30 amp to 50 amp conversion?
This has probably been covered, but in my cursory search I didn't see much. I have a Sprinter 311BHS and it has 30A service. I have to do a lot of power management not to trip the breaker. What all...
Forum Discussion
myredracer wrote:
From Cheapheat's website:
Q: CAN I UPGRADE MY RV FROM A 30 AMP SERVICE TO A 50 AMP SERVICE?
A: YES, It can be usually be performed by a qualified electrician for a couple hundred dollars.
How do you upgrade to 50 amps for only a couple hundred dollars? Is it a true 120/240 volt 50 amp service and with a new panelboard and 50A shore power cord? There is a complete lack of tech. info. on the website and I would study what they say and have to offer very carefully if considering anything from them.
The problem I see with upgrading to 50 amps is that a lot of pedestals in CGs don't have 50 amps.Scooter Alfa wrote:
Larry McGaugh
President
RV Comfort Systems
Ph 425-408-3140
These people have a complete way to change from 30 amp to 50 amp service without changing everything. Its for adding there electric heater to your trailer but you don't have to but can use this to up your amps. Just google RV Comfort System and you will see a place to email him for the info. The first time he sent it to me it didn't come threw so I emailed him and told him and he sent it the correct way the second time. Scott
Yeah, if they're suggesting that changing the service in an RV will be a total of a couple of hundred, total, that is far off the mark. Especially if an owner has to hire an electrician. The power inlet and cord will be more than $200.
FWIW, I changed my service to 50 amp, doing the work myself, and the cost was probably around $300. I got lucky and found a Marinco inlet on E Bay and a shore cord at CW on clearance for 1/3 retail. The cost of the load center and breakers was probably around $100. That is residential gear and not an RV load center with the 12v fuse panel. I have more breakers, though, than a typical RV because I know that distribution is sometimes more important than the total capacity.
If an owner wanted the cheapest upgrade for total power, the addition of a 20 amp circuit is probably the way to go. A 20 amp disconnect box and a good extension cord is not that much.
The absence of a 50 amp receptacle at a campground pedestal is not that common anymore and, if encountered, can be dealt with easily using an adaptor.
