Community Forums

marcham · 05-24-2015, 05:58 PM

Just the fridge would not be a problem.

nothermark · 05-24-2015, 06:07 PM

If you pick up a standard sub panel and connect it with the proper cord you will have two 50 A 120 VAC legs that can be divided as desire. That will let you run a couple of 20 A branch circuits on each leg as well as giving you 240 VAC if you decide to upgrade the compressor or use anything else with more than a 1 HP motor.

I'm looking at Home despot and seeing a variety of panels for under $30. You can use a load center rated higher than the feed. I think you need to add an ungrounded common for the safety ground and keep that split from the neutral. Extra ground buss strips should be available. (I may have that backwards.) You have a main breaker on the post so you do not need another one in the sub panel.

Old Scout · 05-24-2015, 06:22 PM

OK--your comment about needing to relook at a video you once seen about "a little green screw in a sub-panel" is a bit telling to me. Suggest you find someone locally that knows their way around electricity and have them supervise. A 50 amp plug is not something you want to "learn-on" ..IMHO

MPH · 05-24-2015, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Qwert66

Your case is different because you are fed from a breaker protecting the outlet you are plugged into. Probably 15 or 20 amp. If your fridge is the ONLY thing using the juice then no problem. If you are connected to a 20 amp breakered outlet AND using a small extension cord rated at 15 amps AND using more than 15 amps then there could be a problem.

The earlier post would be protected by a 50 amp breaker only and could push 50 amps thru a 15 amp necked cord which could cause problems and not be to code.

The difference is he would be plugged into a 50/100 amp line and you would be plugged into a 15/20 amp line.

Ok. That's good. Thanks for the reply.

marcham · 05-24-2015, 09:21 PM

Except he's probably connected to a 50A circuit with a 13A extension cord, as long as it's just the fridge and a few lights, not a problem.

Mr_D · 05-24-2015, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garbonz

Yep, that's the solution. Please note that the 50Amp RV plug at the house is still a 220 volt plug, it is at the RV end that it becomes two 110v legs. So if you don't use pre-wired adapter to your shed that will only run off one leg, then make sure you keep this in mind when wiring up your sub-panel or your duplex outlet(s).

Unless it's like our and some other higher end rigs. We have a 240 volt dryer but it's the only 240 volt thing in the rig.

steelbreezzz · 05-25-2015, 01:16 AM

Thanks for all the input. I wanted to do as much as possible myself and then have a electrition double check everything before I threw the switch. Living and working in the oil fields,everything is expensive.We all do not make the Big Rig money.

Old Scout · 05-25-2015, 06:32 AM

The issue here [IMHO] is the 50 amp breaker. If you said you were going to down size the breaker to match the 15 amp "extension cord," that would be fine. If you dont match the transmitting wire to the breaker, you are setting yourself up for a dangerous situation--for you and for others. Doesnt matter that you only intend to run a fridge--a 50 or 100 ft, 15 amp cord on a 50 amp breaker could get someone hurt.....