Installing 50/30 Amp Service on Acreage.....?
I have several questions regarding installing 50 amp service on some land I just purchased. I recently had electricity installed on the property. The box includes the 200 main...100 amp ( for RVPedest...
Forum Discussion
Many (not all) pedestals are wired internally so that the 50A breaker is also the main for the pedestal, so the 30A and 20A receptacles are in essence "stealing" capacity from the 50A receptacle. Running a 30A and a 50A RV simultaneously from such a pedestal could prove troublesome. I would suggest having a separate pedestal for each RV if possible, even if some of the pedestals are 30/20A only pedestals.
The NEC has some guidance (well, requirements, assuming it's part of the code where you are) for what overall capacity you need for multiple RV setups. For sites with a 50A receptacle, the feed system capacity is calculated at 9600 VA (i.e. 40A 240V), possibly adjusted by a demand factor based on how many sites there are in the same distribution network. The demand factor is there because it's assumed to be unlikely for all the RVs to use their maximum power simultaneously...which may not be a great assumption if a lot of air conditioner or space heater usage is expected. (The NEC does also require a 20A GFCI receptacle at every site with electricity.)
The NEC requirements are probably not entirely sufficient for modern RVs and campgrounds, truth be told; it would be better to install a system that exceeds the minimum requirements. It is also possible that the NEC requirements for a campground would not necessarily apply to a private property, but with service for a few RVs, I suspect many inspectors would not give a pass as easily as, say, installing a single receptacle on the side of one's garage to plug one's RV into.
If you want to save money by doing some of the labor yourself, digging and refilling the trench (assuming you use buried cables) would be a significant bit of the work that requires no particular electrical skills. Certainly assisting with or even physically pulling wires could also be of help.
Disclaimer: I am not an electrician, though I have a little bit of experience with wiring and have looked at the code a little. Take my advice cum grano salis.
The NEC has some guidance (well, requirements, assuming it's part of the code where you are) for what overall capacity you need for multiple RV setups. For sites with a 50A receptacle, the feed system capacity is calculated at 9600 VA (i.e. 40A 240V), possibly adjusted by a demand factor based on how many sites there are in the same distribution network. The demand factor is there because it's assumed to be unlikely for all the RVs to use their maximum power simultaneously...which may not be a great assumption if a lot of air conditioner or space heater usage is expected. (The NEC does also require a 20A GFCI receptacle at every site with electricity.)
The NEC requirements are probably not entirely sufficient for modern RVs and campgrounds, truth be told; it would be better to install a system that exceeds the minimum requirements. It is also possible that the NEC requirements for a campground would not necessarily apply to a private property, but with service for a few RVs, I suspect many inspectors would not give a pass as easily as, say, installing a single receptacle on the side of one's garage to plug one's RV into.
If you want to save money by doing some of the labor yourself, digging and refilling the trench (assuming you use buried cables) would be a significant bit of the work that requires no particular electrical skills. Certainly assisting with or even physically pulling wires could also be of help.
Disclaimer: I am not an electrician, though I have a little bit of experience with wiring and have looked at the code a little. Take my advice cum grano salis.
