Why 30 amp and not 50 amp
Why not build all RV’s with 50 amp service ? With AC, microwaves, electronic water heaters plus numerous other electrical appliances we take with us it seems to make More sense to have 50 amp
Forum Discussion
DrewE wrote:SoundGuy wrote:
You do realize that so-called "50 amp service" is in fact 100 amps total - right? :W 30 amp service is delivered on one leg - 120 vac x 30 amps = 3600 watts. 50 amp service is delivered on two legs - 120 vac x 50 amps x 2 = 12,000 watts.
That's half true; 50A service is 50A, 120/240V service, but it's not in any way a 100A circuit: you cannot connect a single 120V, 100A device to it should that odd need come up. It is correct that it provides a nominal 12 kW rather than 3.6 kW for the 120V, 30A service.
Saying it's a 100A service is about like saying that a semi tractor pulling dual trailers is really travelling at 120 mph, because it's pulling two trailers traveling at 60 mph apiece.
But, it is also true that a 50 amp trailer has access to 100 amps of power. You just have to use two circuits to access it. Sometimes, simplifying a subject can get the concept across even though the technical details are wrong.
