Hi!I'm new to the site. I have found a great deal of knowledge on this site and want to thank you for that. I am currently building a 28'X8' Tiny Home on a triple axle trailer. The outside should be completed by the end of next week. I am currently planning my electrical system and that is what leads me to this post. I plan to have propane for heat and the stove/oven. Major electrical appliances will be a fridge, microwave, and a mini split AC unit. I feel I could get by with 30 amps but I am also looking at resale value and since it is a new build it might not be any more difficult to install a 50amp split panel to get 100 available amps at 120v? I have zero experience with RV'ing so that's why I bring this question to you. Right now I am leading towards a 50amp as it would provide flexibility for potential buyers down the road but am I missing some cons? What added challenges will I have compared to 30amp?Thanks in advance,Steve

50 amps. You should have a heat pump on A/C. When you pull into a park and use electric water heater, A/C, microwave, fridge, and lights you will be happier with 50 amps.

I would go 50 amp. 30 amp would work in many cases.If you go with two AC units 50 would be better.If you have a 120 volt element in water heater 50 amp is better.If you install an electric heater 50 amp is better.Very little difference in wiring beyond the entrance panel. Between the panel and shore connection you would need the four wire cable.

Thanks for the reaffirmation. Any general electrical advice you guys would have if you had a clean slate to do whatever you wanted?

Should I go 50amp or 30amp? | Good Sam Community

58 Replies

greenrvgreen
Explorer
Mar 07, 2015
Regarding transfer switch, tell US your needs. Many of us have spent several grand to get seamless power transfer, but if you don't need it, do as Bobbo says and save all that money. An expert electrician can tell you how to wire a house, but is it a house or an RV? Plenty of posts here from RV owners who hired an expert electrician to feed 30amp 240V into their RV and fry everything.

Tiny home, tiny home--I just don't get it!
bfast54
Explorer
Mar 07, 2015
westernrvparkowner wrote:
MWJones wrote:
WESTERNRVPARKOWNER:

I don't know where you got your info about anything home built won't be worth anything. As posted earlier, I built a 24x8 concession trailer. I used it for 12 years and sold it for 2 and 1/5 times what it cost to build. If built well and kept well it WILL be worth something.
If you say so. However a concession trailer or a construction trailer or any other kind of commercial trailer is a lot different than an RV. There just isn't a whole lot of people looking for a used RV built by Tom, Dick or Harry. They shop manufacturers.

Not to quibble too much but apparently you don't get around much---- must be you don't leave your RV park?????

The original posted he's building A tiny home.

A tiny house in a trailer ----look it up and watch some of the stuff on TV ....:S

These are huge now days he could sell it in a minute.......:C
Mr_Steve
Explorer
Mar 07, 2015
john&bet wrote:
Mr_Steve wrote:
Currently in the process of selecting my panel. Seems like this should be easy. Would be nice to have 10 circuits even though that's overkill. Here is one option I found but can't find many others. Anyone have other panel suggestions?

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200196374_200196374?cm_mmc=Google-pla-_-Generators-_-Generator%20Accessories-_-100006&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=100006&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=100006&gclid=COHho-TtlsQCFYI_aQodzUsAHA
I would suggest you make a visit to your local electrical wholesale house. Explain to them what you would like to do. They will help you out. At least the ones around here do.

I think you are right. Too many options out there. Possibilities are endless. Great advice.
john_bet
Explorer II
Mar 07, 2015
Mr_Steve wrote:
Currently in the process of selecting my panel. Seems like this should be easy. Would be nice to have 10 circuits even though that's overkill. Here is one option I found but can't find many others. Anyone have other panel suggestions?

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200196374_200196374?cm_mmc=Google-pla-_-Generators-_-Generator%20Accessories-_-100006&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=100006&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=100006&gclid=COHho-TtlsQCFYI_aQodzUsAHA
I would suggest you make a visit to your local electrical wholesale house. Explain to them what you would like to do. They will help you out. At least the ones around here do.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Mar 07, 2015
Even with an onboard generator, you can do without a failure prone ATS. Wire the generator output to an outlet in an outlet box inside your electrical compartment. When you need to use your generator, unplug your shore power cord from the pedestal, and plug it into the generator's outlet.
enblethen
Nomad
Mar 07, 2015
This would do about the same. Are you going to have an on-board genset or a portable type unit?
If it is a portable unit then you would not need the transfer function as your shore power cord would be used for shore power pedestal or genset connection.
Transfer switch
A small panel like this would do. You would need to install main and then branch breakers.
Flush panel
Mr_Steve
Explorer
Mar 07, 2015
Currently in the process of selecting my panel. Seems like this should be easy. Would be nice to have 10 circuits even though that's overkill. Here is one option I found but can't find many others. Anyone have other panel suggestions?

http://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200196374_200196374?cm_mmc=Google-pla-_-Generators-_-Generator%20Accessories-_-100006&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=100006&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=100006&gclid=COHho-TtlsQCFYI_aQodzUsAHA
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Mar 05, 2015
I consider commercial cheap brands to be a mere step above junk. I built mine 30 years ago and unlike Blunders, Illwinds, Winnebuggers, and like ilk, I don't spend ten grand a year trying to keep ahead of toilets that leak, refrigerators that are superb at spoiling good food and a hundred other things that may look good but operate like garbage.
greenrvgreen
Explorer
Mar 05, 2015
Certainly an OTR tractor will tow this weight easily--kind of wish you'd mentioned that in your original post where you say:

"I have zero experience with RV'ing."

As regards your project, currently you seem to be under-speccing your appliances and electrical sys, even by RVing standards. Generally speaking, RVs are moving towards residential appliances and residential-sized circuitry. Gas appliances and/or RV-specific appliances will both limit your capabilities and drag down the resale value you say you don't care about but mention in every reply.

If you want to see where high-end RVs are heading, browse high-end yatching sites. There you will find commercial-grade appliances whose physical size has been reduced way down while retaining high-end functionality--after all you keep saying "tiny".

Good luck and post pics!
Mr_Steve
Explorer
Mar 05, 2015
I don't think this guy will get this much money on this ad link below but this is for an 18' trailer listed at $47k. There is a strange market for these types of homes. People like the ability to have a more liveable place than an TT but smaller than a Park Model so they can move it with a pickup. As I have said every time I don't plan to sell this upon completion or ever but if for some reason I do have to sell I feel there is a market for this type of build.

http://tinyhouselistings.com/modern-tiny-house-11/