Operating a typical 30 amp clothes dryer - RV-Dreams Community Forum

linehamt · RV-Dreams Community Member

Operating a typical 30 amp clothes dryer

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

No. The 30 amp dryer needs 220/240 volts and RV 30 amp service is 110/120 volt. Your 50 amp service should provide the 220 volts and you can get/make an adapter, but you need to check it with a multi-meter to make sure. You would need to switch the RV to the 30 amp service while the dryer runs. Notice your 50 amp has 4-prongs, that is what is needed to get 220 volts.

linehamt · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks Bill .. I just had the revelation about the 120/240 issue.

Alie and Jims Carrilite · RV-Dreams Family Member

There are cheater adapters that "might" get you 50amp at 110/120. There is an adapter that plugs into the 30amp at the post receptacle and a 20 amp plug into a normal receptacle if theres on ate the post. The only problem is that these have to be on different legs of the park power. An electrican can normally look inside the box if there is any doubt.

janni · RV-Dreams Family Member

I wanted a washer/ dryer in my destination trailer and decided on a set from Lowes. They are both Whirlpool and the dryer is regular 110. When I looked at the specs it shows the dryer as 15 amp. The washer is a LCE4332PQ and dryer is LDR3822PQ. You can check these model numbers online to get all the specs. I had a full size Sears Kenmore set in our DP and this set has worked out as well(if not better). Installed it a month before getting back on the road so will get more of a test of them in a couple months. I worried about the dryer taking extra time and the cost of electricity to operate(high kw rates in AZ). Not true and our elec bill was lower!

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

I found at least six 110 volt stackable dryers with web searches. Here are three - http://www.ajmadison.com/b.php/Electric%3BStackable%3B110-120+Volts%3BDryers/N~39+1148+4294964215+4294965549 (Avanti, Whirlpool and GE). There are also models by Spendide (http://www.camperpartsworld.com/RVSplendidestackabledryer.html), Ariston (same as Spendide - http://www.kitchenlav.com/Ariston_stackable.htm) and Haier (http://www.homedepot.com/p/Haier-2-6-cu-ft-120-Volt-Compact-Electric-Dryer/100592184#.UgcE85LVB8E) .

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Have you thought about a Propane Dryer....it requires 110

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

Propane dryers only come in 27" widths - at least I can not find any in 24", and I've looked pretty hard. A typical RV is designed for 24" appliances. In most cases - but not all. So be careful assuming a propane dryer will fit.

Lucky Mike · RV-Dreams Family Member

Kenmore makes one in a stack @ 24" also G.E makes one.....they are most likely the same unit seeing Kenmore buys from the Electrolux subsidy

Bill and Linda · RV-Dreams Family Member

Jims carrilite wrote:
There are cheater adapters that "might" get you 50amp at 110/120. There is an adapter that plugs into the 30amp at the post receptacle and a 20 amp plug into a normal receptacle if theres on ate the post. The only problem is that these have to be on different legs of the park power. An electrican can normally look inside the box if there is any doubt.

Point of information: The “cheater adapters” are / were sort of a good idea, if they work. (They won’t work with the dryer question posed in this thread.)

Here’s rub: If the campground is wired to the current (NEC) electrical code, and many are these days, the 20 amp plug will have a GFI breaker on it. If it does, then the cheater adapter probably won’t work. It will trip the GFI regardless of the current load. Many times you can use the 30 amp and the 20 amp outlet independently, but not if they share an adapter to plug in a 50 amp RV cable.

Bill