House Power

[ajm12]

Hi all
I want to run a 50 amp service to one side of my house so i can plug in my MH. Is there a special way to do it. I have the wire, 6/3 with ground ( 4 wires ) and i have the 4 prong outlet. Not sure about the neutral and the ground. I think i will need also two single 50 amp breakers and not a 240 volt double 50 amp breaker. Any advice will help.

[Dunner]

I did the same thing and used a double 50 amp breaker. If one leg trips, it will be for a reason and will also trip the other leg.

Go here and click on the 50 amp service on the left.

RV Electric

[RV Wizard]

Al, you will indeed need a two pole 50 amp circuit breaker. Look on the compartment door for a label which indicates the coach power supply is 120/240 volts AC, 50 Amps, 60 Htz single phase. In the cable there should be a Black, red, white and green conductor. The red and black will go to the double pole circuit breaker and to the two flat terminals on opposite sides of each other on the receptacle. At the distribution panel of the house the green conductor is attached to the equipment ground bar (you will see a lot of bare copper wires attached here). The half round terminal of the receptacle is the equipment ground and the green conductor attaches here. The flat terminal opposite from the equipment ground is the neutral terminal on the receptacle. The white conductor attaches here and to the neutral bar in the distribution panel. You will see other white conductors attached to this neutral bar. If you need a picture, you can go http://www.wylersonwheels.com/docume...calHookups.pdf for the receptacle side of things. If you are not comfortable with electrical wiring, get an electrician to wire it exactly like a 50 amp 4 wire range circuit and you will be good to go.

[ajm12]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunner I did the same thing and used a double 50 amp breaker. If one leg trips, it will be for a reason and will also trip the other leg. Go here and click on the 50 amp service on the left. RV Electric

Thanks great info. You confirmed what i though. Was told that you could not connect the ground and neutral to the same bar in the panel. Which they have a neutral bar and a ground bar and they tie together so was just a little confused.

[ajm12]

Quote:

Originally Posted by RV Wizard Al, you will indeed need a two pole 50 amp circuit breaker. Look on the compartment door for a label which indicates the coach power supply is 120/240 volts AC, 50 Amps, 60 Htz single phase. In the cable there should be a Black, red, white and green conductor. The red and black will go to the double pole circuit breaker and to the two flat terminals on opposite sides of each other on the receptacle. At the distribution panel of the house the green conductor is attached to the equipment ground bar (you will see a lot of bare copper wires attached here). The half round terminal of the receptacle is the equipment ground and the green conductor attaches here. The flat terminal opposite from the equipment ground is the neutral terminal on the receptacle. The white conductor attaches here and to the neutral bar in the distribution panel. You will see other white conductors attached to this neutral bar. If you need a picture, you can go http://www.wylersonwheels.com/docume...calHookups.pdf for the receptacle side of things. If you are not comfortable with electrical wiring, get an electrician to wire it exactly like a 50 amp 4 wire range circuit and you will be good to go.

Thanks Mike good info. Very familiar with wiring homes. I was told that RV Wiring was different then home wiring. So was a little confused for a moment. Now i know what that person was talking about the neutral and ground being separate until it reaches the main panel.

[Dunner]

That's still confusing to me. Looking at them, they appear to be the same at the service panel.

[ajm12]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunner That's still confusing to me. Looking at them, they appear to be the same at the service panel.

Yes i know what you mean. Had everything ready to go then when i was told that i stopped dead in my tracks and then started scratching my head. Thanks again

[Dunner]

Just like an amp meter shunt, there could be a minute amount of voltage difference. Don't know if it matters though.

[vermilye]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dunner That's still confusing to me. Looking at them, they appear to be the same at the service panel.

The service entrance panel is the only place the neutral ties to the ground. All additional panels (called sub panels) require a separate neutral from the ground. An RV is treated as a "sub panel" ie it must have both a neutral buss & a ground buss.

The reason for this is to prevent the neutral current from being carried by the ground system. If a sub panel (or RV) has the neutral & ground tied together, the neutral current would be split between the ground & neutral wires. Because most of the metal in a home is tied to the ground, it would be likely that the plumbing, ductwork, etc in the home would be carrying current. A shock hazard would exist for plumbers, even a homeowner running water from a faucet.

Again, a sub panel or RV should have a ground buss tied to the chassis of the RV & an insulated neutral buss that is not connected to the chassis or ground wiring.

[Full.Monte]

If you really want to understand wiring, go to Home Depot and buy a copy of Wiring Simplified by Richter. You should find it in the electrical dept. on a hook. I've read it three times, and there is nothing I can't do on house or RV wiring because of it.