Changing a Boat's 50amp to Twin 30's

[breeze22798]

My new community slip has "one" 30amp plug. My boat is equipped with a 50amp plug. Does anyone know if there is an easy way to change my boat to twin 30's? The community can not change for my 50amp need. Thx.

[Unicorn Dreams]

WELCOME ABOARD
Do you really need 50 amp?

Our boat is 50 amp, but most of the places we dock at are 30 amp service, ao had to get an adapter.

We can run both A/C's, H/W heater, microwave etc. Only when it' pushing 100 degrees we might trip the breaker if someone uses the microwave..

[minaret]

Here ya go.

Hubbell*-*Reverse*Y*(1)*50*Amp*125/250V*at*Boat...

With this all you need is 2 30 amp plugs to power your 50 amp system.
I see you say you have only 1 30 amp plug though. If you get the regular 50 amp to 30 amp adaptor it'll work fine, you'll just blow the breaker on the dock if you pull more than 30 amp.

[Sand crab]

You can make your own adapter for way less than the $249.OO quoted for the Hubbel. Parts are at any home center or hardware store. It takes about 15 minutes and less than $30 in parts for a 50 to 30. The guys at the store might even make it up for you if you suffer from spark deficency. A 50 to twin 30s will be more but not by much. BOB

[Lancerbye]

Be careful. There are two types of 50 amp systems. 1- 120/240 - four wire 50 amp. 2. 125 v. 50 amp 3 wire system. Which did you have? Were you a straight single phase or a split single phase? Easy to change but you have to know what you are dealing with.

[Lancerbye]

Oh ya welcome aboard.

[minaret]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

You can make your own adapter for way less than the $249.OO quoted for the Hubbel. Parts are at any home center or hardware store. It takes about 15 minutes and less than $30 in parts for a 50 to 30. The guys at the store might even make it up for you if you suffer from spark deficency. A 50 to twin 30s will be more but not by much. BOB

It is easy to build your own, but I have found that many marinas are on a push to eradicate home made adaptors and cords. My Marina tried to make me get rid of my custom 75' 50 amp cord, and I had to make up some stories about how it was proffesionaly custom built for me quick or lose a $700 cord. They say it's a "safety" issue, but it's probably just the manufacterers lobbying the state. They dont want to lose the cash cow that is marine adaptors...

[Lancerbye]

Originally Posted by minaret

It is easy to build your own, but I have found that many marinas are on a push to eradicate home made adaptors and cords. My Marina tried to make me get rid of my custom 75' 50 amp cord, and I had to make up some stories about how it was proffesionaly custom built for me quick or lose a $700 cord. They say it's a "safety" issue, but it's probably just the manufacterers lobbying the state. They dont want to lose the cash cow that is marine adaptors...

Sorry, but there is a real reason for marinas not wanting home made electrical cords being used. Safety and ultimately liability. A poorly made cord that is not water tight can cause a great deal of problems in a marina including the rapid erosion of your zincs. As to getting the parts for $30. Good luck with that. A 125v 50amp 3 wire male connector costs over $50 by itself.

[minaret]

Originally Posted by Lancerbye

Sorry, but there is a real reason for marinas not wanting home made electrical cords being used. Safety and ultimately liability. A poorly made cord that is not water tight can cause a great deal of problems in a marina including the rapid erosion of your zincs. As to getting the parts for $30. Good luck with that. A 125v 50amp 3 wire male connector costs over $50 by itself.

All very true, there have been too many marina fires around here caused by that kind of stuff. Had one at Shilshole a few months back. However, there's homemade and then there's homemade. I use all the proper parts for my stuff and pay thru the nose to do it right. I say my 75' 50 amp cord cost 700, but it was probably more like 800 with all the fittings. Sounds like Sand Crab is talking about non-marinized components, which would be a terrible idea IMO. Also that box you see on the adaptor is converting the two 30 amp sources into 1 50 amp, so you dont get 60 amp instead. Definitely not buildable for $30.
I actually see these adaptors on CL all the time for some reason. Might be a cheaper way to go.

[hellosailor]

I'd be in terror of any kludge that wired up two 30A cords to feed a 50A load (boat) using a y-adapter of any kind. All it takes is someone crossing wires, crossing phases, and your two 30A feeds are going to become a short circuit and all bets are off.

If you plan to "borrow" the 30A feed from a second location, then you need to split the circuits on your boat into two separate 30A segments, not one 50A circuit. And feed each one from a separate 30A supply with a GFI on each. Separate all the way, although you could argue for a common AC ground.

Anything else is gambling that all the wiring (and boats) in the marina are going to be done right, and marinas are infamous for electrical problems.

[twistedtree]

Originally Posted by Lancerbye

Be careful. There are two types of 50 amp systems. 1- 120/240 - four wire 50 amp. 2. 125 v. 50 amp 3 wire system. Which did you have? Were you a straight single phase or a split single phase? Easy to change but you have to know what you are dealing with.

This is the question that really needs to be answered first. Based on the answer, there are two very different answers to the original question with different considerations and different levels of complexity to solve the problem safely. I think the only thing common in the two answers is the number "50".

[psneeld]

In my wildest dreams I would still never go backward...I'm changing my twin 30s to a 50 as soon as possible...you can always draw less...but unless you are set up for a 50 amp service being able to draw that 100 amps veresus 60 is a big loss. remember a 50 amp service if US (2-120 volt 50 amp legs will deliver 12,000 watts of power to your boat) NIce...

[Sand crab]

You guys are right. I was at the lumberyard after my post and the 50 amp plug was $40. I had done the $10 30 amp deal for my RV and fiqured the 50 amper couldn't be that much more but yeehow. And the other comments are right about different 50 amp plug styles. I would like to offer the opinion that not everything needs to be marinized. It depends on how much you are going to use it. If the OPs intended use is short term or just here and there then get the cheap plug. Sorry again but I suffer from foot in mouth disease. Now, where's that rum? BOB

[breeze22798]

Thanks to everyone who replied to my question! That was my first in any forum and I am impressed at the rapid willingness to help! First, I will research (as advised) exactly what 50 I have.
Since the dock only has a single 30, I was hoping to just be able to run the a/c when we hang out and watch a movie. Again, thank you

[skipmac]

Originally Posted by Lancerbye

Sorry, but there is a real reason for marinas not wanting home made electrical cords being used. Safety and ultimately liability. A poorly made cord that is not water tight can cause a great deal of problems in a marina including the rapid erosion of your zincs. As to getting the parts for $30. Good luck with that. A 125v 50amp 3 wire male connector costs over $50 by itself.

Plus I have looked in the local home stores and did not see any marine type plugs or adapters. Unless I missed an aisle all I saw were home style and one RV style plug. Nothing that matched marine 30A125V, 50A125V or 50A240V plugs.