30 AMP service okay to use?

[Cricco]

So, when I built my house 8 years ago, I had a travel trailer. We built a camper port with 30 amp service, hot & cold water and a sewer connection. We are picking up our 2006 Monaco Monarch tomorrow. I've read about 30 amp service being wired wrong for an RV. How can I tell if mine is wired correctly? I don't want to fry my new Monaco. We did have issues with our 1996 Coachmen TT cooking batteries when it was left plugged in, but maybe that was due to the older charging system?

[Sweetbriar]

If it worked with the travel trailer then it should work with the coach. You will be limited on how much stuff that can be turned on at one time. Keep to a single AC. Worse case you'll pop the circuit breaker in the home panel. If you have a meter very easy to check the outlet to ensure the hot, neutral and ground are where they are supposed to be.

Concerning the TT battery boiling, classic symptom of an old technology charging system. The Monarch should be up to date with a three stage charger that will keep the batteries happy.

Also you'll need a power cord adaptor, presuming the Monarch is a 50 amp rig. Commonly called a dog bone. Walmart normally has them in store or your local RV service center.

[Cricco]

Originally Posted by Sweetbriar

If it worked with the travel trailer then it should work with the coach. You will be limited on how much stuff that can be turned on at one time. Keep to a single AC. Worse case you'll pop the circuit breaker in the home panel. If you have a meter very easy to check the outlet to ensure the hot, neutral and ground are where they are supposed to be. Concerning the TT battery boiling, classic symptom of an old technology charging system. The Monarch should be up to date with a three stage charger that will keep the batteries happy. Also you'll need a power cord adaptor, presuming the Monarch is a 50 amp rig. Commonly called a dog bone. Walmart normally has them in store or your local RV service center.

Thank you for responding. So, if the 30 amp service was not installed correctly, I would know already? Meaning, things would burn, pop or break immediately.......correct?

[ChallengerRN]

Originally Posted by Cricco

Thank you for responding. So, if the 30 amp service was not installed correctly, I would know already? Meaning, things would burn, pop or break immediately.......correct?

Exactly!!! Don't ask me how I know !!

Russell

[Kevin J]

Originally Posted by Cricco

Thank you for responding. So, if the 30 amp service was not installed correctly, I would know already? Meaning, things would burn, pop or break immediately.......correct?

If you have a volt meter, you can check your outlet. If you have 120V max. between any of the recept. slots, you should be okay. If you detect 240V with any measurement, then the outlet is wrong for what you are trying to do. I agree with the previous poster that it should be okay since it worked for the trailer, but better safe than sorry. Good luck and congrats on the new coach.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Cricco

Thank you for responding. So, if the 30 amp service was not installed correctly, I would know already? Meaning, things would burn, pop or break immediately.......correct?

Probably not soon enough to prevent damage though!
Be safe and check it first but if it worked OK with the previous rigs it should be OK now.

[rssnape]

Originally Posted by Kevin J

If you have a volt meter, you can check your outlet. If you have 120V max. between any of the recept. slots, you should be okay. If you detect 240V with any measurement, then the outlet is wrong for what you are trying to do. I agree with the previous poster that it should be okay since it worked for the trailer, but better safe than sorry. Good luck and congrats on the new coach.

If you read 240, you can change the receptacle to a 4 prong (50amp) if you also have a neutral wire there. Add a ground by putting in a ground rod near the receptacle. It won't be rated for 50 amp but you will have 2 30 amp legs instead of 1.


1997 Tiffin Allegro Bus 37', Cat 3126

[H. Miller]

50 amp is the system that is easier to get wrong - not 30

[Sweetbriar]

Originally Posted by Cricco

Thank you for responding. So, if the 30 amp service was not installed correctly, I would know already? Meaning, things would burn, pop or break immediately.......correct?

Correct, in that the trailer would have had problems. The problem that can happen is rather than wiring the outlet as a 120VAC (hot, neutral, ground) an Electrician may wire as they would for a dryer or stove with is 240VAC (2 hots, ground). Anything plugged in or turned on such as a roof AC, electric water heater, microwave, clock radio, TV and such operates very hot and/or very fast for a few seconds and then the magic smoke escapes. Very difficult and expensive to get the magic smoke replaced. Since that doesn't sound like it happened I would say your OK for the coach.

What would help is to invest in a surge protector. Can be a bit expensive buy does a lot to protect the coach beyond a power spike. Low voltage which is not good for an AC compressor, high volts, open ground and the worst case for a 50 amp rig the dreaded open neutral. First thing I acquired for my coach and in six years hasn't come off the end of the shore power cable. If the power tastes funny it will shut off power to the coach and display a code telling why. Had several low volt shut downs during the heat of summer and a packed camp ground.

[twinboat]

How they work

[dabrooks]

Originally Posted by H. Miller

50 amp is the system that is easier to get wrong - not 30

I think the 30 amp is easier to get wrong. It can be mis-wired for 240 volts instead of 120 volts. I think the 50 amp would always be wired correctly. I am not a licensed electrician but that is my opinion.

[montyhp]

30 Amp is hot, neutral, ground, just like every receptacle in your house. It can still have open neutral or have the wires switched, but electricians probably won't make this error often.

50 Amp is different for a motor home than, for, say, a welder outlet. It is not just a 120, neutral, ground, or a 240, neutral ground (well that would be odd). It is actually two separate 120v (50A) circuits that are out of phase. They actually deliver 100A (confusing), that is why they are often wired improperly.

[Pexring]

Spend the money on a really good surge protector and you won't have any worries about whether power is correct or not. This one is the best you can buy in my opinion. Cheap insurance.

Progressive industries,Surge protector rv,

[bttravel]

Originally Posted by Pexring

Spend the money on a really good surge protector and you won't have any worries about whether power is correct or not. This one is the best you can buy in my opinion. Cheap insurance.

Progressive industries,Surge protector rv,

Ditto, ditto, ditto!!