50 Amp Power Pedestal for My RV

[BFlinn181]

Originally Posted by CountryB

What gauge wire did your electrician use? The 6-gauge as suggested by the other poster?

How far is your main power source (the panel you connected to) from the 50A panel you plug into to?

I am curious as to what gauge wire you used. The longer the conductor (wire) the more voltage drop there will be which means the conductor needs to be "up sized" when the length reaches some number. I don't know that number is. I'm sure there is a chart somewhere.

I want to have a 50A panel added for my coach, but the distance from my house panel to coach location will be around 125ft.

Here's one calculator, it says 4 AWG copper for 120v, 50 A, 125'
Wire Size Calculator

[twinboat]

I used that calculator, using 240 volts, 50 amps. At 125 feet it calculated 6 gauge copper.

120 volt service wouldn't give you 2 hot legs or the correct outlet.

[BFlinn181]

Originally Posted by twinboat

I used that calculator, using 240 volts, 50 amps. At 125 feet it calculated 6 gauge copper.

120 volt service wouldn't give you 2 hot legs or the correct outlet.

The calculator only suggests wire gauge, not the number of conductors. When I look at RV 50 amp extension cords, a 30' cord is 6 AWG. The length needed by CountryB was 125'. This is why I suggested in post #2 if you have questions, have a professional wire the new circuit. You're wiring a 240v 125' line to a pedestal, then splitting it to get RV 50 amp service.

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by BFlinn181

The calculator only suggests wire gauge, not the number of conductors. When I look at RV 50 amp extension cords, a 30' cord is 6 AWG. The length needed by CountryB was 125'. This is why I suggested in post #2 if you have questions, have a professional wire the new circuit. You're wiring a 240v 125' line to a pedestal, then splitting it to get RV 50 amp service.

Rubber covered cords run hotter, so they use heavier gauge wire then wire in conduit.

The 240 volts doesn't stop at the outside outlet, it runs right thru to the RVs breaker panel. It's there that the double pole, main breaker feeds the 2 buss bars that splits it out to 120 volt legs.

I do agree that an electrician is the best way to go, if there is any doubt.