center tapped generator unit providing 230v and pipe each half wave of 115 volts to each outlet.
The "Professor" has a wonderful but huge thread that explains this so much better than I can.
So, some do -- some don't / some will and some won't, as the song goes.
It that case everything should go twice as fast.  I do not plan to use with the China gen set but I will try and remember to check the voltage with it plugged into that gen set so thanks for the heads up.
Mainly I got it to have when I want A/C but no 30 AMP connection but a 120 duplex connection like at one camping spot. Geeks like this kind of junk.
You answer is quite cavalier. and it may become injurious to some set ups and owners.
we have a duty on these posts "to do no harm".
Before anyone tries this trick, please look thru Professor 95's complete explanations of how some generators do no re-process the second cycle and it is in apposition to the first plug when sent to the second plug. Will burn out your motors.
Harry I felt your last post made it very clear some China gen sets had seperate wiring to each half of the the 120 volt duplex outlet that by design could make a 15 amp duplex to 30 amp RV adapter give an output of 230 volt blowing up any 120 volt devise hooked to it.
I will try to find the article you mentioned because it would seem the adapter would "wire" the two sockets together and that could damage the generate. While I only plan to use the duplex 15 to 30 amp adapter plugged into household connections I still am interested in the case you point out. Thanks for the heads up.
Gale
You certainly exhibit a depth of knowledge in electrical issues. I hope that, together, we have brought to the casual generator user some cautoins before simply plugging and playing.
Thanks for your concern -looking forward to your other posts
Best regards,
Harry Havasu
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Broccoli1
Los Angeles
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wra wrote:15/30 amp Adapters ---Gale Hawkins is correct.
There has been a lot of smoke about the 15 amp verses 20 amp plugs/sockets, saying that there is no difference in their ability to carry current. The fact is; there is more copper contact in the 20 amp plug/socket than the 15 amp plug/socket. You may not be able to see it, but it is there. You will also note that the 20 amp plugs cost more, for that reason.
You can purchase $8 - 20 amp Connectors and $15- 15 amp Connectors
but I will concede there is a difference in Adapters available since smkettner has a 14awg Pigtail.
I have only seen the 10g ones available.
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wra
Florida
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vermilye wrote:The problem is identifying a "STANDARD WALL OUTLET." A person can easily find out if a duplex outlet is wired as 120 or 240 volts. Plug a radio into the outlet. Turn the volume up loud enough to hear the radio where the home breaker box is located. Turn off breakers one at a time until the radio stops playing. If the breaker is a single breaker, the circuit is 120 volt. If the breaker is a double breaker, it is 240 volts.
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Even in KY we know not to wire a 120 volt outlet to 240 volts. I have lived in several states but NEVER found a 120 volt outlet powered by 240 volt breaker or fuses.
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Harry Havasu
Lake Havasu City, Az.
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wra wrote:vermilye wrote:The problem is identifying a "STANDARD WALL OUTLET." A person can easily find out if a duplex outlet is wired as 120 or 240 volts. Plug a radio into the outlet. Turn the volume up loud enough to hear the radio where the home breaker box is located. Turn off breakers one at a time until the radio stops playing. If the breaker is a single breaker, the circuit is 120 volt. If the breaker is a double breaker, it is 240 volts.
And what is it when the radio goes up in smoke????
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