Hi Gang!
Let me start with a big THNX to all who have taken the time to help through my electrical woes!
I'll try to make this particular question short. 
It relates (again) to my ancient, but beautiful 1977 Scamp 13'
If I have a 30 amp shore connector going through my 15 amp dogbone adaptor (30A male to 15A 120V female) should my my main breaker be a 10, 15, or 30 amp breaker?
Right now it's just a 10A...somehow feel I should swap it out. You'd be surprised how many RV outfits stumble with this question; my 1977 has them stumped. Hmmmmm.
Let me know if you have any ideas.
Best, Guy
Scamp International just told me to pull the 10A breaker and put a 20A in.
But, my rookie electrical mind says to put in a 30A to match what the campsites would give me?
Correct me if I'm wrong. Or am I complicating this?
Thanks
Hi Guy,
I just looked at my Scamp. There is no "main" breaker where shore power comes in. The 30A shore power goes into the converter box and all six breakers in the converter are 15A and go to the various AC outlets and the fluorescent tube light. The #1 goes to the battery charger to provide the 12VDC. So, if I would draw 15A on more than two of them, I should trip the pedestal 30A breaker. My take on this is the same as yours. If there is a "main" breaker, it should be the same as the shore power rating, i.e. 30A. If you use an adapter to plug into the 15A shore power outlet and draw more, you will trip it, but not the "main" breaker on the Scamp.
Paul
PS. On edit, just trying to clear this up in my mind: is what you call the "main" breaker part of the dogbone adapter?
-Paul
2004 Scamp 19 Deluxe,
2021 Tacoma, Double Cab, 6 cyl. 4WD
Colorado
I am sorry for the radio silence on this, but am deeply appreciative of your response. It is VERY informative as it helps me understand what the heck the previous owner did to this old Scamp. As it stands I do not have a converter, just a single breaker box that only feeds my 120 outlet that only feeds the fridge. Yowzah! I do not have a standard 30A connector on the Scamp, just a old three-prong 15A. In order for me to power my fridge and a standard 120V battery charger I will need a 30A male to 15A female dogbone. (like the one in the picture attached). I will swap out the 10A breaker for a 30A breaker to be on the safe side as we share the same suspicions!
So, as I take a step back and get "real" about my Scamp...I will have to do a true upgrade and add an appropriate converter and truly rework my electrical system as the only two ways I can keep my battery charged (right now) is with my solar panel, which takes forever, or an inexpensive battery charger that I can hook into my 120V system.
Keeping this all in mind Paul, when you have a chance someday, can you please snd me the make and model of your converter set-up? It will act as a good starting point to get my Scamp up to more modern (and not 1977) specs.
As mentioned, I do sincerely appreciate your response and help.
Best, Guy
On my 1981 which should be what's going on with your 1977 you can see the factory panel in this pic.
The 30A Black line can be seen going into the panel and splits on the buss to feed 2 15A circuits. In this case I only was using one, but there is a slot for a second breaker. Scamp Trailers advice to use 2 - 20A breakers if you have this setup is correct. AC or microwave would run off one breaker if you have it, and the rest of the trailer off of the other. Mainly you want to keep the AC isolated to one breaker if equipped or you'll blow the breaker if you run a micro while the AC is running.
Our Trailers:
2015 19 Escape
Buying or Selling Molded FG Trailers:
Fiberglass-RV-4Sale
Thanks, Greg, that explains it. It used to done differently in those days.
-Paul
2004 Scamp 19 Deluxe,
2021 Tacoma, Double Cab, 6 cyl. 4WD
Colorado
Greg!
As with Paul above your response is greatly appreciated! And the photo and explanation of it is very informative. I learn something new every day.
Please check out my response to Paul and you'll get a good idea about how bare-bones my scamp is. Albeit it is in tremendous shape and my wife and I have it ready to go...except a totally proficient electrical system. You'll get a feel for it above. LOL!
As for your photo, I also have a heavy duty black 8 (possibly 9) gauge line going into my breaker box. However, my breaker box is a single buss. Honestly I have no way of knowing if Scamps in 1977 used a single buss or not...even Scamp International is a bit lost when it comes to 40 year old Scamps! One of the other members told me that 1977 was the first year that Scamp/Evelands went into full production after Bolero. So my Scamp maybe essentially an old Bolero.
Thank you again for chiming in. It's a huge help.
Best regards, Guy
Greg!
I have more one quick? Is your breaker box have a ground wire running to somewhere on your Scamp frame?
Please let me know and thanks again, Guy
My converter/charger gave up ghost two years ago and I was debating if I should upgrade or replace with same. I found the same at keithsrvsurplus.com and proceeded that way, for two reasons: price and compatibility. I was trying to post scans of the information, but I gave up. The converter I am talking about is American Enterprises, Canoga Park, CA. It is model CS2000XL. The price was good, $65 and about $14 shipping from Keith Gerrard, 122 S Center St., Plymouth, IN 46563 (574) 276 5657
-Paul
2004 Scamp 19 Deluxe,
2021 Tacoma, Double Cab, 6 cyl. 4WD
Colorado
Paul! You're all Aces!!!
Will get on this right away and keep you in the loop.
Thanks again for taking the time to help me out.
Best, Guy
Paul!
See the question about grounding I asked Greg above. Let me now your thoughts.
Thanks, Guy