Installing 50/30 Amp Service on Acreage.....?

Many (not all) pedestals are wired internally so that the 50A breaker is also the main for the pedestal, so the 30A and 20A receptacles are in essence "stealing" capacity from the 50A receptacle. Running a 30A and a 50A RV simultaneously from such a pedestal could prove troublesome. I would suggest having a separate pedestal for each RV if possible, even if some of the pedestals are 30/20A only pedestals.

The NEC has some guidance (well, requirements, assuming it's part of the code where you are) for what overall capacity you need for multiple RV setups. For sites with a 50A receptacle, the feed system capacity is calculated at 9600 VA (i.e. 40A 240V), possibly adjusted by a demand factor based on how many sites there are in the same distribution network. The demand factor is there because it's assumed to be unlikely for all the RVs to use their maximum power simultaneously...which may not be a great assumption if a lot of air conditioner or space heater usage is expected. (The NEC does also require a 20A GFCI receptacle at every site with electricity.)

The NEC requirements are probably not entirely sufficient for modern RVs and campgrounds, truth be told; it would be better to install a system that exceeds the minimum requirements. It is also possible that the NEC requirements for a campground would not necessarily apply to a private property, but with service for a few RVs, I suspect many inspectors would not give a pass as easily as, say, installing a single receptacle on the side of one's garage to plug one's RV into.

If you want to save money by doing some of the labor yourself, digging and refilling the trench (assuming you use buried cables) would be a significant bit of the work that requires no particular electrical skills. Certainly assisting with or even physically pulling wires could also be of help.

Disclaimer: I am not an electrician, though I have a little bit of experience with wiring and have looked at the code a little. Take my advice cum grano salis.

I wired the 50/30/20 pedestal in my back yard with 6g conductors and a 10g ground off of a 50 amp double breaker. I can run power off of all 3 of the outlets, as long as neither of the legs pulls more than 50 amps. If either leg pulls over 50 amps, the breaker will pop.

That means leg 1 of the 50 amp outlet and the 20 amp outlet are combined, and leg 2 of the 50 amp outlet and the 30 amp outlet are combined, each with a 50 amp limit.

I could have used 2g wire and an 80 amp breaker, and had up to 80 amps per leg available, but I did not plan to run more than 1 rv at a time, so I cheaped out. (Actually, it was hard enough to pull the 6g wires, I did not want to pull anything larger.) Using 2g wire and an 80 amp breaker would have allowed me to pull the full 50 amps, full 30 amps, and full 20 amps, all at the same time.

Of course, I only had a very short run, a longer run of wire would have required going up a size or two in wire gauge. I used less than 25 feet of wire going from my breaker panel to the pedestal.

I have a complete RV hook up. Mine has a cover that I can lock. It has 50, 30, and 20 amps. I also have a sewer dump and water faucet nearby. I would do some planning so you can have a complete hookup.

Suggest you get a qualified electrician to help you. They know the code and the right way to do things.
Find one experienced with campground wiring. It will be money well spent.

Only True Mosnowman wrote:

3. An electrical engineer told me that the 100 amp would easily provide electricity to several RV's. Our plans are to run 2 RV's on each pedestal. ( 1 30amp and 1 50 amp)
He said even though I have 50 amp service on my RV it would be near impossible to pull that much electricity?

Thanks for any guidance you can give me.

I don't think your "engineer" understands what might be inside modern RV's.

IF....your "100 amp service" consists of two legs, each with a 100 amp breaker, then you can serve at least two "50 amp" RVs.

But trying to serve any more would be iffy if you need to run the air conditioners.

And if your main breakers are two 50's, that matches the service in ONE 50 amp RV.

While it might be unlikely to use the full capacity of a "50 amp" RV circuit, it certainly isn't impossible.

Yes, you can easily have 30 and 50 amp at the same pedestal.

You will be pulling 4 wires (what kind and gauge dependent on length of run, above/below ground, etc).

Your 50 amp will have: two hots L1 and L2 (240 vac between them), one neutral and one ground.

Your 30 amp will use just one of the hots (if more than one pedestal, alternate using L1 and L2), one neutral and one ground.