50 amp wiring question
I'm getting a new trailer and it will be my first with 50 amp service. I've always noticed the standard NEMA 14-50R 4 pole receptacle on the AC pedestals but never paid any attention to the female sh...
Forum Discussion
There were some good answers, but the Elephant in the room is an Open Neutral. If that happens when plugged into 50 amp, one leg may zoom up to 240 volts. Say "goodbye" to any item that was turned on with over voltage on that leg. A low level surge device will not shut down power, to protect the RV. A top of the line unit will shut off the power fast enough to protect the devices.
Actually when I do plug into 50 amp (I'm a 30 amp rv, so open neutral may be less of an issue) I do check voltage and polarity under load using my breakout box.
After I've tested, then I feel safe to plug in. I do monitor voltage with a Kill-a-Watt unit.
The other issue is that voltage, at an RV Park, bounces around like a basketball when it is a hot summer day and every one and their dog is using their air conditioner, and all the other devices we have grown accustom to using.
I do use an autoformer to correct low voltage. I have added superior surge protection to it--but it doesn't cut off the power. My Sola Basic does "buck" voltage as well.
There is some additional protection for me due to the Magnum hybrid inverter charger which refuses to connect under low voltage. It is a feature not mentioned in the manual but I know it exists from observations "in the field".
Here is a good explanation of open neutral.
http://www.myrv.us/electric/Pg/open_neutral.htm
Actually when I do plug into 50 amp (I'm a 30 amp rv, so open neutral may be less of an issue) I do check voltage and polarity under load using my breakout box.
After I've tested, then I feel safe to plug in. I do monitor voltage with a Kill-a-Watt unit.
The other issue is that voltage, at an RV Park, bounces around like a basketball when it is a hot summer day and every one and their dog is using their air conditioner, and all the other devices we have grown accustom to using.
I do use an autoformer to correct low voltage. I have added superior surge protection to it--but it doesn't cut off the power. My Sola Basic does "buck" voltage as well.
There is some additional protection for me due to the Magnum hybrid inverter charger which refuses to connect under low voltage. It is a feature not mentioned in the manual but I know it exists from observations "in the field".
Here is a good explanation of open neutral.
http://www.myrv.us/electric/Pg/open_neutral.htm
dryfly wrote:pianotuna wrote:
On a fifty amp--I do recommend a top of the line energy management system that may detect an open neutral.
Why "top of the line"? Why not just use the same AC outlet ground tester we use on 30 amp circuits? We are still just testing for open ground or neutral.
https://www.amazon.com/Electrical-Receptacle-Outlet-Ground-Tester/dp/B0012DHVQ0
