Converting from 30 Amp to 50 amp ?

Not sure what you are asking,but 50 amp is is two 120v circuits equal to 240v. A 30 amp is 120v. If you are wiring the power post for 50 amp 240v, will probable need an electrician.

You would need a new load center that is equal to/greater than 50 amp rated. You will have to rewire the supply side 120V wiring within the RV. You will also need a 50 amp cord and, possibly, a 50 amp power inlet.

It's almost always cheaper and easier to establish a new 120V circuit to an RV, that being powered by one of the additional receptacles available on the power pedestal.

I am not understanding. Installing a 50 amp panel in your RV to feed the 30 amp panel, you will still have 30 amp service.

50 amp RV service is two separate 120V 50 amp feeds, To make good use of it, you need to replace the 30 amp panel with the 50 amp panel, decide how to split all of your branch circuits between the two 50A feeds, and run adequate four-wire connection from the service cord to the panel.

I guess I should have made myself more clearer.

I would leave the 30 amp panel in the trailer just as it is, but disconnect its feed and remove my 30 amp cord.
Then Install an additional 60 amp breaker panel with a 60 amp main breaker, and a new 50 amp power cord.
I would sub feed the existing 30 amp panel from the new panel and then have additional breakers and capacity in the new panel to feed a washer and dryer, etc

My background is electrical so I see no problems and I would do it all in accordance with the NEC, but I am wondering if there is anything I am forgetting

jack L

NanciL wrote:
What would it entail to convert from a 30 amp service to a 50 amp one?

I am thinking just a new 50/60 amp panel, a new power cord, and then a 30 amp breaker and cord from the new panel to feed the existing one.

Any thing else ?

Jack L

Several of us have converted our trailers to a dual 30A service doubling the OEM service at a fraction of the cost of a full 50A service. I considered going the 50A route, but the cost was extreme, I would have lost a lot of good 30A equip (original 30A detachable cord and spare 30A extension and all my 30A dogbones). You can see how and what I did along with costs and where I got the material in the album HERE

I still have to watch what I use since the factory wiring still provides for the A/C, microwave, and WH which alone all would draw more than 30A just by themselves, but all me extra stuff (elec. space heaters, convection/toaster oven, coffee pot, etc. are now run off my second service). I also did not have to touch or modify any of the OEM 30A service to do this so it's 100% reversible.

BTW another plus for this way is I already had a PI hard wired EMS and didn't have to do anything with it since my second service only supplies pure resistive type loads for precise voltage protection is not so critical.

Larry

Seems straight forward enough, I would simply replace the existing distribution box if necessary check you model number.
This would require changing ALL in coming service wire to 4/6 to carry the load.

Keep in mind that the Park pedestal usually has a total capacity of 50 AMPs.

LarryJM wrote:

NanciL wrote:
What would it entail to convert from a 30 amp service to a 50 amp one?

I am thinking just a new 50/60 amp panel, a new power cord, and then a 30 amp breaker and cord from the new panel to feed the existing one.

Any thing else ?

Jack L

Several of us have converted our trailers to a dual 30A service doubling the OEM service at a fraction of the cost of a full 50A service. I considered going the 50A route, but the cost was extreme, I would have lost a lot of good 30A equip (original 30A detachable cord and spare 30A extension and all my 30A dogbones). You can see how and what I did along with costs and where I got the material in the album HERE

I still have to watch what I use since the factory wiring still provides for the A/C, microwave, and WH which alone all would draw more than 30A just by themselves, but all me extra stuff (elec. space heaters, convection/toaster oven, coffee pot, etc. are now run off my second service). I also did not have to touch or modify any of the OEM 30A service to do this so it's 100% reversible.

Larry

You are missing what I am describing. I will only have one 50 amp service coming into the trailer to a new 60 amp panel.
My 30 amp panel will now be fed from a 30 amp breaker in the new panel, which will keep that and all its secondary wiring to outlets, microwave and Ac unit the exact same.

The only cost will be the new panel, and new 50 amp power cord.
my labor is free

jack L

rhagfo wrote:
Keep in mind that the Park pedestal usually has a total capacity of 50 AMPs.

IMO that is a TOTAL WAG with 0% confidence. ANYWHO it would still be 50A/220 or 100A/110 and not really a consideration for the vast majority of users.

Larry

If you have a generator, the transfer switch would presumably also need to be replaced with a four-pole 50A transfer switch. (If you have to plug the shore power cord into a generator receptacle, that generator receptacle would have to be replaced.) Likewise, if you have a 30A EMS, you'd probably want to replace it with a 50A EMS.

Like some of the others, I would suggest replacing the 30A distribution panel entirely with a 50A panel, rather than making it a subpanel of a new 50A panel. The result would be cleaner and the work involved pretty nearly the same, I suspect. You don't need to replace the 12V distribution system or the converter.

This is a significant project, but not impossible for a DIY person who is knowledgable about AC wiring. If you aren't too knowledgable, seek out qualified assistance/instruction. Incorrect wiring is very often unsafe wiring.

What is it that you want 50 amps for? A 2nd AC unit? More power for electric heat? If so, as mentioned above, a far simpler and cheaper method is installing a 20 amp power inlet on the side of your unit somewhere and plugging into the 20 amp recept. on the pedestal. You could even wire it up so that you can supply more than one load like AC & heating (a SPDT switch would be one way to do this).

A 50 amp service may sound like a great idea but the 2014 NEC only requires 20 percent of an RV park to have 50 amp pedestals. Older editions of the NEC required far fewer - the '02 code for example only required 5 percent @ 50 amps. Unless you stay in a CG built after the 2014 edition, or at a CG/park where the owner went above min. code requirements, the chances of finding 50 amps can be slim to none in the high season. There will always be a 20 amp recept. by code. The NEC is way behind on the number of 50 amp RVs out there now. I've even seen a few high-end 50 amp MHs plugged into 30 amps with an adapter and then an extension cord hanging out a window and plugged into the 20 amp recept.