Pulling more than 50 amps ?

wolfe10 wrote:

No idea why this topic gets so much attention. BASIC MATH.

There's your answer.

YC 1 wrote:
So if they "draw more than 50 amps", why the H wouldn't the breaker pop????

Inquiring minds want to know. 50 amp breaker on each leg, one can pop if they are not ganged up or whatever term an electrician wants to use. And you will have one 50 amp leg with strange things going on inside the rv. (stuff not working).

Because the post was poorly worded, like a trick question on a math test. If the post had stated that you CANNOT draw more than 50 amps on a 50 amp RV plug, due to the 3 AC and then a few other appliances, THAT would obviously be FALSE. But, as I stated, it was poorly worded. I am hoping the CG electrician meant what I have posted on this subject. If so, I apologize for calling him names. If he stands by his assumption, that you cannot draw more than 50 amps on a 50 amp CG plug, the names stay. I would hope the OP asks this CG electrician to clarify what he told the OP. Doug

wa8yxm wrote:

dougrainer wrote:

I read this again. It is worded POORLY. The answer is, YES, THEY CAN DRAW MORE THAN 50 AMPS. But, the 50 amp pedestal handles a TOTAL of 100 amps. Doug

Which wire has the 100 amps on it Doug?

(And yes I know it's 50 amps used twice not 100 amps )

Now in some cheater parks they do not run both legs. then the Neutral might be seriously overloaded.

WHY run 240 volts divided instead of just 100 amps of 120?

Easy
Imagine there is Two volts drop from your RV to the transformer at full load (50 amps) EACH WAY (A reasonable drop for many RV parks

So 120 volts at the transformer. 118 at the RV right.. Well if it's `120 volt only service the current has to get BACK to the transformer so it's 114 at the RV 2 volts lost each way.

Now let's go to 240 volts divided 50 amps per leg full load

120+120=240 comes out of the center tapped transformer
Two volts is lost in transit each leg
My Surge guard says 118 volts per leg 1/2 the voltage loss.

But it gets even better if it's a cheater park because at full load of 50 amps per leg the return on the cheater park has double the current and thus double the loss (properly wired in the example aboe the neutral is .. neutral (no current). so i'd end up with not 114 but 112.

So splitting it into two legs and phasing them .. Saves on the wire needed

All hail Mr. Ohm and his famous law :)

In any case.. IF you do not have a Progressive Indursties EMS or TRC/Southwire Surge Guard of the kind that monitors and reports voltage on the legs as well as checking for open /reversed other wise bad connecitons.. I strongly recommend.

You are such a pain. AS stated, The POST was poorly worded. So, on 50 amp service you CAN draw more than 50 amps. 50 amps on each leg. But as the post was poorly worded, I posted the CORRECT answer and gave the correct answer on my other posts on this subject.. YOU ARE A JACK OF ALL TRADES AND A MASTER OF NONE. You are what they were thinking of when they made this saying. Doug

Drawing more than 50 amps on EITHER leg- tripped breakerS. They are duplex/pinned together.

No idea why this topic gets so much attention. BASIC MATH.

So if they "draw more than 50 amps", why the H wouldn't the breaker pop????

Inquiring minds want to know. 50 amp breaker on each leg, one can pop if they are not ganged up or whatever term an electrician wants to use. And you will have one 50 amp leg with strange things going on inside the rv. (stuff not working).

dougrainer wrote:

I read this again. It is worded POORLY. The answer is, YES, THEY CAN DRAW MORE THAN 50 AMPS. But, the 50 amp pedestal handles a TOTAL of 100 amps. Doug

Which wire has the 100 amps on it Doug?

(And yes I know it's 50 amps used twice not 100 amps )

Now in some cheater parks they do not run both legs. then the Neutral might be seriously overloaded.

WHY run 240 volts divided instead of just 100 amps of 120?

Easy
Imagine there is Two volts drop from your RV to the transformer at full load (50 amps) EACH WAY (A reasonable drop for many RV parks

So 120 volts at the transformer. 118 at the RV right.. Well if it's `120 volt only service the current has to get BACK to the transformer so it's 114 at the RV 2 volts lost each way.

Now let's go to 240 volts divided 50 amps per leg full load

120+120=240 comes out of the center tapped transformer
Two volts is lost in transit each leg
My Surge guard says 118 volts per leg 1/2 the voltage loss.

But it gets even better if it's a cheater park because at full load of 50 amps per leg the return on the cheater park has double the current and thus double the loss (properly wired in the example aboe the neutral is .. neutral (no current). so i'd end up with not 114 but 112.

So splitting it into two legs and phasing them .. Saves on the wire needed

All hail Mr. Ohm and his famous law :)

In any case.. IF you do not have a Progressive Indursties EMS or TRC/Southwire Surge Guard of the kind that monitors and reports voltage on the legs as well as checking for open /reversed other wise bad connecitons.. I strongly recommend.

dougrainer wrote:

TechWriter wrote:
Our park electrician says that some of the big rigs with 3 ACs and electric everything can sometimes draw more than 50A from a 50A pedestal.

Truth or BS?

I read this again. It is worded POORLY. The answer is, YES, THEY CAN DRAW MORE THAN 50 AMPS. But, the 50 amp pedestal handles a TOTAL of 100 amps. Doug

Please read this 3rd response. I have never seen a 3 AC RV have 3 AC's on ONE leg. There are 2 on 1 leg and the third on the other. So, with AC's at highest amp draw at 15 amps each, that means ONE leg will have just 30 amps draw on that 1 50 amp side. BUT, you CAN have 3 AC's on ONE 50 amp side leg. That means almost all the other LARGE amp draw appliances will be on the 2nd 50 amp side. Doug

If I heard a park electrician say that I'd think "well, duh, that's because 50a is really 100a service."

The wording of the Op sounds like the guy doesn't know that.

If at home
Go outside
Look at the gauge of cable servicing your drop. 100 or 200 amps AL.

50 Amos demands 6AWG CU. conductor.
It is a mere distance between your transformer and your service drop. Now look at how an RV Park is wired (shudder)

If at home
Go outside
Look at the gauge of cable servicing your drop. 100 or 200 amps AL.

50 Amos demands 6AWG CU. conductor.
It is a mere distance between your transformer and your service drop. Now look at how an RV Park is wired (shudder)