Advice on 30 amp Install at Home
Our electrician will be coming soon for needed work, and while here I want to add 30 amp service so kids can use it when visiting and have more power available than what I have now, which is using an ...
Forum Discussion
I highly recommend installing a disconnect switch at the new RV receptacle. Will prevent arcing and pitting and damage to the shore power plug blades every time you plug in. A "motor rated" disconnect switch works well as they have heavier contacts.
Good point on load capacity of the service in the house. For a residential service load calculation, it looks like an RV outlet must comply with NEC art. 551 and table 551.73(A) meaning a demand factor of 100%. For a house with a 100A service, a 50A RV outlet sure would take a bite out of it and would not be possible to do. I wonder how many installing an RV outlet do a load calc. and comply with the NEC requirements?...
A post found on an electrical contractor/engineer/inspector forum on RV outlets:
I have hooked up probably about 10 without an issue, however last spring I hooked up one up that was older and used that the guy had just bought. [snip] I couldn't get inside but it had a 30 amp. 3-prong plug. I connected it to a 240 volt source. [snip] I got a call from him a few days later saying that the light bulbs were "exploding" when he turned them on. I immediately went back and droped him to 120 volts and I assume everything is ok because I never geard back.
Now I'm gunshy on these installs
There's an awful lot of licensed electricians that just can't get this stuff right. Make sure you hire the right guy.
Good point on load capacity of the service in the house. For a residential service load calculation, it looks like an RV outlet must comply with NEC art. 551 and table 551.73(A) meaning a demand factor of 100%. For a house with a 100A service, a 50A RV outlet sure would take a bite out of it and would not be possible to do. I wonder how many installing an RV outlet do a load calc. and comply with the NEC requirements?...
A post found on an electrical contractor/engineer/inspector forum on RV outlets:
I have hooked up probably about 10 without an issue, however last spring I hooked up one up that was older and used that the guy had just bought. [snip] I couldn't get inside but it had a 30 amp. 3-prong plug. I connected it to a 240 volt source. [snip] I got a call from him a few days later saying that the light bulbs were "exploding" when he turned them on. I immediately went back and droped him to 120 volts and I assume everything is ok because I never geard back.
Now I'm gunshy on these installs
There's an awful lot of licensed electricians that just can't get this stuff right. Make sure you hire the right guy.
