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50amp on RV, how to plug in at home?

nole_trainer
Explorer
Explorer
I have a 50amp Wildcat, just pulled into driveway for first time. Was going to sleep in tonight with boys, but the AC keeps breaking the house breaker. I have the 50amp plugged into 3 prong dog bone, do I need to step it down to a 30amp dog bone first, then plug the 30amp into the 3 prong house plug dog bone?

I realize I can only run one AC (have two), but just have some lights and tv on and the circuit pops?

I will not store at house, so this is just a every-know and then kind of thing. Not sure I can justify installing a 50amp service?
77 REPLIES 77

Bumpyroad
Explorer
Explorer
posted once would have been adequate. 🙂
bumpy

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
Bumpyroad wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:


Exactly what I have said before!

No different than buying POS Chicom tires instead of quality US made for a bit more.


so you are considering to only put in what is necessary and saving some money is comparable to buying inadequate tires? nonsense.
actually if I were doing it, I would just run 10/3 wg to a 30 amp breaker and just leaving one wire as a spare. then if it ever was needed I could easily add one breaker and have dual 30 amp service, which is adequate for everything. we are just talking about occasional use pre trip, etc. and not living in the desert 24-7-365/
bumpy


Yes IMHO it's better to go the extra mile if it's not much more than to wish I had done it later.

30 or 50A breaker is not much difference nor is it going to break the bank going from 30 to 50A wire. Labor is basically the same.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
Bumpyroad wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:


Exactly what I have said before!

No different than buying POS Chicom tires instead of quality US made for a bit more.


so you are considering to only put in what is necessary and saving some money is comparable to buying inadequate tires? nonsense.
actually if I were doing it, I would just run 10/3 wg to a 30 amp breaker and just leaving one wire as a spare. then if it ever was needed I could easily add one breaker and have dual 30 amp service, which is adequate for everything. we are just talking about occasional use pre trip, etc. and not living in the desert 24-7-365/
bumpy


Yes IMHO it's better to go the extra mile if it's not much more than to wish I had done it later.

30 or 50A breaker is not much difference nor is it going to break the bank going from 30 to 50A wire. Labor is basically the same.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
Bumpyroad wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:


Exactly what I have said before!

No different than buying POS Chicom tires instead of quality US made for a bit more.


so you are considering to only put in what is necessary and saving some money is comparable to buying inadequate tires? nonsense.
actually if I were doing it, I would just run 10/3 wg to a 30 amp breaker and just leaving one wire as a spare. then if it ever was needed I could easily add one breaker and have dual 30 amp service, which is adequate for everything. we are just talking about occasional use pre trip, etc. and not living in the desert 24-7-365/
bumpy


Yes IMHO it's better to go the extra mile if it's not much more than to wish I had done it later.

30 or 50A breaker is not much difference nor is it going to break the bank going from 30 to 50A wire. Labor is basically the same.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

Bumpyroad
Explorer
Explorer
Cummins12V98 wrote:


Exactly what I have said before!

No different than buying POS Chicom tires instead of quality US made for a bit more.


so you are considering to only put in what is necessary and saving some money is comparable to buying inadequate tires? nonsense.
actually if I were doing it, I would just run 10/3 wg to a 30 amp breaker and just leaving one wire as a spare. then if it ever was needed I could easily add one breaker and have dual 30 amp service, which is adequate for everything. we are just talking about occasional use pre trip, etc. and not living in the desert 24-7-365/
bumpy

Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Explorer III
kaiserrw wrote:
Everyone can do what they want to do as far as I'm concerned, but to answer Bumpy's question "what's the difference in cost?" The answer is $53.06 retail.
Am I going to spend $50,000 for an RV and then cheap myself out about $53.06? I doubt it, but to each their own.
And no Bumpy, I'm not trying to start a $*$#$ contest, but often times doing the whole job doesn't cost much more than doing 1/2 the job. I'm not soliciting electrical work either!!


Exactly what I have said before!

No different than buying POS Chicom tires instead of quality US made for a bit more.
2015 RAM LongHorn 3500 Dually CrewCab 4X4 CUMMINS/AISIN RearAir 385HP/865TQ 4:10's
37,800# GCVWR "Towing Beast"

"HeavyWeight" B&W RVK3600

2016 MobileSuites 39TKSB3 highly "Elited" In the stable

2007.5 Mobile Suites 36 SB3 29,000# Combined SOLD

nole_trainer
Explorer
Explorer
Glad I could start such a lively conversation!

For the 1-2 hrs, every other weekend, that my RV is in the driveway I have decided I can just forgo AC. Now this info will come in handy when I upgrade to my 10 acre lot in dreamland :C Then I will build a garage for the RV and make sure it is properly wired!

avvidclif1
Explorer
Explorer
I have a storage building next to my RV port with it's own breaker panel. The first trailer was a small BP and I installed a 20A 120v plug, more than enough for everything but the air. Then I wanted air so I installed a 30A RV plug. Upgraded to a 5er and added a 50A plug. I wound up with a 20A, 30A, and 50A side by side on the building. Each on their own breaker and as the box is on the inside wall the wire run was less than 2' for each. 12ga, 10ga, and 6ga.

Moral of the story is when I ran power to the building (sub panel on a 60a breaker) I ran large enough wire to cover any anticipated future uses. The cost difference was minimal between just enough and room for expansion.

I have water right there but sewer is another story I'm still working on. The septic is on the other end of the house. Organic gardening????
Clif & Millie
2009 Ford F350 SRW CC Lariat 6.4 Diesel
2015 Heartland Cyclone HD CY3418 Toy Hauler

kaiserrw
Explorer
Explorer
Everyone can do what they want to do as far as I'm concerned, but to answer Bumpy's question "what's the difference in cost?" The answer is $53.06 retail.
Am I going to spend $50,000 for an RV and then cheap myself out about $53.06? I doubt it, but to each their own.
And no Bumpy, I'm not trying to start a $*$#$ contest, but often times doing the whole job doesn't cost much more than doing 1/2 the job. I'm not soliciting electrical work either!!
2012 F-250 6.2L gasser, 2015 GrandDesign Reflection 303, SuperGlide, TrailAir Pinbox, AirLift Air Bags

Bumpyroad
Explorer
Explorer
tinner12002 wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Bumpyroad wrote:
for a every-now and then kind of thing, I wouldn't go the extra cost of a 50 amp hookup. just do a 30 amp supplying a 50 amp outlet.
bumpy


The labor is the same there is a small increase for wire cost and receptacle.

You don't know what the future holds and ya may as well have what you need to run the whole boat!


I agree with Bumpyroad..30amp box is plenty, chances are you will need another extension cord from your rv to reach the box in your garage and 30amp cords are much less expensive than 50amp cords!


If you plan on living in the RV in the summer, yes go 50 amp. if you just want a convenience hookup why waste money? what is the cost difference between a dual 50 amp breaker vs a single 30 amp one? what is 50 ft of 10/2wg vs 8/3wg? I put 30 amp in at my house mainly for guests. If they feel that they can't survive on that, I can point them towards a local campground where they can have their 50 amp service.
bumpy

FrankShore
Explorer
Explorer
smkettner wrote:
If you have laundry in the garage it is often 20 amp dedicated circuit.

X2 Garage circuits are famously mis-wired too
2014 F-250
2014 Minnie Winnie 2351DKS (Traded In-Burnout-Use A Surge Protector!)
2015 Arctic Fox 22G (Great Trailer But Heavy - Traded In)
2018 Lance 1685 w/ Solar & 4 Seasons Package
1999 Beneteau 461 Oceanis Yacht
En Norski i en Fransk båt - Dette må jeg se!

tinner12002
Explorer
Explorer
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Bumpyroad wrote:
for a every-now and then kind of thing, I wouldn't go the extra cost of a 50 amp hookup. just do a 30 amp supplying a 50 amp outlet.
bumpy


The labor is the same there is a small increase for wire cost and receptacle.

You don't know what the future holds and ya may as well have what you need to run the whole boat!


I agree with Bumpyroad..30amp box is plenty, chances are you will need another extension cord from your rv to reach the box in your garage and 30amp cords are much less expensive than 50amp cords!
2015 Ram 3500/DRW/Aisin/auto/Max tow/4.10s,Cummins, stock Laramie Limited--Silver
Tequila Sunrise 2012 Ultra Classic Limited
2018 Raptor 428SP

wilber1
Explorer
Explorer
oilslick wrote:
While I've seen lots of 50 amp parks there is always a 30amp plug, if you plug something rated at 30amps into a circuit protected by a 50amp breaker it's like plugging a 15 amp hair dryer into a 30 amp protected circuit, all's well until you need the CB to trip.


I've been to several new parks that have 50A only and they will lend you an adapter. Your RV has a main breaker just like your home panel.
"Never trust a man who has not a single redeeming vice" WSC

2011 RAM 3500 SRW
2015 Grand Design Reflection 303RLS

Water-Bug
Explorer
Explorer
Bumpyroad wrote:
oilslick wrote:
While I've seen lots of 50 amp parks there is always a 30amp plug, if you plug something rated at 30amps into a circuit protected by a 50amp breaker it's like plugging a 15 amp hair dryer into a 30 amp protected circuit, all's well until you need the CB to trip.


at home I'm always plugging a 2-3-or 4 amp device into a 15-20 amp circuit.
bumpy


When you plug a 30 amp trailer into a 50 amp pedistal, the 30 amp main in the trailer protects the trailer. The only thing that can draw 50 amps is the power cord. If someone slices into the cord, 30 amps will kill them just as dead as 50 amps will.

Uma___Papa
Explorer
Explorer
I personally don't understand the electricity mumbo jumbo, all I can say is I wish we had the plug to be able to turn my A/C on when I clean the RV after a trip. It gets soooooooooooo hot. I vote with all the guys that said put one in and do it right.......:)