50 amp pedestal for RV at home

[kingdaddy]

FINALLY gonna be moving into our new home (after 6 months in the Montana) and we will have RV access/parking on the property! Woohoo!!
I want to install a pedestal with a 50 amp service toward the rear of the RV access driveway. Probably about 50-75 ft. from the 200 amp panel on the side of the house.
I would appreciate any advice from those who have done something similar before hiring an electrician. Anything particular to be concerned with (other than hiring a competent, licensed electrician of course!)?

[DQDick]

I got a standard RV box from a big box store so at our Kansas RV home base we have 50ams for us, 30amps for a neighbor and a couple of 20amp outlets for other stuff. Just make sure the electrician understands 50amp RV service and wires it correctly.

[Dam Worker]

I second what Dick says. Proper wire size is critical to avoid a drop in voltage and making sure it is 110 going into the unit and not 220 although depending on the panel bringing power out to the panel in the form of 220 can reduce wire size. Your electrician should know what to do and make sure he understands the units are 110v.
I may run some wire out of my pool shed where I have a 220 v 100 amp panel and it would be a short run. Probably should have put in a sewer pipe before traveling but still could do that before paving.

Congratulations on your new home and the foresight to plan for power to your Montana.

Tom Marty

[kingdaddy]

Thanks for the advice! I am pretty familiar with the basics of the electrical work needed, but not an electrician and although willing to help with the project, I don't want to tackle it myself. I'm also wondering if I will need to get a permit for the work? Gotta check on that too...

[Bill.vannuys]

My in-laws in California (Pasadena) need permits for everything; different than here in Leavenworth County.

Congratulations on what sounds like a great set-up!

[NCFischers]

Run a 60 amp 4 wire circuit to your pedestal (6-3 with ground). An outdoor box and a 240 volt stove outlet with a weatherproof cover will work. Put it on a 2 pole 50 amp breaker. At the distance you are talking about, voltage drop shouldn't be an issue.

[BB_TX]

A competent electrician should be able to wire it properly. But here is a good source for RV wiring you could print and hand him.

myrv.us/electric

[mlh]

Like someone said make sure you have it wired for 110 and not 220. It's an easy mistake to make.
Lynwood

[BB_TX]

Just to be clear. 50 amp is actually 220 vac service with two separate 120 vac hot legs. Normally some things in the RV operate off of one 120 vac hot leg and some things off the other 120 vac hot leg. This is no different than standard house wiring. Some hgh end RVs actually do have some 220 vac appliances that can operate from the 220 vac available from the 50 amp source.

[richfaa]

We hired a local Electrician and told him we wanted a RV 50 amp hookup.He knew exactly what we wanted and the proper way to do it. Been there since 2006 Montana hooked up to it now.

[kingdaddy]

Great advice and reminders! Thanks guys...
My contribution will probably be to trench and run the conduit. Of course I will assist with pulling the wire and helping make connections etc. but I want a licensed electrician's name and sig on the permit (and to make sure it's done correctly too).
Yes, I will check the voltage etc before I plug in, but I also have my P.I. HW50C to help me there...just in case!

[richfaa]

quote:Originally posted by NCFischers

Run a 60 amp 4 wire circuit to your pedestal (6-3 with ground). An outdoor box and a 240 volt stove outlet with a weatherproof cover will work. Put it on a 2 pole 50 amp breaker. At the distance you are talking about, voltage drop shouldn't be an issue.

Jim is a certified licensed electrician. We had a certified licensed electrician install our 50 amp service at our S&B and he did exactly as Jim's post says.

[Ragtacker]

I dug the ditch ran the the cable put the yellow attention cable buried tape down filled the ditch and called my electrician to hook it up. Me and electicity are mortal enemies.

[kingdaddy]

So you're saying you did direct burial? I was planning on going with 1 inch conduit and #4 wire since I will be at around 75 ft or so...also need room for the #12 wires for the 20 amp service. The research continues...

[Mark N.]

I did my own, however I went with 30A. I would never need both A/C units running at once, and 30 has been just fine. It's simple wiring, just 2 110V legs. It's soooo nice to have things powered up when I need them, and to be able to cool it down when I'm loading at home or cleaning. I've had guests stay in it several times too. You'll love it.

[NCFischers]

If you run the wire in conduit (which I recommend) use 3 #6 and 1 #8 for the ground. Don't use 6-3 with ground as the outer sheath around the wire will hold in heat. The individual wires will be able to dissapate any heat. You can run 3 #12 wires also for your 120 volt GFCI protected outlet. This should be on a separate 20 amp circuit breaker. you might want to use 1 1/4 inch conduit as it will be easier to pull the wires. As i mentioned before, you won't have a significant voltage drop at that distance. If you have any questions, PM or e-mail me.

[mtheo]

Just to be sure everybody is on line. The 50 amp service on these and other rigs is 220 volts not 110 volts. as mention by a couple of you. Now the 30 amp service is 110 volts. Had a friend wire his plug to a 30 amp, 220 volt dryer plug with bad results, about $6,000.00 damage to trailer

[Dam Worker]

Mark can you explain what your saying a bit better. You say our units are 220 but than you say your friend wired his 30amp to a 220 with bad results. I have not found any 220 amp breakers or recepticles on my unit. I thought I had two 110v legs into my converter but it was never wired to be 220 v. I think some of the newest rigs are 70 or 80 amp and they are running three AC's etc.

Tom Marty

[BB_TX]

Just to be clear. 50 amp is actually 220 vac service with two separate 120 vac hot legs. Normally some things in the RV operate off of one 120 vac hot leg and some things off the other 120 vac hot leg. This is no different than standard house wiring. Some hgh end RVs actually do have some 220 vac appliances that can operate from the 220 vac available from the 50 amp source.

Edit: This is weird. I posted this yesterday on page 1. And suddenly it has appeared again today on page 2. But timely I guess as it addresses the immediately preceding post on this page.

[mjammersc]

Just installed a 30A service plug in my garage for when we are loading, unloading, cleaning, etc. I had been using the 15A plug to prep but last time I popped the breaker as some stuff on the same circuit got used. It'll be nice to have the stand alone 30A so I can run an AC too to help cool it off while loading it up. No long term staying allowed in my neighborhood so no need for the 50A for me.

As was posted earlier, just follow the instructions on the myrv.com link - it is pretty straight forward if you have ever done any wiring otherwise go with a pro.