What guage wire?

Trackrig wrote:
I'll be installing a 50A RV outlet (with a 30A and 2ea 20A outlets and breakers) in a couple of weeks. It will be about 105 feet from the meter base. The electrician and two electrical supply houses have said #6 would probably be OK, but to go with the #4 because the additional cost isn't worth worrying about.

Bill

Exactly. The cost, amortized over time, especially, is minimal. Any run over 100' would be #4 or larger, IMO. It might be cheaper to run #2 service wire. I haven't pinched those types of pennies for awhile.

I'll be installing a 50A RV outlet (with a 30A and 2ea 20A outlets and breakers) in a couple of weeks. It will be about 105 feet from the meter base. The electrician and two electrical supply houses have said #6 would probably be OK, but to go with the #4 because the additional cost isn't worth worrying about.

Bill

Use Number 6 it's more that large enough for such a short run
I have no idea where you idiots are coming up with # 4
He's only connecting a 30 amp RV. Even with a 50 amp RV you lickly only to use 40 amps per leg with everything going.
I only have a small 40+ year in the electrical trade.

kellertx5er wrote:
My voltage drop calculations say that 50 feet of #8 wire carrying 40 amps will have 2.5% voltage drop. #6 wire can carry 50 amps over 60 feet with 2.5% drop, or 75 feet with 3% drop. What did your calculation say?

50' - #8 - 40A = 2.09 %
60' - #6 - 50A = 1.98 %
75' - #6 - 50A = 2.47 %

AWG 6 with #8 ground is minimum for a 50 amp receptacle. The circuit should be protected with a dual pole 50 amp circuit breaker. If using conduit, you may wish to increase wire size as enclosing the wire lowers heat dissipation.

With a maximum of 30 amp draw from your 5'er, #6 wire should be good.

kellertx5er wrote:

NinerBikes wrote:
Key words, continuous duty when recharging an electric car. Future proof your installation.

Where did the OP mention an electric car?

The OP didn't say anything about an electric car - NinerBikes was giving a good example of future proofing your new installation so that you may not have to do it all over in a few years when something new comes along.

Bill

And of course, there is also the requirement that your existing breaker panel is not already fully loaded at at legal capacity.

Certainly, it's not often that you would need 50 amp power beside the garage. If you have a 100 amp main service, or even a 125 amp service, and you plan on running air conditioning in the rig and in the house in mid summer, you can certainly get into dicey conditions for the main service to fill.

There is a lot to consider here, and you should get a professional to check it out. 40 years electrical here.

NinerBikes wrote:
With a 60 foot run, I'd go 4 gauge wire to that 60 amp breaker, 6 gauge is only good up to 50 feet. Do it once, do it right, with heavy enough material to not create wasted resistance and heat. One day, you may wish to plug in an electric car at your RV 14-50 NEMA outlet. 50 amp wire, continuous duty at 40 amps could get hot.. run with 4 gauge. Key words, continuous duty when recharging an electric car. Future proof your installation.

Where did the OP mention an electric car? And where does it say that #6 wire is "only good up to 50 feet". My voltage drop calculations say that 50 feet of #8 wire carrying 40 amps will have 2.5% voltage drop. #6 wire can carry 50 amps over 60 feet with 2.5% drop, or 75 feet with 3% drop. What did your calculation say?

There are too many posters here spewing out garbage when it comes to electrical matters.

smkettner wrote:
http://www.myrv.us/electric/Pg/50amp_Service.htm

x2

With a 60 foot run, I'd go 4 gauge wire to that 60 amp breaker, 6 gauge is only good up to 50 feet. Do it once, do it right, with heavy enough material to not create wasted resistance and heat. One day, you may wish to plug in an electric car at your RV 14-50 NEMA outlet. 50 amp wire, continuous duty at 40 amps could get hot.. run with 4 gauge. Key words, continuous duty when recharging an electric car. Future proof your installation.