50 amp, 240 volt hookup without equipment ground

theoldwizard1 wrote:

mikeh449 wrote:
gfci needs ground also

Actually, a 120V GFCI receptacle does NOT require a ground. In fact it can safley be installed as a replacement for a 2 prong receptacle. A information sticker is included in the package. Works good where you don't have the space to use a 3 to 2 adapter and is safer.

Maybe, but don't lend confusion to this thread about ground bonding a 30 amp RV connection. Without a ground in the receptacle bonded to the load center ground and then to earth, it will leave the RV with a potential "hot skin" condition which can be deadly.

I'd suggest to remove that backfeed gear and install a new 30 amp single pole breaker, new 10 AWG wire to connect a new RV receptacle to what ever location is necessary. This is the only way you can insure it is correct and not relying on previous redneck adaptions to electrical service.

CA Traveler wrote:
Can you simply install a 50A plug near the panel and then use a 50A extension cord to the rig for your infrequent use? I did this at my sons house and carry the extension for other infrequent uses.

I bought a 50 amp extension cord for this use. That was before I got into the situation and found what was there.

Can you simply install a 50A plug near the panel and then use a 50A extension cord to the rig for your infrequent use? I did this at my sons house and carry the extension for other infrequent uses.

Can you simply install a 50A plug near the panel and then use a 50A extension cord to the rig for your infrequent use? I did this at my sons house and carry the extension for other infrequent uses.

mikestock wrote:
After further inspection, this system was jury rigged for illegal back feeding with a generator. It feeds back through two parallel 200 amp panels. They used, what looks like, 10 gauge 3 conductor stranded wire. The colors are black and green for the hot legs and white for neutral. Apparently they got by with this setup. I have no idea if an Rv was ever hooked up to this system or if back feeding was the only purpose. It back feeds through a 240 volt 30 amp breaker in each box wired in parallel. I disconnected one of the boxes so that I can feed the receptacle through the other. Still have no equipment ground.

I may be better off using the three wires and installing a 30 amp setup with a ground.

I think your analysis is likely correct as to the previous usage of this (obviously not code compliant) boondoggle. Connecting it to both panels, if I'm understanding the setup correctly, is a particularly horrid idea. It means, among other things, that pulling the main breaker in either of the panels does not kill the power to that panel...nice. It also means that you could potentially have a steady 60A load on the 10 gauge wire without tripping any breakers.

I agree that putting in a 30A receptacle is by far the sanest way of fixing this (well, short of ripping the wire out and installing a correct 50A circuit).

mikestock wrote:
They used, what looks like, 10 gauge 3 conductor stranded wire.

So they used extension cord ?

mikestock wrote:
I may be better off using the three wires and installing a (120V) 30 amp setup with a ground.

By far the best solution until you can pull the appropriate wire.

mikeh449 wrote:
gfci needs ground also

Actually, a 120V GFCI receptacle does NOT require a ground. In fact it can safley be installed as a replacement for a 2 prong receptacle. A information sticker is included in the package. Works good where you don't have the space to use a 3 to 2 adapter and is safer.

I would bond the neutral and ground and use it as is until the proper wire could be installed.
And it would not take me long to get the work done.

And with the last comment... certainly the electrician would inspect everything and make it straight away correct.

After further inspection, this system was jury rigged for illegal back feeding with a generator. It feeds back through two parallel 200 amp panels. They used, what looks like, 10 gauge 3 conductor stranded wire. The colors are black and green for the hot legs and white for neutral. Apparently they got by with this setup. I have no idea if an Rv was ever hooked up to this system or if back feeding was the only purpose. It back feeds through a 240 volt 30 amp breaker in each box wired in parallel. I disconnected one of the boxes so that I can feed the receptacle through the other. Still have no equipment ground.

I may be better off using the three wires and installing a 30 amp setup with a ground.

As Roys top pic shows, ground to the panel. That is source so that's where it's bonded too.