RV glossary · Electrical & power
Dogbone adapter
Also called: Power adapter
A short adapter cord for plugging an RV into a different pedestal outlet, such as a 30-amp RV into a 50-amp outlet or a 50-amp RV into a 30-amp outlet. The RV is limited by the smaller of the two.
Campground pedestals usually have a 50-amp outlet (four prongs), a 30-amp outlet (three prongs) and a standard 20-amp household outlet. A dogbone lets your RV’s power cord plug into whichever outlet is available.
Adapters don’t add capacity: a 30-amp RV on a 50-amp outlet still has 30 amps, and a 50-amp RV on a 30-amp outlet is limited to 30 amps, so run fewer appliances. Plugging into a 20-amp household outlet will run little more than lights and charge the batteries. Use a surge protector between the pedestal and the adapter.