Need help Upgrading my trailer electricity

[Kpackpackkelley]

My horse trailer is a 1989 model and some one else did the wiring install and it is really bad and I'm tired of it. I bought it used and didn't know what I was looking on wiring . But now after seeing new installs and reading this forum I've got a better idea what I'm looking at.
I want to go with 50 amp 4 wire number 6 gauge service because I have a 7k onan gen with two 30 amp breakers.
I would like ideas on a manual transfer switch , a service panel and a inlet supply for shore cord. Money is tight as is everyone's but don't want junk either.
I know when I start searching this equipment I want find everything out there .
I know a lot of folks here know what works and what doesn't for the best price . Thanks for reading.

[Kpackpackkelley]

Looks best to go with 6 gauge all the way.
Now I just need to decide on distribution panel which one would serve my needs since I already have a pd converter 9145a with charge wizard.

[Kpackpackkelley]

I'm studying up on wire amperage.
Using soow cord and making your own shore has got me scratching my head. It changes a lot with differant number conductors , temps and so on.
I've looked at thhn stranded for the long run from breaker panel in the front to the back of the trailer and have a junction box there then hook my 50 amp soow number 6 shore or gen power.
The thhn has got a lot different amperage rating you could almost go with # 8.
I'm in no hurry I want to get it the wiring amperage right .

[Kpackpackkelley]

smkettner wrote:
Have you measured voltage across the two hot connections on the Generator?
Usually these are 120/240 volt service same as 50 amp utility power.

Yes sir it measures 0 across the hots from the gen.
My wife and I use this trailer like a rv it has a 10 Ft living quarters , my daughter still rodeos a little and stays in it .
I just want to upgrade it make it a neater wire job than the redneck job that's in it.
The trailer itself is in great shape so we will have it for awhile and even if we sold it needs updated ..thanks

[time2roll]

Have you measured voltage across the two hot connections on the Generator?
Usually these are 120/240 volt service same as 50 amp utility power.

[Kpackpackkelley]

Yes the genny is 120 / 120. 30 amp breaker each leg. No 240 volt.
From the breaker panel hot to one side other hot to other breakers and would share the neutral.
I have a 50 amp receptacle at the gen in the back of trailer.
From the front at my so called breaker panel runs to the back long shore cord 50 amp plug on it . Can pull it to pedestal or plug into the genny receptacle. If you folks don't see a problem with that manual plug in system I don't either.
I've got two problems the breaker panels and all that wiring needs straightened out ac and dc.
The other problem is when I bought the trailer it had a 30 amp gen that went out so I got the 7 k genny. We'll I figured 30 amp 3 wire hot , neutral , gr shore cord I Gould use 4 wire number ten hot , hot , neutral , gr. now I have found since its 120 volt only the number ten neutral cannot carry both legs for 120 volt only. If it were 120/240 it would work. So now from what I'm reading I need 4 wire number 6 so it can carry both legs if your running over 30 amps.
I've learned a lot here in last couple of yrs but have so far to go.

[wa8yxm]

Ok,,, First for the power distribution panel.. I am a fan of Progressive Dynamics and they have some good ones but then so does Square D, GE, and a host of others... Just make sure whatever box you buy uses a standard breaker and the Square D is the most standard there is.......

Manual transfer switch.. The simplest transfer switch is an RV-50 outelt (Standard 50 amp rv outlet) you feed the generator to it and simply plug the RV into it.. NOTE: if you do this, put an inlet on your house so you can plug it into the genny when the mains power company fails you (Use a proper transfer panel inside and check to find out if the RV generator is 120/240/120 or or 120/120 most are 120/120 (No voltage leg to leg)

Or you can get an auto transfer. I like the Intella Power line myself but that is what I have.. When the genrator is off it connects to shore.. Some will not connect till shore power is present.

I recommend an inlet/outlet (marinco) on the shore cord to the trailer as well, easier to wrangle the cord if it is not connected.

[Kpackpackkelley]

Ok I believe your calling the service at a rv park the pedestal .
Also my converter is a pd 9145a which is a 45 amp.

[Kpackpackkelley]

darsben wrote:
why not use two cords with a fifty amp receptacle onboard. So if on shore power you plug one end in pedestal and other end into trailer. When using Genny you plug Genny cord into receptacle instead of shore power cord.

I've got to do a search I have not seen a pedestal yet but have heard yawl talk about them here.

[Kpackpackkelley]

I've been having people tell me I shouldn't have a receptacle at my gen . Plug into gen receptacle for gen power or pull the cord to shore power receptacle. That's the way I have it but I just thought that was the older way but it works fine for me.
As for the breaker boxes and dc wiring they have got to go. I don't even want to explain how the were done.
I now see in the late 1980s and early 90s a lot of people started buying aluminum horse trailers so the cowboys that were in construction tried to make money doing installs so there are a lot of really bad installs done in that time period.
I have put a pretty nice pd converter in I believe 65 amp and the charge wizard as advised here. They really work good.
I do need a service panel like the one posted ac and dc. I've got to do a lot of reading on that to understand it better . I noticed it was a pd but just read very quick for right now. Did the panel posted have converter in it if so I would think mine would work. But it sure looked nice.

[time2roll]

Are you planning to replace the 120vac/12vdc power center to be 50 amp rated?

http://www.bestconverter.com/PD4560-50-Amp-Power-Center-60-Amp-ConverterCharger


If you connect the generator to a NEMA 14-50 outlet you can just plug the main cord into the generator as needed. You are the manual transfer switch. Many motorhomes have this set up. Lowest cost.

[darsben]

why not use two cords with a fifty amp receptacle onboard. So if on shore power you plug one end in pedestal and other end into trailer. When using Genny you plug Genny cord into receptacle instead of shore power cord.