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Old 01-06-2017, 01:06 AM   #1
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Should I put in 50 amps or 30

Building a carport for my little class C which uses 30amps. I may get an A someday which will require 50amps. Should I go ahead and go with 50 now?
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Old 01-06-2017, 03:38 AM   #2
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You might as well. Will cost a bit more now, but alot more later if you have to completly switch out the 30 amp for a 50 amp set up.
You'll still be able to plug your 30 amp class c into the 50 amp outlet using a 50 amp to 30 amp adapter, and it won't hurt or over-power you rig. It will still only draw 30 amps even if 50 is available.
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Old 01-06-2017, 04:15 AM   #3
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It's a no brainier if you have the room in your main panel. Cost is minimal for sure.


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Old 01-06-2017, 04:19 AM   #4
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X3 for 50
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Old 01-06-2017, 05:41 AM   #5
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If you install 50 and only need 30, you're fine.
If you install 50 and end up needing 50, you're fine.
If you install 30 and end up needing 50, you're looking at additional expenses. The cheapest of these would be the heavier wire and breakers. The big additional expense will be the electrician that has to come back out and redo the work he has already done once.

Pay a few extra dollars the first time, and be done! JMO.
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Old 01-06-2017, 06:09 AM   #6
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I have a 30A coach and put in 50A service with an RV box that has outlets and breakers for 50, 30 and 20A. It's a Connecticut Electric CESMPSC75GRHR and a link to buy one is here.
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Old 01-06-2017, 06:19 AM   #7
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I put in a 30 for our class C thinking that is about as big as we would go. Now I can run most everything in the class A with 30 It's plugged in mostly to keep the batteries charged but once in a while we use it as a "guest house". Should have put in 50.

Same thing with the concrete pad. Should have gone bigger. Now the class A hangs over the edge.
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Old 01-06-2017, 06:22 AM   #8
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I just went through this exercise a few weeks ago. There was a 30 amp RV hookup at the rear of our newly purchased house. The wire was 10 gauge direct burial in a combination of 3/4 and 1 inch conduit.

Due to the length, about 90 feet, I was going to remove the 10 gauge direct burial and install three 6 gauge wires, Black, White and Green, to give me a decent 30 amp service for my 50 amp coach.

I recently hired an electrician to do a bunch of upgrades around the house and he said that I should forget the 30 amp and upgrade to a 50 amp. So he pulled two 6 gauge Red and Black wires, an 8 gauge White and a 10 gauge Green through the existing conduit. I now have a 50 amp hookup back there.

He is also going to install another new 50 amp RV hookup near the front of my RV Port where my coach will be parked while at our Florida winter home.

I purchased the 50 amp boxes at Home Depot for $28 each.

Bottom-line put in 50 amp whenever you can as it doesn't cost that much more. Basically it is the difference in the cost of the larger gauge wire.

My sister's 30 amp coach is currently hooked up to the rear 50 amp and the new 50 amp for my coach will be finished next week. I am currently using a 15 amp outlet just to keep my batteries charged and the residential fridge running.

Photos are taken from the rear view of our new beach house.

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Old 01-06-2017, 07:16 AM   #9
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We are just getting ready to install electric at our house also for the RV. Really thought we were just going to go with 30amp but guess it is better to go ahead and get 50amp. At the same time, we are wanting to add electric to our shed. Don't need alot of power out there, just enough for a light or the occasional electric plug. My question is - would we need to continue the same gauge wire to the shed or can we go 50amp to the motorhome's electric box and then continue from that box with a smaller gauge wire to the shed? It would be too cost prohibitive to run 50amp all the way to the shed plus don't need that much power out there.
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Old 01-06-2017, 07:17 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dr4Film View Post
I just went through this exercise a few weeks ago. There was a 30 amp RV hookup at the rear of our newly purchased house. The wire was 10 gauge direct burial in a combination of 3/4 and 1 inch conduit.

Due to the length, about 90 feet, I was going to remove the 10 gauge direct burial and install three 6 gauge wires, Black, White and Green, to give me a decent 30 amp service for my 50 amp coach.

I recently hired an electrician to do a bunch of upgrades around the house and he said that I should forget the 30 amp and upgrade to a 50 amp. So he pulled two 6 gauge Red and Black wires, an 8 gauge White and a 10 gauge Green through the existing conduit. I now have a 50 amp hookup back there.

He is also going to install another new 50 amp RV hookup near the front of my RV Port where my coach will be parked while at our Florida winter home.

I purchased the 50 amp boxes at Home Depot for $28 each.

Bottom-line put in 50 amp whenever you can as it doesn't cost that much more. Basically it is the difference in the cost of the larger gauge wire.

My sister's 30 amp coach is currently hooked up to the rear 50 amp and the new 50 amp for my coach will be finished next week. I am currently using a 15 amp outlet just to keep my batteries charged and the residential fridge running.

Photos are taken from the rear view of our new beach house.

Dr4Film ----- Richard
Did he explain using an 8 gauge neutral ?

I understood that each conductor had the potential to carry 50 amps, including the neutral.
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Old 01-06-2017, 07:35 AM   #11
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I installed wire for 50a, but breaker and plug for 30a. Saved a few dollars and would minimize effort/expense for a maybe future upgrade to 50a. I had 30a coach at the time. Now have 50a coach. I've had no urge to upgrade to 50a. Only need for a 50a connection would be if needed two air conditioner operating at the same time.
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Old 01-06-2017, 07:55 AM   #12
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50amp of course, would provide so much more flexibility in the future.

Will have the same electrician labor cost

The wire cost will be more expensive, and the box just slightly more expensive. I built a detached garage, then later decided to add a generator to emergency power the house when we loose power. I put it out in the detached garage, since I had more than enough wire. (Actually getting ready to potentially use it with the snow/ice storm coming tonight!)
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Old 01-06-2017, 08:27 AM   #13
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Originally Posted by olustee bus View Post
Building a carport for my little class C which uses 30amps. I may get an A someday which will require 50amps. Should I go ahead and go with 50 now?
yes...absolutely put in the 50-amp connection...just be sure to do it correctly. 30-yrs ago I put in a 30-amp post next to the drive for our 30-amp MH. we now have a 50-amp MH with no real way to convert the post without tearing up a whole lotta driveway. do yourself a favor and put in a 50-amp post.
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Old 01-06-2017, 09:04 AM   #14
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Too, if it's underground conduit go up a size and pull an extra wire in it for a fish wire for possible future needs.
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