50 Amp Usage Question

Stay away from generator receptacle and wiring. It should go through a transfer switch. The 120 volt 30 amp receptacle is the best idea.

I installed a 4 wire receptacle with the proper wiring so I would have 2 fully independent 110 volt circuits that could be combined when I needed 220v. It is not a generator style plug.

I would have reservations about either plug setup. If you had a 30A RV outlet that was code compliant and inspected that would be OK.

BTW An ispector would flag your 2 20A plug configuration.

You must be careful about two independent 120 volt circuits. They must be on opposite side of the 120/240 power source or you have the potential of frying the neutral.
Wire to the electrical panel should be a minimum of #10 for proper operation. Breaker should be a double pole 30 amp. This should handle everything thin in a 50 amp rig.
Depending on how your location is constructed and location of the electrical panel to the rig, best would be to wire it complete for a 50 amp 120/240 circuit with 50 amp breaker and proper RV 50 amp receptacle.

I'm a bit confused about the 4 wire receptacle. Is it wired to allow your generator to supply power to the house, input to the house or does it supply power out for other uses, generator? It can't do both. If it does feed the house from the generator, it would have to have a fool proof manual or automatic transfer switch to prevent your generator from backfeeding the neighbourhood and potential harming the lineman fixing the problem on the pole.
If it is wired correctly for 220, one leg on each side different phase of your panel, there would be 20 amp available on each leg, depends on the RV how much on each leg could be operated on 20 amps.

I would say, just just use the 30 amp receptacle that you have installed and let them use the 30/50.

Ken

Wasn't really asking for advice on wiring, I can handle that. I asked how a 50 amp RV setup distributes their power use. I know they sometimes plug into 30 amp outlets at campgrounds, does half the camper not have power? I assume if you have more than one AC unit that you can only use one if you're plugged into 30 amp service.

For those worried about my generator use, the previous owner had it wired to back feed, I wanted outlets and put in full 4 wire service to a 4 wire outlet that I could plug a commercially available adapter into to get two 120v circuits for use outside. I used this approach rather than putting in a couple of duplex outlets because it is mounted in a stone veneer wall and didn't want to get into masonry work just to change the use and I could mount the 4 prong outlet in the accesting box. I figured in the future if I wanted to connect a generator I could add a transfer switch.

So unless you can answer what I asked, don't bother posting.

Jim, the 30/50 dog-bone adapter joins the two sides of the 120/240 together in the trailer so the entire 50A circuit in the RV is alive.

JimBollman wrote:


I have never owned an RV with 50 amp service so the question is if you had the choice of plugging into 220v 20 amp or 110v 30 amp, which would better serve your needs?

The simple answer to your STATED QUESTION which seems to be being ignored is that the 30 amp circuit will be able to supply 3600 watts to the camper, while the 240v, 20 amp circuit will be capable of supplying 4800 watts to the camper.

The remaining answers above are precautions to insure you don't wire either of the circuits incorrectly which would cause damage to your electrical equipment in the camper.

larry cad wrote:

JimBollman wrote:


I have never owned an RV with 50 amp service so the question is if you had the choice of plugging into 220v 20 amp or 110v 30 amp, which would better serve your needs?

The simple answer to your STATED QUESTION which seems to be being ignored is that the 30 amp circuit will be able to supply 3600 watts to the camper, while the 240v, 20 amp circuit will be capable of supplying 4800 watts to the camper.

It's theoretically 4800w available.

Since the OP has implied a jury rigged electrical system, running air/con off a 20amp circuit might be marginal, in which case running off the 30amp might work better.

I have used two 20 amp circuits to power my RV, I had to exercise limited energy management (leave water heater and fridge on GAS only. turn off an AC if I used elewctric Kitchen stuff) but that would be my choice.

However I will warn.. If you "Back feed" an outlet with a generator during power fail that is very very very very very dangerous.. Have a proper transfer switch installed so that the loads (Selected loads as well) are, at your choice, powered by Mains or Generator.

Leave one seldom needed light on the MAINS only. turn it on during power fail and when it glows.. Switch back to mains.

And yes. that is exactly how I did it.