Community Forums

RichKimball · 10-13-2019, 08:29 AM

Hey.
I have been wanting to put my auto former inside a bay for quite a while both for weather and theft protection.

I didn't purchase the kit that Hughes sells for this....but bought the parts on my own.

Now the problem: The 50A pigtail I bought is for a range hookup and even though the Amazon info stated that all wires were the same gauge....they are not (after opening package I discovered this).

Being that this cord is the main power to the coach...I was reluctant to use it as I felt the 6/2 for X and Y were fine...but the 8/2 for the Neutral and Ground was undersized for the Neutral. I went ahead and wired it in anyway....as I can't seem to find a ready made pigtail anywhere that uses 6/3 8/1 or the like.

What do smarter and more experienced minds think of using this cord for the 120VAC hookup to the 50A coach? This cord was designed for a 240VAC hookup to a range.

Thank you for your comments.

cavie · 10-13-2019, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mevman

Hey.
I have been wanting to put my auto former inside a bay for quite a while both for weather and theft protection.

I didn't purchase the kit that Hughes sells for this....but bought the parts on my own.

Now the problem: The 50A pigtail I bought is for a range hookup and even though the Amazon info stated that all wires were the same gauge....they are not (after opening package I discovered this).

Being that this cord is the main power to the coach...I was reluctant to use it as I felt the 6/2 for X and Y were fine...but the 8/2 for the Neutral and Ground was undersized for the Neutral. I went ahead and wired it in anyway....as I can't seem to find a ready made pigtail anywhere that uses 6/3 8/1 or the like.

What do smarter and more experienced minds think of using this cord for the 120VAC hookup to the 50A coach? This cord was designed for a 240VAC hookup to a range.

Thank you for your comments.

It will be fine. you will never draw over 40 amps thru the neutral for any length of time. Your coach is 240 volt 50 amp. You just can use 240 volts unless you have a newer model with 240 dryer and induction cook top.

NXR · 10-13-2019, 09:32 AM

Agreed. It's also a very short run, right? The longer the run and the thinner the wire the more heat and voltage drop there is, but five feet should not be a problem.

Ray

RichKimball · 10-13-2019, 10:56 AM

Thanks Cavie and Ray...appreciate the re-assurance. It is a short pigtail of 4 ft. I almost didn't want to use the 6awg either as the main cable coming in is 4 gauge.

I guess if I had the dryer, water heater, both a/c units and the microwave on all at the exact same time with a hair dryer running as well....an 8 gauge neutral might not be sufficient. I would have pickup up some lengths of 4gauge wire at the local home stores and make my own pigtail, but that wire is only available in THHN which is not as pliable for bending.

NXR · 10-13-2019, 03:30 PM

Are you sure it's 4 AWG? Each wire is like 20% thicker than 6 AWG. That thing must weigh a ton. How long is it?

Ray

RichKimball · 10-13-2019, 03:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NXR

Are you sure it's 4 AWG? Each wire is like 20% thicker than 6 AWG. That thing must weigh a ton. How long is it?

Ray

Yes...the main power cable is 4/4 and is about 30ft. It isn't a lightweight. I thought almost all main 50A service cables were 4/4?

I know for sure the physical size is much larger than the 6 awg pigtail when I wired the shore cable into the additional outlet I installed.

mrboyer · 10-13-2019, 04:47 PM

The neutral caries the difference between the hot legs. So if leg 1 is using 40amps and leg 2 is using 25 amps, the neutral is caring 15amps.

RichKimball · 10-13-2019, 04:50 PM

Thx. I’ve never heard it explained that way.
You’ve given me something to think about.

NXR · 10-13-2019, 06:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mevman

Yes...the main power cable is 4/4 and is about 30ft. It isn't a lightweight. I thought almost all main 50A service cables were 4/4?

No, 6 AWG. My 25' power cable is that gauge and when I ran a 50' home power outlet that was the gauge from the breaker box to the outlet box on the side of the house. Yes, I got a permit and had it inspected by the building department. Yes, it passed.

The 30-amp extension cable I bought is also 6 AWG.

Ray

RichKimball · 10-13-2019, 07:17 PM

Lol. I wasn’t questioning you. Take down the chip.

NXR · 10-14-2019, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mevman

Lol. I wasn’t questioning you. Take down the chip.

If that comment was intended for me, I do not understand why. I was explaining why I thought it was 6 AWG but I could be wrong so I added the detail. i'm not an electrician.

Ray

RichKimball · 10-14-2019, 12:06 PM

ernieh · 10-22-2019, 02:42 PM

When I connected my autoformer inside, I used bought a short (10' I think) Camco extension cord and cut it to provide the proper connectors. Cost was about the same as individual parts and it has 3 6ga. wires with an 8ga ground.

RichKimball · 10-22-2019, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ernieh

When I connected my autoformer inside, I used bought a short (10' I think) Camco extension cord and cut it to provide the proper connectors. Cost was about the same as individual parts and it has 3 6ga. wires with an 8ga ground.

I couldn't find a short cord that was in the price range I wanted to pay. Camco has a 15' cord but @$60 that was too much. So far, the range cord I have seems okay.