50 amp conversion

[Parkerco]

Got another head scratcher for the 2000 Discovery we recently purchased. Because it came from an estate, unfortunately I can't ask the previous owner about this. The Discovery is factory 30 amp service, however, my unit has been upgraded (??) to 50 amp. A 50 amp cord and plug has been installed and goes into a residencial type breaker box with a 20 breaker. From there it goes to a Lyght Power Systems 30 amp transfer switch and then out to somewhere in the coach. Haven't had a chance to open things up a bit and determine where the wiring goes to exactly but I'm guessing at this point that they have wired the one 120 leg to the existing coach wiring so everything operates normally and have taken the other 120 leg of service and wired it into the transfer switch and from there to one of the AC units so that they can run both AC's without having to shed from one to the other. In other words it would operate the same as on generator power. What do you guys think? Is this possible and if not then any idea how and why they installed the 50 amp cord & breaker etc? BTW it appears to be a professional installation and not a DIY thing so am not really worried about it being unsafe or harmful to the OEM system. This coach spent a lot of time at campgrounds in AZ so I'm thinking they used the AC's a lot.
Thanks - Harv

[homerbw]

Did the same basic install on mine and it works great. My first problem was not using a heavy electrical cord to carry the 20 amps. My guess is they had the same problem and eliminated it by using the 50 amp. cable.

[Wizard]

Harv, there needs to be some 50 amp breakers somewhere in your unit if you plug into a 50 amp receptical. Do not depend on the campground breakers for protection.

[Gary RVRoamer]

I think the breakers in his coach are all less than 50A, so he should be fine.

Basically it sounds as if this is wired as you say, a 30A feed for most everything and a 20A for the 2nd AC. If that's all you need, it should be fine. You can still run short on amps if you have water heater and fridge on electric and start another big load, e.g. microwave or front a/c or plug in an electric heater. All that stuff is still limited to a total of 30A.

[Parkerco]

Gary - Won't the OEM shedding take care of the 30 amp load?
Harv

[wa8yxm]

I think you need to trace the wiring out to find out what they did right, and if they did wrong. From your description I am not sure.

[Parkerco]

Think I got the answers I was looking for so thanks for all the replys
Harv

[sonnyjim]

Quote:

Originally Posted by homerbw Did the same basic install on mine and it works great. My first problem was not using a heavy electrical cord to carry the 20 amps. My guess is they had the same problem and eliminated it by using the 50 amp. cable.

I have a 30amp Discovery and it will not run both a/c units, it always sheds one of them. If I run a 20amp service to one of my a/c units will this solve my problem? The gen will run everything with no shedding, so that tells me the wiring will handle it. Most hook ups have a 50, 30, and 20amp plug, my idea is to use my stock 30amp plug and add a 20amp plug for an a/c unit. Am I on the right tract? Is there a kit for this or do I need to get a breaker box and build my own ?

[Wizard]

Fairly easy to do, you just have to intercept the #2 AC wiring, usually at the transfer switch, and connect it to the new power cord. Through an 20 amp circuit breaker of course.

Never seen a kit for it.

[loulong]

Quote:

Originally Posted by sonnyjim I have a 30amp Discovery and it will not run both a/c units, it always sheds one of them. If I run a 20amp service to one of my a/c units will this solve my problem? The gen will run everything with no shedding, so that tells me the wiring will handle it. Most hook ups have a 50, 30, and 20amp plug, my idea is to use my stock 30amp plug and add a 20amp plug for an a/c unit. Am I on the right tract? Is there a kit for this or do I need to get a breaker box and build my own ?

Here is what I did to solve the problem. This is the OEM wiring diagram for a 30amp Fleetwood coach http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15918372/ECC%20original.jpg This is my modification.http://dl.dropbox.com/u/15918372/ECC%20Modified.jpg I found it easiest to do my mod near the generator as you can tell the 30amp output from the 20amp output by the size of the wires. Add a junction box with a 20amp breaker and the necessary plug/receptacle combination. Works great.....

[Gary RVRoamer]

Quote:

Gary - Won't the OEM shedding take care of the 30 amp load?

Sorry for the late reply...
It depends on what you mean by "take care of". It should prevent the power pedestal breaker from tripping, but doesn't make any more power available inside the coach.