upgrading my 30 amp service to a 50 amp

pugslyyy wrote:

Ryan7361 wrote:
Short version:
I'm upgrading my 30 amp service to a 50 amp.
I'm comfortable with the actual work, just need someone to point me toward a new 50 amp distribution panel with a converter and a battery charger! Anyone know of any good brands/sources?

Just curious as to why you need to move from 120V-30A to 240V-50A? That's a heckuva lot more power, and of course the whole 2 phase thing adds greatly to the complexity.

just to keep it simple for everyone its not 120V 30 and changing to 240V 50 amp its really 120V 50 amp.its true u get 240V at the MH plug in at the pedestal but its delivered into the MH as two single 50 amp 120V legs.you don't have 240V at any outlet in the MH
On a side note I see a poster talking about balancing the loads?
I have never seen this as a requirement before.If u draw more than the breaker will supply it trips.its nonesence in my opinion

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.

pianotuna wrote:
Hi Scott,

When there is an imbalance what happens?

As long as there isn't an overload, nothing will happen. If either side is overloaded then the breaker will trip.

Hi Scott,

When there is an imbalance what happens?

Hi Pianotuna, Just curious as to why you feel it's important?

pianotuna wrote:
Hi ScottG,

I even try to balance the load when I use my 50 amp "break out" box. It is best practise to balance the loads.

ScottG wrote:
With respect to drawing the same amount of current from both legs, it isn't important as long as you don't pull more than what is allowed from one side. There would be no problem with pulling the full rated load from one leg while pulling nothing from the other. The only time it "may" become a problem is when running off a generator - some don't like the imbalance. But the panel itself doesn't care and it's breakers will still work fine.

Ryan7361 wrote:
Short version:
I'm upgrading my 30 amp service to a 50 amp.
I'm comfortable with the actual work, just need someone to point me toward a new 50 amp distribution panel with a converter and a battery charger! Anyone know of any good brands/sources?

What's your current panel? Good chance that they also make a 50 amp panel.

pugslyyy wrote:

Just curious as to why you need to move from 120V-30A to 240V-50A? That's a heckuva lot more power, and of course the whole 2 phase thing adds greatly to the complexity.

You are aware that most high-end/large rigs come 240V-50A.

...and the phase really isn't an issue, any more then at home.

Hi ScottG,

I even try to balance the load when I use my 50 amp "break out" box. It is best practise to balance the loads.

ScottG wrote:
With respect to drawing the same amount of current from both legs, it isn't important as long as you don't pull more than what is allowed from one side. There would be no problem with pulling the full rated load from one leg while pulling nothing from the other. The only time it "may" become a problem is when running off a generator - some don't like the imbalance. But the panel itself doesn't care and it's breakers will still work fine.

Best converter has new 50A panels. You can use your existing converter section or buy a new one.
Best Converter

What I did was looked at the complete panel/converter/charger in the RV Dealer catalog and wrote down what interested me and Googled it and looked for the best price. If size is important, the catalogs give sizes. Search on here for converters. There is one guy who sells converts for a fair price and I bet he sell the whole thing too.

Actually I just bought a new converter and kept everything else.

What size rig do you have and what is sending you out to buy a new 50 amp panel?