30 amp to 50 amp upgrade

Rockwood27 · 01-14-2014, 12:46 PM

My Itasca comes with 30 amp service as standard with a 50 amp service as optional. I would like to upgrade to 50 amp. According to the Winnebago wiring diagrams for my MH, the following are common (same part number) to both the 30 and 50 amp service:

1. Circuit Breaker Box (CBB)

2. Automatic Transfer Switch (ATS)

3. Energy Management System Control Module (EMSCM) (inside CBB)

4. Onan Marquis Gold 5500 watt Generator (GEN) maybe

To make the conversion, I will need to do the following:

1. CBB: Remove jumper wire to allow for separate legs for the 50A. Remove the 20/30A main circuit breaker and replace it with a 20/50 and 50/20 main CB's. Run a 12-2 w/ground wire to pump #2 of the central air unit (the cable currently comes from the ATS).

2. ATS: Add two jumper wires. Remove and replace the 30A power cord with a 50A power cord. Remove the 12-2 w/ground wire to pump #2 of the central air unit. Remove and replace the 10-2 w/ground main wire with a 6-3 w/ ground wire from the ATS to the CBB (the fun part of the whole job!!

).

3. EMSCM: Appears to be wired the same way for either 30 or 50A service according to the wiring diagrams. The Intellitec PowerLine EMS Display panel may need some dip switch pins changed and maybe some rewiring for the 50A service detection, but I am unsure of this. (I have the manual and will need to study it.) Help would be appreciated here!

4. GEN: The generator may be common, but I'm not 100% certain. The wiring appears to be the same for either 30 or 50A service into the ATS. My GEN has a 20/30CB for 30A service. I think a 50A service requires a 30/30CB. The Onan manual is unclear about this. Help would be appreciated here!

Does the above seem reasonable? Of course this would only apply to my generation Winnebago MH and probably not to others (but may be a good guide for others). Has anyone upgraded their Winnebago from 30 to 50A service with first hand knowledge?

Thanks,

Fran

Skip426 · 01-14-2014, 06:14 PM

I just have to ask , are you having any problems with the 30 amp service not being enough ?
The main reason coaches went to 50 amp was to support two air conditioning units, if your not planning on adding a second A/C, the changes would not be worth the effort. JMHO.

Heating man · 01-14-2014, 06:47 PM

I changed mine from 30 amp to 50 amp. I have a 2002 itasca suncruiser. mine had the same load center for 30 and 50 and transfer was the same I ordered the proper breakers and labels from winnebego. I have basement air and one compressor wired to transfer swich. I used the old 30 amp supply to get power foe 2nd compressor to the load center. It worked very well no problems. I could not run the wiring the way winnie would so I ran it in metal sealtile untill I could get it into a compartment and then into load center. As you said jumper had to be removed from the buss bars in panel for 50 amp. I priced the cord from winnie way too expensive over $400.00 bought mine from some place in California less than $200.00.

Heating man · 01-14-2014, 06:53 PM

I also changed the circuit breaker on my onan 5500 gen to 30/30 I got it from onan. My power management system needed nothing either. When connected to 50 amp it recognised it and showed 50 amp on panel its only when it is on 20 or 30 amp that I have to select which I have.

Rockwood27 · 01-14-2014, 07:40 PM

Thanks Heating Man! Great feedback.

HotMech · 01-18-2014, 11:32 PM

I converted mine to 50 amp, when I decided to add the inverter/charger.
all the parts supplied by Winnie, were 30/50 ready, so it was easy. I ran some 80 feet of #6 wire, under the coach, in colored split loom, so I would know which ones were hot. Installed a New 35 foot shore cord, and rewired the breaker box for the 50 amp schematic per intelitec. I made a sub panel, in the original CB box, by cutting the buss bars after the fourth breaker, then added two 30 amp CB's after the cut, for the inverter and charger sections. That way the mains and the ac's are separate, from the inverter. The breaker box looks just like it did, except for the new labels I made for the circuits. the EMS still works like it did, when I have to connect to 30 amp. the Transfer switch has a set of "dry" contacts, that were used for the rear AC unit from the factory, that I used to isolate the Water heater element. It will only work on AC power, when I am on shore power, not on gen or inverter, by design, so I can't make a mistake if I forget to turn off the switch for the WH. It was a lot of work, but in my mind, well worth the effort. K.

Wizard · 01-19-2014, 06:30 AM

I did mine almost exactly as you have planned.
One thing I will mention, the doughnut from the EMS to pick up the current is on the neutral so will not be changed.
Most of the wires on the circuit breakers had to be moved over one space to accommodate the new mail breaker. Be sure when you finish that you check loads on the too new legs to attempt to keep things balanced as much as possible. BTW, I got my new 20/50/50/20 breaker from Lightsinn

Somewhere on here I have a detailed description of how I did mine, Will try to find and post.

My coach had two stage convection microwave, electric water heater and washer/dryer and that was why I wanted to convert. Now I can use everything at the same time.

Rockwood27 · 01-19-2014, 08:22 AM

Wow!! Great info from everyone so far!! Wizard, I would love to see your description.

Fran

Wizard · 01-20-2014, 06:30 AM

Look here for the discussion
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f101/50-amp-89268.html

NeilV · 01-21-2014, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skip426

I just have to ask , are you having any problems with the 30 amp service not being enough ?
The main reason coaches went to 50 amp was to support two air conditioning units, if your not planning on adding a second A/C, the changes would not be worth the effort. JMHO.

The 35 foot coaches have 2 AC's and while they work well with the Power Managment on 30 amps you still have to be carefull about someone turning on a hair dryer if you using the coffee pot or if someone is already using the microwave you need to check the draw before turning on another high draw appliance. Not a big deal when you travel alone but with a wife and 2 daughters sometimes things don't always get coordinated and guess who's elected to go out reset everything when they do mess up late at night when its raining?

I mitigate it to a degree using a 50 to 30 amp adapter so only the internal breakers trip when they overload things but it still happens with a 30 amp coach. With only two traveling together it is easier and may be a non-issue especially moot if you rarely visit campgrounds with a 50 amp service.