50 amp services at my house, need some help..

[Jim102]

To all,
We are getting ready to pour concert next to the garage for our 5th.
I want to have a 50Amp box there to service it....The power box is on the other side of the house, I will be running 85 of 8/3 or 6/3? What do you think?
Thanks,
Jim

[bob213]

If you do it or have an electrician do it, take a look at this. Especially when installing 50 amp. TEST before you plug in!
RV Electric

[DrewE]

Jim102 wrote:
I'll look into it and see if I need a permit, thanks for bringing that up.. Can I run 12/3 off one of the legs to a shop in the backyard?

Thanks,
Jim

You'd need a subpanel to do that; you can't just tie the 12 gauge wire into a 50A circuit. An RV power box with breakers and various kinds of outlets is indeed a subpanel, and many have room for an extra breaker. If you're putting in just a socket in a box with no breaker or switch there, that would not be a subpanel.

If you're using a single leg, you need 12/2 plus ground, rather than 12/3. Of course, all the wire in question needs to be an appropriate type for where it's installed: wet location for underground conduit, or direct burial if used without conduit, or something appropriate for an overhead wire.

[Jim102]

I'll look into it and see if I need a permit, thanks for bringing that up.. Can I run 12/3 off one of the legs to a shop in the backyard?

Thanks,
Jim

[Old-Biscuit]

6/3 cooper with ground will be adequate but at 85' you will have a 5% voltage drop

120V at source.......114V at your RV outlet-----provided you don't already have lower voltage at source

4/3 with ground will allow only a 3% voltage drop

[time2roll]

6/3 (plus ground) minimum. Need to follow code. Are you getting a permit?