Need 50 amps, but can only find 30? Will a cheater box work for you?

With more and more electrical "goodies" available in new RVs, more and more you'll find a lot of newer RVs require 50-amp shore power hookups. Sad to say, not all the campgrounds are able to keep up with the demand. A large number of RV parks around the U.S. are limited to 30-amp hookups. What's the fellow with a 50 amp thirsty RV to do?

There are 50 to 30 amp adapters, often called "dog bones," which allow you to adapt your 50 amp male plug cord to a 30 amp female receptacle outlet. While this may work to a degree (you're still limited to 30 amps, which means you'll need to watch your power consumption closely), some RVs won't have anything to do with it. You may find your rig will have "hot" outlets in part of the coach, and dead outlets (and/or appliances) in another.

Courtesy Camco

Enter the so-called "cheater box." A cheater box is a lash up (from the looks of it, related to an octopus) that consists a plug for a 30-amp receptacle, and a plug for yet another 30-amp receptacle, or a 15-amp receptacle. These two lines then tie into a single common 50-amp outlet, into which you plug your RV's power connector.

Do they work? The answer is one of those, "that depends," things.

First, understand that an RV 50-amp circuit really delivers up to 100 amps – you have two 50-amp hot legs, versus a single 30-amp hot leg in the usual 30-amp RV campground outlet. With the 50-amp RV circuit, you can easily run two air conditioning units at once. Tie in with the cheater box and all bets are off.

Secondly, if the RV park where you stay is up to speed in terms of the National Electrical Code, those 15 or 20 amp outlets (the ones that look like a common wall plug) will be connected to Ground Fault Interrupters (GFIs). If you plug both of the cheater box's plugs in, the GFI will immediately "trip out," and you won't have that "side" of the cord operating.

If you find an RV park that will allow you (and you can physically reach) to 30-amp outlets, and your cheater box allows for it, then you'll have no problems tripping off a GFI. Still, your power will be limited to 60-amps, and you may find you'll need to limit what electrical appliances you run. But notice we said, "will allow you," with reference to RV park management. Since park operators base their fees on how much they'll be spending on hosting you, tying into two 30 amp circuits will cost them more. Some will shrug and allow it; some have been know to refuse, and others will allow it for an extra fee.

And one more addendum to this who situation: While you may find two outlets to plug into, they'll both have to be on separate circuits. For example, a 20-amp outlet and a 30-amp outlet on the same pedestal may actually be on the same 30-amp circuit – and if you begin to draw more than 30-amps, "pop" goes the circuit breaker.

Finally, there are some RVs with intelligent electrical management systems. If they don't detect two differently phased hot legs coming in (no, I'm not talking about your girlfriend's gams), the management system simply won't allow you to fire up anything.

If you decide you want to give a cheater box a try, be sure to shop around. Prices vary widely – we've seen some for sale for as low as $45, but a similar cheater box with an asking price of $120.