50 amp services at my house, need some help..

smkettner wrote:
6/3 (plus ground) minimum. Need to follow code. Are you getting a permit?

I agree, but would upgrade to 4/3 plus ground.

Hi Jim,

It sounds as if you plan to put the wire in the ground under the pad. I would go to #4 myself. It is always better to have wire that is too thick.

I would speculate 6/3 would safely power a pair of roof air units plus a converter. A "shop" equipped with a table saw or worm drive skil saw in combination with a pair of roof air units would appreciate 4 gauge to power a sub panel. Where I park Quicksilver I have pad lighting on a circuit separate from the rig. That way if the rig's breaker trips I still have outside lighting which improves safety. I use a hinged weather shield to raise up to plug in.

I ran 6/3 @ 100' only a couple volts drop...happy with the 6/3. Remember, with 50 amps, you are hardly ever close to pulling 50 amps on either circuit...in normal operations.

If you do it or have an electrician do it, take a look at this. Especially when installing 50 amp. TEST before you plug in!
RV Electric

Jim102 wrote:
I'll look into it and see if I need a permit, thanks for bringing that up.. Can I run 12/3 off one of the legs to a shop in the backyard?

Thanks,
Jim

You'd need a subpanel to do that; you can't just tie the 12 gauge wire into a 50A circuit. An RV power box with breakers and various kinds of outlets is indeed a subpanel, and many have room for an extra breaker. If you're putting in just a socket in a box with no breaker or switch there, that would not be a subpanel.

If you're using a single leg, you need 12/2 plus ground, rather than 12/3. Of course, all the wire in question needs to be an appropriate type for where it's installed: wet location for underground conduit, or direct burial if used without conduit, or something appropriate for an overhead wire.

I'll look into it and see if I need a permit, thanks for bringing that up.. Can I run 12/3 off one of the legs to a shop in the backyard?

Thanks,
Jim

6/3 cooper with ground will be adequate but at 85' you will have a 5% voltage drop

120V at source.......114V at your RV outlet-----provided you don't already have lower voltage at source

4/3 with ground will allow only a 3% voltage drop

6/3 (plus ground) minimum. Need to follow code. Are you getting a permit?