Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
RV Trip Planning Discussions

Go Back   iRV2 Forums > iRV2.com COMMUNITY FORUMS > iRV2.com General Discussion
Click Here to Login
Join iRV2 Today

Mission Statement: Supporting thoughtful exchange of knowledge, values and experience among RV enthusiasts.
Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on iRV2
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 01-22-2015, 07:47 AM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 13
converting from 20 amp to 50 amp

dear r.v. buddies,
i have a 2004 class a 38 ft gas powered pace arrow, that has a 30 amp shed system. my question is can it be upgraded to a 50 amp system, and the pro's and con's and cost of doing this. i live in Louisiana and in the summer running both air conditioners and trying to use anything else causes some breakers to kick. any knowledge or information on this subject will be very helpful.
Jimdel41 is offline   Reply With Quote
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!

iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!

You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!

Old 01-22-2015, 07:59 AM   #2
Registered User
 
mel s's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,777
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimdel41 View Post
dear r.v. buddies,
i have a 2004 class a 38 ft gas powered pace arrow, that has a 30 amp shed system. my question is can it be upgraded to a 50 amp system, and the pro's and con's and cost of doing this. i live in Louisiana and in the summer running both air conditioners and trying to use anything else causes some breakers to kick. any knowledge or information on this subject will be very helpful.
Jimdel41
It can be done but it will not be easy... or inexpensive.
A less expensive alternative is to wire one of the roof top A/Cs to 12/3 cord that can be plugged into a 20 amp campground pedestal receptacle while the rest of the coach runs on 30 amps via the 30 amp cord/receptacle.
Mel
'96 Safari
mel s is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2015, 08:30 AM   #3
doc
Senior Member
 
doc's Avatar
 
Appalachian Campers
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Dixie !! (north Georgia) USA
Posts: 4,113
Mel has a viable and affordable solution. You would have two cables from the coach to the post, but that is of little consequence when trying to stay cool in the southern heat and humidity
doc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2015, 08:44 AM   #4
Member
 
ItascaRVer's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Sulphur, LA
Posts: 59
Mel is correct. My Itasca has been modified to use a separate cord to run the rear A/C, but it shares the neutral with the 30 amp cable. This causes a GFCI to trip if I plug into the one in the campground pedestal. I haven't dug into it to see if I can separate the neutrals.


Wayne
__________________
This isn't Camping, its Life-Live it!
99 Itasca 37G 6.8L V10
Linda & Wayne
ItascaRVer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2015, 08:52 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
Lincolnboy2's Avatar
 
Texas Boomers Club
Fleetwood Owners Club
Solo Rvers Club
Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Lakin, Ks.
Posts: 3,636
Quote:
Originally Posted by Jimdel41 View Post
dear r.v. buddies,
i have a 2004 class a 38 ft gas powered pace arrow, that has a 30 amp shed system. my question is can it be upgraded to a 50 amp system, and the pro's and con's and cost of doing this. i live in Louisiana and in the summer running both air conditioners and trying to use anything else causes some breakers to kick. any knowledge or information on this subject will be very helpful.
Jim, I went through this same scenario when I first bought my 2003 32' with 2 a/c units on the shed system (30 amp). It wasn't until 2 years later I realized my rear A/C had slowly been fan motor going out and was pulling more than normal load, which before I got the Progressive Industries EMC that would cut off power when the voltage gets too low, I had trouble with breakers, etc.

My shed system works excellent in the 110 heat in the summer, my coach is smaller than yours, but has 2 A/C units, a 15K in front and 8K in back and now that I replaced the bad fan motor in the rear AC, it makes a lot of difference.

I also found that the front AC, while running the generator, runs off the second circuit breaker switch on the generator, and so I keep both switches on while in summer running the genny.

I hope this might help you. Also, when going to a CG or other facility, make sure if they have 50 amp at the pole you get a pigtail that you can plug your 30 amp plug into the 50 amp CG plugin, because you will be getting more voltage/amps up to that CG plug on the 50 during high summer A/C usage than the 30.

Keep us posted either way!

__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]Kent: 2015 Fleetwood Bounder 35K
With Ferbie (ShihTzu) Lilly (Pekingese) & Daisy (Yorkie) Memoriam: Katie, Spencer, Zoey, Susie, Angie
Lincolnboy2 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2015, 09:59 AM   #6
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 4,654
With the energy management system in place it may be difficult.

Others have mentioned adding a cord and I will add a modification of that.

If your cord is plug in at mh end this is easier.

And this assumes you can get one ac power source isolated like the old days where you had the switch to select which ac operated on shore power.

And it assumes the unit is isolated form the rest.

If not you may need to get creative to bring the feed line to cable entry.

You use a 50 amp shore cord that has the L1 side wired to your 30 amp connection and L2 side wired to the second ac.

If you are plug in at mh end you could have both stock and added connector for the 50 amp cord but a switch would need to be added as you would have hot exposed pins on unused connector.

Thi would require domeone who knows what they are doing to install but not difficult if the configuration of the mh allows it.
__________________
Tony & Lori
1989 Country Coach Savannah SE
TQ60 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-22-2015, 02:47 PM   #7
Senior Member
 
wa8yxm's Avatar
 
Damon Owners Club
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,024
basically you replace the shore cord, Any "Inlets" (if the shore cord is detachable) The Auto Transfer switch (if so equipped) the Load shedder,, The power distribution center (Which may include the converter, or not) and you may need to work on the generator some (re-wire should do that if it's over 5KW).

Sounds easy.. till you start doing it

Oh, and if you have a Surge Protector like the HW-30C.. Upgarde that too (If not put in a HW-50C while you are upgrading)

Should be able to drop a kilo-buck on the counter and get change back if you do it yourself.
__________________
Home is where I park it!
wa8yxm is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply



Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Using 50 amp service for 30 amp MH 2014-319DSF Class C Motorhome Discussions 5 01-03-2015 08:05 AM
50 amp coach to 30 amp extension to 50 amp house? abarkl RV Systems & Appliances 10 01-02-2015 08:55 PM
30 amp configuration on 50 amp circuit panel TexasTwoStep RV Systems & Appliances 9 12-24-2014 08:03 AM
30 Amp But No 50 Amp Shore Power fixn2gocamp RV Systems & Appliances 27 10-03-2014 04:48 AM
50 amp to 30 amp on surge protector ? TinCanTee iRV2.com General Discussion 6 06-29-2014 04:38 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 03:56 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.