NEC 2020 & Receptacles

ScottG wrote:
Naturally the company that makes GFCI's want's 50A RV's to be included. They stand to make a ton of money.
Imagine all those RV's tripping them with problem firdges, etc and then going to the CG demanding they "fix" it.

Sounds like a new market out there for isolation XFMR's.

Interesting but does that really offer protection? Thinking that a bonded ground around/through the transformer is still required by code and of course there are other grounds like jacks, water lines, cable TV, etc.

Asking because I don't know what code requirements a transformer would require. And perhaps their cost might send RVs to the GFCI repair shop.

CA Traveler wrote:

NEC wrote:
I believe the NEC should revisit Article 547 for agricultural buildings and Article 551 for RVs and RV parks to address valid shock hazard concerns and consider increasing GFCI protection to 50 amps.

I'm not sure how this statement in the article for future considerations apply to a home RV plug.

After the new regulations in 2020 go into effect you have an electrician install a 30A or 50A plug in your home for your RV. Is he required to use a GFCI or not? I suspect he will be because homes are now required to have GFCIs and of course who knows what a homeowner might plug into their "RV plug".

For example I have a 30A extension cord that I can plug into my 50A RV pedestal (with adapter) to have less voltage drop for using back yard tools. My otherwise outside GFCI plugs are on a 15A GFCI with very long length and 14 gauge wire. ie The very last one located in the garage won't allow my saw to cut hot butter. And it's 100% to code.

I've been able to use my garden tools on my GFCI circuit and it's becoming mute for me as I slowly switch to battery operated tools. That will leave my smoker BBQ which only draws a few amps and some Christmas lights. And yes those lights trip the GFCI when it rains but the protection is there.

The exception for RV parks is in their section of the code - it does not apply to a home receptacle, whether designated for an RV or not.

Yea, the campgrounds are holding off as long as possible, although I found a couple of Missouri state parks that had GFCIs on their 30 amp pedestal receptacles.

It does look like when the local authority accepts the 2020 code, home 30 & 50 amp receptacles will need GFCIs, and they probably will start appearing in campgrounds in the future. It would be good to check your RV to insure that it will connect to a GFCI without problems.

NEC wrote:
I believe the NEC should revisit Article 547 for agricultural buildings and Article 551 for RVs and RV parks to address valid shock hazard concerns and consider increasing GFCI protection to 50 amps.

I'm not sure how this statement in the article for future considerations apply to a home RV plug.

After the new regulations in 2020 go into effect you have an electrician install a 30A or 50A plug in your home for your RV. Is he required to use a GFCI or not? I suspect he will be because homes are now required to have GFCIs and of course who knows what a homeowner might plug into their "RV plug".

For example I have a 30A extension cord that I can plug into my 50A RV pedestal (with adapter) to have less voltage drop for using back yard tools. My otherwise outside GFCI plugs are on a 15A GFCI with very long length and 14 gauge wire. ie The very last one located in the garage won't allow my saw to cut hot butter. And it's 100% to code.

I've been able to use my garden tools on my GFCI circuit and it's becoming mute for me as I slowly switch to battery operated tools. That will leave my smoker BBQ which only draws a few amps and some Christmas lights. And yes those lights trip the GFCI when it rains but the protection is there.

Naturally the company that makes GFCI's want's 50A RV's to be included. They stand to make a ton of money.
Imagine all those RV's tripping them with problem firdges, etc and then going to the CG demanding they "fix" it.

Sounds like a new market out there for isolation XFMR's.

Thanks for the link. These changes, and indeed any code updates, only become binding as they are ratified by your state or local building codes. That said, GFCI protection is a very good idea regardless; they have a proven track record of saving lives.

I'm a bit surprised (and disappointed) that the new requirements were not also applied to RV parks.

Thanks for the post. RVs and RV CGs are still exempt as I understand the article, as is agriculture exempt.

However they should not be exempt IMHO and perhaps a future change will require them for RVs.

I've posted many times that every RVer should plug into a 20A GFCI outlet and test their 120V equipment. That limits heavy draw appliances to testing one at a time but still a reasonable test.

Should GFCIs become common place in CGs I suspect there will be significant numbers of upset RVers who have no power. And finding those faults can be time consuming and hence expensive.