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Old 10-24-2010, 06:55 AM   #1
maxmorrow
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Need help installing 50 amp outlet on breaker box

I have my fifth wheel parked at a campground at the lake that has a 30amp and a 20amp outlet. The owner of the campground said I could move the 20 amp over and remove the 30 amp breaker and install a 50 amp breaker and put an 50 amp outlet below the current box. The breaker box has 200 amp coming into it. Has anyone installed a 50 amp outlet that can confirm this is correct. Thanks John
 
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Old 10-24-2010, 08:00 AM   #2
NCFischers
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If you do not know what you are doing and need to ask this question, have a competant electrician do it. Just thinking that you can work with electric can hurt or kill you and do extensive damage to your trailer. In my opinion, the owner of the campground needs to have his head examined if he lets people fool with the power pedestals.
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Old 10-24-2010, 08:13 AM   #3
kdeiss
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I agree this is a job for an electrician.
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Old 10-24-2010, 08:14 AM   #4
garyka
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I would think the owner would have a qualified electrician.
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Old 10-24-2010, 10:24 AM   #5
HamRad
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We installed a 50 amp RV outlet at our home. I did not do it and would NOT try to do it myself. My brother is a qualified electrician. I helped pull the wires and generally was a "gofer". Even after watching him and helping him install the thing I still would not attempt to do it by myself.

Good luck.
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Old 10-24-2010, 10:49 AM   #6
kdeiss
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by maxmorrow

I have my fifth wheel parked at a campground at the lake that has a 30amp and a 20amp outlet. The owner of the campground said I could move the 20 amp over and remove the 30 amp breaker and install a 50 amp breaker and put an 50 amp outlet below the current box. The breaker box has 200 amp coming into it. Has anyone installed a 50 amp outlet that can confirm this is correct. Thanks John
Is their any one else that share this 200 amp Panel?
Normaly their is a 200 Amp panel in the park that is shared with other camp sites.

I am thinking this 200 amp service is not only yours

200 amp service is used in an all electric home and can support more than one camp site

So I am thinking your pedastal is supplied from the 200 Amp Service and the ? is will the wire from the main to the pedistel support 50 AMP
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Old 10-24-2010, 10:58 AM   #7
maxmorrow
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My own breaker box and power meter.
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Old 10-24-2010, 12:06 PM   #8
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50 amp service is actually 100 amp service - two 50 amp circuits. Combining a 30 amp and a 20 amp may get you 50 amps, but you will have 20 on one leg and 30 on the other leg, and that is if they are out of phase. If they aren't, then you'd be pulling 50 amps through wires originally installed to handle the highest rated plug in the pedestal - 30 amps.

Get the park owner to call his electrician and have him do the wiring and charge it to the campground. You can pay the owner (he'd probably like this idea if he wants to expense the job on his taxes). This way, if somethng does go wrong and the campground burns down, you won't be on the hook. JMO
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Old 10-25-2010, 01:54 PM   #9
Waynem
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The owner is crazy to let a customer undertake such a modifications. I'll bet his insurance company would cancel him in a flash if they knew.

Think about it. One is 20A, and one is 30A. What would change that to 50A. As Michael stated, you may still not achieve 50 Amp with doing what you want to do.

My personal opinion is to just get a "dog bone" 30 to 50 and run 30A. Why do you need 50 this time of year?
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Old 10-27-2010, 03:34 PM   #10
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This is not something to be done by someone who doesn't already know. 30AMP is one 110V. For 50AMP you need bigger wire, and you are getting two 50AMP 110V circuits. If the neutral is not right, you will send 220V into your ride and fry everything.

I agree with Michael, let the owner hire a electrician, tell him you will pay for it. My guess it will be around $500-$600.
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Old 10-28-2010, 03:00 AM   #11
Tom S.
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I think some folks might be missing the point here. As I read it, the OP didn't say the owner told hm to combine the 20amp and 30amp, he said to move them and add a 50 amp below them. He also said there is 200 amps at the panel. Adding a 50 amp plug shouldn't be difficult, and I would guess the cost to be under $200 by a licensed electrician. But I do agree with everyone about using an electrician. Not only will that protect you from possibly getting injured, it will also keep the owner from coming back on you if something goes wrong.
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Old 10-28-2010, 04:13 AM   #12
maxmorrow
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Tom, you're the only one that understood what I meant. I never said that I personally was going to do the work...The campground owner simply gave me permission to have it done. Just wanted to know if anyone had done it? It will be just like at the many campgrounds that have a 30amp and a 50amp outlet on the same pole. I do have 200 amp service since my meter is the only one that comes from that transformer and yes, I will have certified electrician do the work. Thanks for all the information.
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Old 10-28-2010, 11:57 AM   #13
snfexpress
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Max,

Please understand that our comments, for the majority and ours for sure, are meant kindly and to keep fellow members from finding themselves in the muck, or to help get them out of it. Sorry if I didn't understand about the 30 and 20, but it is a relatively common question: can both plugs be combined to provide 50 amps?

Also, since the CG owner gave you permission to hire an electrician, I would still suggest that he contract with the person and you pay the CG owner - just another way to put another layer of insulation between you and any liability from the work to be done.

At any rate, good luck to you!
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