We have a travel trailer with a 30amp, 120 volt panel and supply. I am planning on installing an additional 220 volt, 50 amp panel and supply, (I want to feed a clothes dryer). Do any of you electricians or electrical engineers know if having two supplies is in compliance with the national electric code ? My plug in post has both plug in receptacles and I own it, and it is fed from a 100 amp breaker.Jack L

I'd say no, but will let others more familiar with the code comment.Updating a 30A panel to 50A can also be expensive. Instead replace the 30A cord with a 50A cord feeding a new 50A panel located anywhere you like. One 30A breaker feeds the existing panel which is now a sub panel to the new 50A panel and a dual breaker feeds the dryer. I only recall one other poster that had a 240V dryer.

Legal to have both , as long as the output circuits are separate and not cross wiredYes you can install a 220v box just for the washer dryer and any other 220 item you wantOr you can replace the 30 amp box with a new 50 amp and feed all circuits from the new boxWhich ever way is easiest for you

I thought an RV dryer was 120v or propane.

they are 120vthe OP did NOT say what model washer dryer

MrWizard wrote:Legal to have both , as long as the output circuits are separate and not cross wiredYes you can install a 220v box just for the washer dryer and any other 220 item you wantOr you can replace the 30 amp box with a new 50 amp and feed all circuits from the new boxWhich ever way is easiest for youMany thanks, that is what I was hoping. I already bought the panel complete with breakers and the 50 amp cord. I not only plan on feeding the dryer from the new panel, but I will also transfer my 120 volt, 15,000 btu air cond. unit to the new panel.Forest River in their "Infinite wisdom" didn't take into consideration that if the AC unit and the residential refrigerator happen to both come on at the same time and the electric water heater is on, the in rush current will trip the 30 amp supply breakerjack L

Adding a 220 volt panel question | Good Sam Community

11 Replies

wa8yxm
Explorer III
Jan 20, 2017
Since save for the safety ground there should be no problem with dual supplies.. But you did say one "Caution" word: Breaker
220 volt service (normal 50 amp RV) shoudl be "Breakers" (two ganged).

Suggestion.... While you are upgrading consider adding a couple thousand watts of True Sine pass through inverter.... Here is how to do it.
Move "big ticket" items (Except microwave) to the new 50 amp panel,, This includes the Air Conditioner(S), water heater and a few added outlets (15/20 amp type with "T" shaped neutrals, fed with 12ga wire, bent around a screw) also the Converter (if you decide to retain it) and the Fridge.. To the MAIN 50 amp panel.. If on 30 amp just use a dogbone.

a 30 amp breaker in the MAIN feeds the inverter (Get a model without circuit breakers on the inverter)
The Inverter feeds the existing 30 amp panel..

Television,, GFCI,, Microwave, and selected outlets and such all go on that panel.

One cord (50 amp) to the box.. Should work.
time2roll
Nomad
Jan 20, 2017
beemerphile1 wrote:
Legal and safe to have both providing they are completely separate.
Although I think you would have to share a ground connection indirectly.
westend
Explorer
Jan 20, 2017
I'd bet adding a new load center vs upgrading the existing would be a wash and that's because of the price of the 12v distribution panel that is part of the typical converter package.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Jan 20, 2017
time2roll wrote:
I thought an RV dryer was 120v or propane.
Normally yes so they will operate on a 30A pedestal and barely on a 20A pedestal. But these dryers take forever to dry vs say a 30A 120/240V circuit.

His post implies a 240V residential dryer.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Jan 20, 2017
Legal and safe to have both providing they are completely separate.
NanciL
Explorer II
Jan 20, 2017
time2roll wrote:
I thought an RV dryer was 120v or propane.

This is a residential 220volt dryer and 120 volt washing machine.

jack L
NanciL
Explorer II
Jan 20, 2017
MrWizard wrote:
Legal to have both , as long as the output circuits are separate and not cross wired
Yes you can install a 220v box just for the washer dryer and any other 220 item you want
Or you can replace the 30 amp box with a new 50 amp and feed all circuits from the new box

Which ever way is easiest for you

Many thanks, that is what I was hoping.
I already bought the panel complete with breakers and the 50 amp cord.
I not only plan on feeding the dryer from the new panel, but I will also transfer my 120 volt, 15,000 btu air cond. unit to the new panel.

Forest River in their "Infinite wisdom" didn't take into consideration that if the AC unit and the residential refrigerator happen to both come on at the same time and the electric water heater is on, the in rush current will trip the 30 amp supply breaker

jack L
MrWizard
Moderator
Jan 20, 2017
they are 120v

the OP did NOT say what model washer dryer
time2roll
Nomad
Jan 20, 2017
I thought an RV dryer was 120v or propane.
MrWizard
Moderator
Jan 20, 2017
Legal to have both , as long as the output circuits are separate and not cross wired
Yes you can install a 220v box just for the washer dryer and any other 220 item you want
Or you can replace the 30 amp box with a new 50 amp and feed all circuits from the new box

Which ever way is easiest for you