I want my own pedestal. Can I daisy chain off from the pedestal nearest my campsite?Can I plug into the 50 amp space and run it to my own pedestal with a 30amp and 20 amp outlets?I would be using a NEMA Box/Pedestal and running the wire in PVC pipe underground.I have a 30 amp TT and would like additional 20 amps for outside use.

NO.Not unless you can somehow guarantee that the pedestal you are bridging onto will never be used.Why are you not permanently parking at one of the existing spaces ??

“Can I daisy chain off from the pedestal nearest my campsite?”I would suggest a pro review your plan and if ok wire this, not you.

The short answer is No.Investigate how many pedestals are already on that "loop". You might get lucky (but you had better be a lottery winner).

What you're describing, if I'm understanding it, is not kosher per the NEC. An extension cord (which is what you're really talking about, assuming it's just plugging into the 50A receptacle on the other pedestal) is for temporary use, and so not put in conduit, buried underground, etc.Current NEC code requires a 20A outlet (maybe a 15A outlet, actually) at every site with electric service, besides any 30A or 50A receptacle. That's little help for an existing installation where you don't have one.

No, sorry but you cant plug into it and extend to another panel in that manner. What you could do is do away with the first RV panel and extend the feed for it to your new one. You would still need a junction box there at the original location. Another less desirable but legal thing you could do is open up the first box and using appropriate connections, extend the feed to the next panel. Obviously you could not use both locations to their fullest capacity at the same time but it could be done legally.Or you cold just use a long extension cord. I bought a 50' 30A extension cord for home use.

permanent campsite electrical | Good Sam Community

Sam_Spade
Explorer
Apr 04, 2018
theoldwizard1 wrote:
ScottG wrote:
I know of nothing in the NEC that says you cannot have two 50A receptacles on one 50A circuit ...

What I was trying to suggest is replacing the first (existing) pedestal with a sub panel. Then you can run multiple 240V circuits off of that, as long as they each have their own pair of breakers.

AND....maybe more importantly, if the existing wiring to the pedestal will actually support that many circuits. I think not likely.
DrewE
Explorer II
Apr 03, 2018
LarryJM wrote:

He is NOT installing this in the existing "LOOP" ckt you are talking about. What he is doing is basically plugging in another "sub-panel" to the existing pedestal and for that I'm not sure what a lot here are referencing to NEC, etc. even applies. AFAIK as long as you are plugging this in it becomes "temporary" just like your trailer is and I don't think burying the cord or using armored cable changes the temporary nature of his addition. The key word is "it's plugged in" and as such is by definition "TEMPORARY".

Larry

Temporary also cannot be permanently installed, and in theory should only be used for a limited period of time (which I think may even be spelled out in the code). It's not legal per code, for example, to run an extension cord somewhere and staple it in position in lieu of installing an outlet. I would think burying a wire in conduit would be considered permanent by most inspectors, who really have the final say in the end.

There are also temporary installations defined by the NEC for such cases as use during construction that have different rules than permanent installations. Junction boxes are not required, for example. This is different from temporarily running an extension cord to get power from your house to your hedge trimmer to neaten up the hedge at the end of the driveway, which isn't really addressed directly (it's not part of the building electric system at all).
soren
Explorer
Apr 03, 2018
theoldwizard1 wrote:
ScottG wrote:
I know of nothing in the NEC that says you cannot have two 50A receptacles on one 50A circuit ...

What I was trying to suggest is replacing the first (existing) pedestal with a sub panel. Then you can run multiple 240V circuits off of that, as long as they each have their own pair of breakers.

As other alluded to, modern campground pedestals are typically "looped" which means that large branch circuit wires leave a distribution panel, then travel from one pedestal to the next. Meaning that there are multiple pedestals on the same breaker. There are lugs inside that allow large conductors to be attached to the pedestal bus bars. Using this system, one breaker, feeding one set of conductors, feeds multiple pedestals. So, to answer the OP's question, it's definite maybe. It would depend on the results of having a qualified person review the existing installation, and determining IF that loop has suitable capacity for another pedestal. Depending on the number of pedestals on the loop, the conductor and breaker size, and the total wire length. All critical info. in determining the answer.

OTOH, older facilities, (and even a few modern ones) can also have dedicated branch circuit breakers and wiring run to each site. This can be a result of a local backwoods electrician, who didn't have a clue as to how to design an NEC approved RV park system, or somebody who really overdid the job, and didn't want the remote possibility of overloaded loops.

Whatever the answer to the OPs question, it's not going to be found here. It takes a qualified person, on site, who can open things up, and determine exactly HOW this specific facility was wired, and has the knowledge regarding what can, and can't be done, with that info. At that point the answer rests on things like conductor sizing, total voltage loss, and load calculations.
MEXICOWANDERER
Explorer
Apr 03, 2018
If this is a commercial camp site a two letter word will end the question

"No"

Most commercial campsites do not distribute a surplus of electrical carrying conductor. And there are STRICT state and federal codes that specify legal and illegal connections.

AND FURTHERMORE

Commercial campsite operators are hypersensitive about modifications. Because of legal reasons.
LarryJM
Explorer II
Apr 03, 2018
pianotuna wrote:
ScottG

If it is an existing campground the number of pedestals per loop is specified in NEC. I do not remember the actual numbers. Adding an additional pedestal would not be legal if the loop is already maxed out.

If I remember correctly it is 13 30 amp on a loop--but I really don't remember the number for 50 amp.

He is NOT installing this in the existing "LOOP" ckt you are talking about. What he is doing is basically plugging in another "sub-panel" to the existing pedestal and for that I'm not sure what a lot here are referencing to NEC, etc. even applies. AFAIK as long as you are plugging this in it becomes "temporary" just like your trailer is and I don't think burying the cord or using armored cable changes the temporary nature of his addition. The key word is "it's plugged in" and as such is by definition "TEMPORARY".

Larry
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
Apr 03, 2018
ScottG wrote:
I know of nothing in the NEC that says you cannot have two 50A receptacles on one 50A circuit ...

What I was trying to suggest is replacing the first (existing) pedestal with a sub panel. Then you can run multiple 240V circuits off of that, as long as they each have their own pair of breakers.
Sam_Spade
Explorer
Apr 01, 2018
SoundGuy wrote:
How do you expect to power off the nearest pedestal and not adversely affect the person using it themselves? :h

Several of us have tried to say the same thing in different ways now. I wonder if we will ever get an answer back from the OP ??
SoundGuy
Explorer
Apr 01, 2018
lainiest wrote:
I want my own pedestal. Can I daisy chain off from the pedestal nearest my campsite?
Can I plug into the 50 amp space and run it to my own pedestal with a 30amp and 20 amp outlets?
I would be using a NEMA Box/Pedestal and running the wire in PVC pipe underground.
I have a 30 amp TT and would like additional 20 amps for outside use.

Where did this idea of 30 amps + 20 amps come from? You do realize that 50 amp RV service is really 100 amps - i.e. 50 amps across each of two legs - right? :@ How do you expect to power off the nearest pedestal and not adversely affect the person using it themselves? :h
valhalla360
Navigator
Apr 01, 2018
Are you the campground owner and/or do you have approval to do permanent electrical work?

Most campgrounds don't like people doing this sort of stuff because if the local inspectors see it and it was done without a permit, they can hassle the campground.

Now if you have approval to do permanent electrical work and the circuit isn't maxed out, just do a daisy chain off the first pedestal, not plugging in a 50 amp cord and running it thru a conduit.

One item, you didn't mention is what kind of distances are you talking about and how good is the existing power supply.
- If it's 20' away and there are no voltage issues, probably not going to be an issue.
- If it's 300' away and you've seen low voltage during peak periods, give a lot of thought to voltage drop. You may need to up-size the wiring or consider a voltage booster.
ScottG
Nomad
Apr 01, 2018
If the OP has control over the first outlet then there is no issue with adding another.