Hello All,I've got electric at a private camping area and need to add service for a 30amp plug for a new 30amp travel Trailer. I heard it better to put in a 50amp outlet in and then use a 30-50amp plug to hook it up the trailer. That way I would have extra or reserve power for everything on my 30amp trailer to run.Smart or Dumb? :-)Andrew

Dumb, unless you plan on having a 50a trailer later on. Your 30a trailer's breaker is designed for 30.

When I installed a pedestal at my house, even though I only had a 30 amp RV, I installed a 50/30/20 pedestal and powered it with a 50amp 240v breaker. While going to the expense and trouble, I figured that if I ever decided to get a 50 amp RV, I would not need to re-do it. The extra cost was relatively small compared to a 30/20 pedestal, and was negligible compared to the cost of doing it twice. There was no extra trouble, since I merely pulled one extra wire (although I did run 6g wire instead of 10g wire).While a 30 amp is sufficient for now, be prepared for the future. "Do it right, do it once."50/30/20 surface mount

I would need to know what is available. If system where install is going is 120/240 four wire, I would install 50 amp and use the adapter. If system only has 120 volts available then, 30 amp three wire.

Regardless of whether the pedestal is 50 or 30 amp, you ONLY have 30 amps max for use in your trailer via the power cord.If you install a 50 amp pedestal, you could use a 50 amp male to two 30 amp female splitter. Plug your trailer cord into one 30 amp female end and a 30-20 amp dogbone into the other and use that to plug in an electric heater, etc., separate from the trailer system.Outside of that, the only benefit of adding a 50 amp instead of a 30 amp is if you decide to get a new RV at some point that has 50 amp.Doing a combo pedestal like Bobbo indicates would provide for all three of those scenarios.

enblethen wrote:I would need to know what is available. If system where install is going is 120/240 four wire, I would install 50 amp and use the adapter. If system only has 120 volts available then, 30 amp three wire.Thank you.I'm not sure. It's a pole we had put in with a large breaker box. My current 30amp outlet for my other trailer is a separate outlet my electrician/car pretender buddy put in.I would think 120/240 but not 100%

For 30amp Trailer, install 30 or 50amp service to pole?

ScottG
Nomad
Feb 14, 2019
I would install the 50A if it's convenient just in case you upgrade some day. I didn't do that at home and now it's nearly impossibe to do so.
Lesson learned.
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Feb 14, 2019
To further complicate your decision, you can power the 50A recep with two 30A breakers to save $ on wire size.

It’s very hard to use 30A per leg with a 50A RV.

I’ve got my house RV outlet wired that way.

You can run both ACs, fridge, hwh and microwave just fine.
Trackrig
Explorer II
Feb 14, 2019
Bobbo wrote:
When I installed a pedestal at my house, even though I only had a 30 amp RV, I installed a 50/30/20 pedestal and powered it with a 50amp 240v breaker. While going to the expense and trouble, I figured that if I ever decided to get a 50 amp RV, I would not need to re-do it. The extra cost was relatively small compared to a 30/20 pedestal, and was negligible compared to the cost of doing it twice. There was no extra trouble, since I merely pulled one extra wire (although I did run 6g wire instead of 10g wire).

While a 30 amp is sufficient for now, be prepared for the future. "Do it right, do it once."

50/30/20 surface mount

Yes, install one of these and then you're all set.

Actually what I did was install one of these at the power pole and then ran the conduit and wiring over to where I wanted to park my MH and installed another one.

And after talking to the electrical contractor, the difference in cost for heavier wiring is very minor so I ran heavy enough wire so that a MH and TT can be plugged in at the same time.

What happens if you install a 30A service now and in a couple of years buy a larger unit requiring 50A service. What's the old saying - Penny saved, pound foolish, something like that.

Bill
wnjj
Explorer II
Feb 14, 2019
A box with a 50 and 30 also means a friend could visit with an RV.
Lwiddis
Explorer II
Feb 14, 2019
My DW said when I grow up I can have a 50 amp TT.
BB_TX
Nomad
Feb 14, 2019
The reason an RV park 50 amp outlet may be better for a 30 amp rig using an adapter is because those park outlets get a lot of use and abuse. Well worn outlets are going to have more resistance the worse they get. The 50 amp outlet is heavier duty and will likely have less resistance than an equally worn 30 amp.

For your home service there is no real benefit to installing a 50 amp except for possibly getting a 50 amp rig later. Your current 30 amp rig has an internal 30 amp breaker limiting you to 30 amps no matter what you plug into.
enblethen
Nomad
Feb 14, 2019
Sounds to me like the large panel on the pole should be 120/240 three wire and connected to ground through a rod.
It should have capability for either 120 30 amp or 50 amp 120/240.
There would be little cost different in labor to install both a 30 amp and a 50 amp box like the one suggested by Bobbo. Yes, a small differnce in material.
ScottG
Nomad
Feb 14, 2019
wnjj wrote:
A box with a 50 and 30 also means a friend could visit with an RV.

Probably would work OK but that 30A receptacle is connected to one side (or leg) of the 50A. So it's possible both rigs would be running off the same side of 50.
The 20A recept is connected to the other side of the 50A.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Feb 14, 2019
ScottG wrote:
wnjj wrote:
A box with a 50 and 30 also means a friend could visit with an RV.

Probably would work OK but that 30A receptacle is connected to one side (or leg) of the 50A. So it's possible both rigs would be running off the same side of 50.
The 20A recept is connected to the other side of the 50A.

True. There are two methods of dealing with this.

1. Use wire heavy enough for 80 amps, and put in an 80amp 240v breaker. That way, you can use the 50amp, 30amp, AND 20amp outlets all at full capacity at the same time.

2. The other way, like I said I did in my earlier post, is to install a 50amp 240v breaker and just know that you are limited to a max of 50 amps on each leg.
wnjj
Explorer II
Feb 14, 2019
ScottG wrote:
wnjj wrote:
A box with a 50 and 30 also means a friend could visit with an RV.

Probably would work OK but that 30A receptacle is connected to one side (or leg) of the 50A. So it's possible both rigs would be running off the same side of 50.
The 20A recept is connected to the other side of the 50A.

True. I was thinking more along the liens of 2 30-A rigs with one of these: clicky