220V circuit for electric dryer

In 1973 I was an engineer at Thetford. The GMC motorhome was introduced. They were all built with for a 50 amp (14-50) service. It was widely believed that all campgrounds would be going this way and the simple reasons were that coaches were getting bigger and needed more A/C and things like microwaves were being installed.

Well, flash forward 40 years and they were wrong. I would have thought that for the cost of the extra copper, no park builder would limit to 30 amp. I am wrong, I have even been in newer parks that only have 15 amp (R6-15) at the site and not even 20(R6-20) and yes, they are different.

There were some GMCs that went for other upfitters that are only 30. Some have been retro fitted to 30 with another 15/20 cable for another A/C unit. I was told that this was because it was too difficult to wrestle that 50 amp cable. I don't have a problem with it.

I did talk to one owner that was under the impression that if he wired the sites for 50, he would need to have a meter for each site. Well, Edison also sold the light bulbs, so he used to bill based on the bulbs you owned. Then he invented an accumulating watt hour meter for billing.

Matt

I think the only reason not to add it on high end units (where cost is not much of an issue) is that if you stayed at a campground where only 30 amp were available then the dryer could not be used. And city, state, and federal parks/campgrounds you are more likely to encounter that than commercial RV parks.

Some 50 amp RVs have circuit breaker panels that you can simply install a linked two pole breaker and wire in a 220 vac outlet if you have two side by side empty breaker slots. Some are designed where you can’t do that.

Our Whirlpool stacked pair are both 110V - and the same size as the Splendide stackables.

Rob

Yes you can add what you like. Just add a subpanel to fit a two pole breaker between the cord entry and the main panel. Don't remove the 120v connector as you will need it if stuck on 30 amp service.

High end units such as Newell have 220 Vac for the dryer and also for the stove. Been doing this since the 90's.

Yes, it is possible. Hi end Class A diesel builder's sometimes include a 220 circuit for a dryer. The 50 amp panel has the 2 separate 120 phase inputs to run the 220 circuit. You just have to run the wiring from the breaker panel to the Washer/Dryer closet. The reason the Builders do not include is COST. Lack of really needing a 220 dryer is the other. Doug