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

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

kilboar wrote:
...he'll hook up his 30amp camper to the 50amp outlet because the lights seem brighter and everything seems to just work better. .

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

toedtoes wrote:
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.