Help please. Putting in a 50 amp service at home.

[buck_n_duck]

I am installing a 50amp service at my house. By looking around on the internerwebs it looks like you use a double pole breaker just like you were putting in a 220v outlet. Is this correct? Does the camper know to pull 110v from each side? I have ordered a surge protector but would like to know before I plug anything in that I am doing it correctly. Thanks.

[buck_n_duck]

Got it done. Thanks for the help everyone. I do have pictures but don’t know how to upload them.

[time2roll]

buck n duck wrote:
Thanks everyone for the replies. This thread was hijacked and now everyone is talking to 2 different people about 2 different situations. My question has been answered several times now. I will be completing my 50amp service install shortly.

You're good. These electric treads can take on a life of their own. From here just enjoy the ride or ignore the rest is fine.

We would be delighted if you post back with your success and a picture 😉

[ScottG]

There was a time when I didn't know how to do this stuff either but I researched and learned.
With the information he has gathered, I think the OP will do fine with his install.

[CA_Traveler]

buck n duck wrote:
I am using #6 wire. I have spoken to 2 different electricians that I know very well and originally both of them told me that if the camper isn’t 220 then only use a single pole. Neither have experience with an RV outlet. I read online and then talked to them again about what I found and they both said that the camper will be getting 220v. But....I am under the impression now that the camper is wired for this and it will not hurt anything. Thanks for all the replies.

It's common that electricians don't have any knowledge of what RVs use.

A 50A RV circuit is 120/240V, 50A, 3 pole, 4 wires, 60 Hz and uses the very common household 50A plug. It is NOT just a 240V circuit. An electrician would know the correct way to wire this plug. The same cannot be said for the non household common 30A RV plug. It is similar looking to the common 240V 30A used for dryers. The 30A RV plug clearly states 120V but there are posts about it being wired for 240V by homeowners and electricians.

Very few 50A RVs have 240V appliances and instead use only 120V equipment. But the wiring is the same as say a 50A oven at home.

OP I also agree with no disrespect that you don't have the knowledge to properly install the plug. It's MUCH MORE than you've asked about and among other things the wiring etc is related to safety.

Perhaps if you went to HD and bought the weather proof box with the 50A plug it would help. Normal home installation for a 50A oven doesn't require the outside box.

[Cummins12V98]

buck n duck wrote:
Thanks everyone for the replies. This thread was hijacked and now everyone is talking to 2 different people about 2 different situations. My question has been answered several times now. I will be completing my 50amp service install shortly.

I used my breaker as a disconnect for my 50A plug. Did not waste the $$$ on the setup with receptacle and disconnect.

[buck_n_duck]

Thanks everyone for the replies. This thread was hijacked and now everyone is talking to 2 different people about 2 different situations. My question has been answered several times now. I will be completing my 50amp service install shortly.

[Big_Katuna]

I wired mine with 30A, 10 ga.

You can run both acs, fridge and converter just fine.

You DO need to reinstall the 30A breakers. 50A with 10 ga is a potential fire hazard.

[garyp4951]

Roadpilot wrote:
The outlet that electricians often wire wrong is the 30 amp outlet, which in a house is often 220 vac for dryers, welders etc. In an RV it's 120 vac.

As Scott said a 50 amp RV outlet is the same as a stove outlet. I can't recall any electricians miss-wiring this common outlet.

X2, I have wired many dryer outlets, and forgot when wiring my 30amp RV, and fried the converter in 10 seconds. Lesson learned the hard way.

[hammer55]

the camper does not have anything 240 in use, your just using two 120 volt circuits, as to not overload any one circuit,

[RoyB]

Using a MULTIMETER follow these two pictorials on what to measure for for both the 50A Service and the 30A Service if you decide to add that as well...

50AMP 220VAC SERVICE

NO SHOCK ZONE Image

30A and 20/15A 120VAC SERVICE

NO SHOCK ZONE Image

I like the typical drawings shown at the beginning by someone here on how the PEDESTAL wiring should look...


Google image

Make sure your electrician is licensed and has Insurance. This will pay for couple of thousand dollars needed to replace a few of your appliances if wired wrong... If you use your father-in-law or good friend then guess who pays...

Roy Ken

[2oldman]

Just go by the diagram.

[allen8106]

GordonThree wrote:
Yes, it is a 240v outlet, with a ground and a neutral (4 connections total). The RV appliances will draw 120v from either side of the outlet (L1 or L2), depending on the circuit breaker arrangement in your load panel inside the coach.

This diagram might help:

Whoa, whoa, whoa folks, lets stop the panic here. This above is the correct way to wire the RV outlet. Yes this is a 220v plug, however the cable from the RV to the plug and the RV wiring system is designed to only pull 110v off either side of the 220v outlet. ALL, repeat ALL RV's are 110v and pull 110v from one of two 110v legs on a 220v outlet. Usually, one leg goes to all your 110v outlets in the camper and the other leg goes to the AC.

The wiring size of #10 is too small, I used #6 wire. I wired my 50amp outlet two different times myself. Once a few years back and most recently as a result of installing a new 40X42 building. I had a Journeyman Electrician check my wiring and is was just as it should be. I've run both my AC's off of this outlet with no problems and have not fried anything.

[Captain_Happy]

10 AWG wire is rated for 30 amps only, 8 AWG is rated for 50 amp. Like other have stated if your going to use the 10 AWG wire, put the 30 amp breaker bad in the panel. This the reason you hire an licensed electrician instead someone working at an RV dealership.

[buck_n_duck]

DownTheAvenue wrote:
With all due respect, based on the the wording of your question as well as the fact that you had to ask the question, you lack the knowledge and skills to do job without the potential of a disaster. Hire a professional.

Running wires to a breaker and to an outlet are very simple and well within my ability. I just switched from a 30A TT to a 50A 5TH. My question is not about running the wires or installing an outlet. My question is about the camper itself. If not very familiar with campers it originally does not sound right to supply a 110v camper with 220v.

[buck_n_duck]

I am using #6 wire. I have spoken to 2 different electricians that I know very well and originally both of them told me that if the camper isn’t 220 then only use a single pole. Neither have experience with an RV outlet. I read online and then talked to them again about what I found and they both said that the camper will be getting 220v. But....I am under the impression now that the camper is wired for this and it will not hurt anything. Thanks for all the replies.