RV Power Adapters and Dogbones | Motor Sportsland Blog

What RV Power Adapters and Dogbones Do

Every campground pedestal is a little different. You might have a 50 amp coach and a post with nothing but a 30 amp receptacle, or a 30 amp trailer parked at a friend's house with a regular household outlet on the garage. RV power adapters and dogbones bridge that gap. They're short cords with one style of plug on one end and a different style of receptacle on the other, so your shore cord can land on whatever the site gives you.

The dogbone shape matters more than people expect. A rigid adapter block hangs off the pedestal and puts all its weight on the receptacle, which loosens the contacts over time. A dogbone has a foot or two of cable between the ends, so the strain goes into the cable instead of the outlet. It also lets you angle the connection instead of fighting the pedestal door.

One thing to be clear about: an adapter changes the plug shape, not the power available. Plugging a 50 amp coach into a 15 amp outlet gets you lights and a converter, not two air conditioners.

Signs It's Worn or Failing

Look at the blades and the contacts first. Blades should be straight, bright, and snug in the receptacle. If the plug falls out under its own weight or you can wiggle it side to side with one finger, the contacts have spread and it's building heat every time you use it.

Heat is the real tell. After a few hours on a loaded circuit, walk out and put your hand on the adapter body. Warm is normal. Hot enough that you pull your hand back is not. Same goes for a faint smell of hot plastic near the pedestal.

Check the cable jacket for cracks, cuts, and flat spots where a tire or a stabilizer jack found it. Cracked jacket means water gets in, and water in a connection means corrosion, which means more heat. Green or white crust on the blades is corrosion you can see.

If you see melted plastic, scorch marks, or a blade that has turned brown or black at the base, stop using the adapter and replace it today.

That discoloration means the connection has already been arcing under load, and it will only get worse.

Bring the old one to our parts counter and we'll match you to the right replacement.

How Often to Check It

Look at both ends of your adapter every time you hook up. It takes five seconds and it's the cheapest inspection on the rig. Then give it a closer look at the start of the season and again before any long trip, with the cable uncoiled so you can see the whole jacket.

Most owners replace an adapter every few seasons depending on use. Full timers and folks who move sites weekly wear them out faster than someone who camps six weekends a year. If the pedestal receptacle itself looks burned or loose, don't try to fix it, and report it to the campground.

And if the problem turns out to be your RV's shore cord, inlet, or breaker rather than the adapter, have our service department handle it. Wiring on the coach side isn't a driveway job.

What We Carry

For a 30 amp trailer at a house or a shop outlet, the Camco Powergrip - Dogbone 12 15am/30af 125v/1875w has a 15 amp male end and a 30 amp female end, rated 125V/1875W.

If you've got a 50 amp hook-up and all that's available is standard 15 amp power, the Camco Powergrip - Dogbone 12 15am/50af 125v/1875w handles it. It pairs a Power Grip 50 amp female connector with a 15 amp straight blade plug, rated 125V/1875W.

The Camco Powergrip - Dogbone 18 30am/50af 125v/3750w is the one most 50 amp owners keep in the bay for 30 amp pedestals. It's a dogbone rated 125V/3750W with integrated pull handles, so you're not wrestling the plug loose from a tight park outlet at the end of a trip.

Going the other direction, the Camco 50am/30af Pwrgrip 18 Dogbone 90m/90f 125v/3750w CSA has a 50 amp male end and a 30 amp female end, both at 90 degrees. It has the same pull handles and 125V/3750W rating.

Not sure which end you need? Bring your shore cord plug or a photo of it to the counter in Millcreek or Spanish Fork and we'll sort out the right adapter for your setup.

Frequently asked questions

Can I leave an adapter plugged in all season?

You can, but check it periodically for heat and discoloration, especially after a hot week with the air conditioning running. Long term exposure to rain and sun also ages the cable jacket.

Does a dogbone give my 50 amp coach more power at a 30 amp post?

No. An adapter only changes the plug shape so the connection fits. You still have to manage your loads to what the pedestal circuit can supply.

Should I carry more than one adapter?

Most owners keep two: one to step down to the next smaller pedestal size, and one for household 15 amp outlets when parked at home. Which combination you need depends on your shore cord, and we can confirm that at the counter.

The pedestal outlet feels loose. Is that my adapter's fault?

It could be either one. Try the adapter on a different receptacle to see if the looseness follows it, and if the pedestal is the problem, tell the campground staff rather than forcing a connection.

My shore cord plug looks burned. Can I just use an adapter over it?

No. A damaged plug or inlet needs to be repaired properly, so have our service department look at it before you plug in again.

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Order now: call our parts counter at 801-262-2922, or stop in at either store, Millcreek in Salt Lake City or Spanish Fork. Browse all our RV parts and accessories.