upgrading my 30 amp service to a 50 amp

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Scott,

I meant which conductor carries the load. i.e. in a 100% imbalance I believe the neutral carries the load. That's not desirable, because the neutral wire may be smaller than the other wires. Of course, the neutral should not be undersize--but folks love to save a dime, so they will use #8 instead of #6 for the neutral.

In a 100% imbalance the neutral would carry the same load as if both sides were carrying the same amount of current.
So if one side was pulling 50 amps and the other side zero, the neutral will carry the same load the same as if both sides were carrying 25 amps.
But keep in mind that the neutral is capable carrying the load even if both sides were maxed out.
If someone were to under size the neutral then they will have problems anytime they get near the 50 amps whether it be on one side or both. But I think this is a mute point because the nuetral comes up the power cord so it's pretty much impossible that it be sized wrong and this wire would connect directly to the panel - ATS not withstanding.
Using just one side doesn't change the amount current the Hot sides carry or move it to the neutral.
I hope I wrote all that down right - I'm getting tired ;)

Scott