30 amp to 50 amp service

[shovelhead]

I have a 2004 Winnebago 35U motorhome with 30 amp service. I wonder if anyone has ever increased it to 50 amp service. Do you think it is practical and what parts need to be changed.With the monitor in the coach we are always near that 30 amp limit.Thanks for your advice.Ken

[AFChap]

I have seen many people ask the question, but never heard of someone who actually did it. My guess is it would not be practical/cost effective. 50a service is actually a total of 100a, and the RV is set up to route one 120v 50a power leg to some items and the second 120v 50a power leg to other items ...or to feed both from one 120v 30a power source when that is all that is available. In addition to components, it would take some re-wiring so you end up with two mains. Probably the best source to tell you all that would be required would be Winnebago Owner Relations. If they had both 30a and 50a versions of the 2004 35U, some of the basic needs might already be present in the rig.

[vermilye]

Here is Bob Hatch's description of how he changed from a 30 amp to a 50 amp feed for his RV.

[TXiceman]

I changed my 30 amp Avion to 50 amp and added a GFI circuit fro two more 120 volt plugs. I did all of the work, shopped the internet and spent just under $600.00. I used a new Progressive Dynamic 50 amp A/C panel and a new power converter with 12 VDC fuse panel. I had to get all new breakers, a new 50 amp power cord, a Marinco 50 adapter kit.

Got the PD 4560 panel HERE.

Got the Marinco adapter HERE....Only they do have the 50 amp kit. Talk to Debbie she can help you.

Got the power cord HERE....#55 8817

The rest of the supplies came from Home Depot.

Hope you have fun....mark all of the wires before you disconnect them and do not plug in the RV while working on it. Also, cehck all of the circuits with a volt ohm meter before you apply power to the panel. They have all of the breakers off and check each circuit as you bring up the power one breaker at a time....just to be safe.

ken

[Nonno]

I'll preface my remarks by saying that I'M NOT AN ELECTRICIAN.

Having said that, I looked at the Bob Hatch description and there are two pictures that reference 240 volts. Nothing in our RV's are meant to be run at that high voltage. If he is wiring it as 240 volts like we have in our stick built homes that is not correct. If the two hot wires are connected together it will result in 240 volts entering the RV and destroying all equipment.

50A power in our RV's is 2 seperate lines of 120 volts. It is not 240 volts

If I misunderstood what he was saying, I apologize.

[TXiceman]

The 50 amp power source can supply 240 volts across L1 and L2. L1 to Neutral will be 120 Volts as will L2 to Neutral.

There has been a lot of discussion on another thread about the "Split-Phase" service.
Look at THIS THREAD. It is along read with some links to more information.

One thing to watch on the motorhome with the transfer switch, the OP will need to address changing out the transfer switch as well if it is not rated for 50 amps.

Ken

[bachler]

Carefull carefull care full;; We have a small park. In the Electric, piller WE have 2 x2 plugs 120 each 20 amp, they are wired to 1 120 circut So when you plug 1 plug in each box you still have only 120 volts Each piller altho 4 acutal plugs it still has only 120 volts.We had a friend that know all about it Pluged into 2 circuts and Fried his wireing in his coach; Nowere in the code does it state Each piller has to have 240 volts.== 120+120. Only those that think they know will have problems. At request I have wired 3 phase the the piller and on one plug dropped one leg; Well pardner you plug into that and ... Whooo I would like to leave you with this thought, your plug is designed to plug in to a socket DON"T rearange it.. Error on the safe side..

[AFChap]

Quote:

Carefull carefull care full;; We have a small park. In the Electric, piller WE have 2 x2 plugs 120 each 20 amp, they are wired to 1 120 circut So when you plug 1 plug in each box you still have only 120 volts Each piller altho 4 acutal plugs it still has only 120 volts.We had a friend that know all about it Pluged into 2 circuts and Fried his wireing in his coach; Nowere in the code does it state Each piller has to have 240 volts.== 120+120. Only those that think they know will have problems. At request I have wired 3 phase the the piller and on one plug dropped one leg; Well pardner you plug into that and ... Whooo

I understand basic electric circuits, but I have no idea whatsoever what you said here ...except to be careful, and be sure you know what you are doing before you power up. It sounds like you have only 20a outlets? ...no 30a or 50a?

[DriVer]

I would not recommend that a person undertake converting their coach from 30A to 50A because every single piece of electrical gear needs to be replaced before and including the main circuit panel. Now could I do a job like that - you bet becuase I have a strong electrical background but if you don't have the confidence and knowledge to do this job, I would not consider it.

[shovelhead]

Thanks for all the reply's on 30 to 50 amp service If I have it done it will be by a dealer. I don't feel I'm qualify to do this but like to know what i"m talking about when I discuss it with a dealer. Some of these people are not as smart as me then I am sure I don't want them doing the work Thanks again Ken

[TXiceman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bachler Carefull carefull care full;; We have a small park. In the Electric, piller WE have 2 x2 plugs 120 each 20 amp, they are wired to 1 120 circut So when you plug 1 plug in each box you still have only 120 volts Each piller altho 4 acutal plugs it still has only 120 volts.We had a friend that know all about it Pluged into 2 circuts and Fried his wireing in his coach; Nowere in the code does it state Each piller has to have 240 volts.== 120+120. Only those that think they know will have problems. At request I have wired 3 phase the the piller and on one plug dropped one leg; Well pardner you plug into that and ... Whooo I would like to leave you with this thought, your plug is designed to plug in to a socket DON"T rearange it.. Error on the safe side..

You do not want 3 phase power on an RV site. What they have is a split phase service that is 240 volt single phase.

Ken

[bachler]

In a prior post I stated. To clarify ;; The piller has 110/120 to It 1 Wire of 20 amps; There are 2 boxes Each has a 20 amp braker, So at no time can the load Exeed 20 amps at the main. == 20 @ 110. The reason we did that Was. two fold Campers were bringing a Tail with 2 male 110 plugs pluging into both plugs and thinking they could get more amperage. Next was that dreadded Electric heater, We posted NO electric heaters. All the good that done. My advice is. Please do NOT use an electric heater Unless It can be Hardwired into the post. The plugs are not made for the constante amp . draw. When you have campers/rv you learn Quick;

[RustyJC]

Quote:

Originally Posted by bachler My advice is. Please do NOT use an electric heater Unless It can be Hardwired into the post.

I can somewhat understand your position given your campground where you only have single phase 20 amp service available with 2 campers sharing a pedestal. I've never had that problem with 50 amp service in my RV (2 each 120VAC/50 amp hot legs measured with respect to a common neutral - a split phase arrangement that is designed to read 240VAC across L1 and L2). The only thing I have to watch is not to put both ceramic heaters on the same circuit breaker on the RV's power distribution panel.

Rusty

[AFChap]

Quote:

When you have campers/rv you learn Quick

Very true ...and one thing I have learned is to avoid campgrounds/RV Parks that try to cut corners on electrical service. From what you have described, I am guessing your "small park" is not intended for other than small pop-up trailers, etc. I hope any advertising you do is up front about the 20a limitation. If there are 20a outlets then I expect no more than 20a service at a constant 115v or higher, ideally 120-125v. If there are 30a outlets I expect no more than 30a service, again at a constant 115v or higher ...same for 50a outlets. In our travels, it is amazing how many parks use smaller wire than required, and take other wiring shortcuts, and then act surprised when paying customers are unhappy when they have potentially damaging and/or dangerous electrical problems.