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Old 02-27-2019, 01:43 PM   #1
Rsc373
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New Campsite upgrade to 50amp

Okay I’m kinda handy but this has me a leery. DW and I are moving to a new campsite we were originally told it had 50amp service but then later we were told no it only has 30amp. Also they said we could out 50amp service in, and most folks do it themselves!����

So I went to the new site this morning and there is a 30amp and the normal 120v plugs in the box, (its not even a GFCI). I haven’t taken the cover off to see what’s going on inside of it. The question is how big of a deal is this gonna be to do on my own or should i just bite the bullet and pay an electrician to do it?

And now thinking about it, since the 120 isn’t GFCI should one just buy one of those 30amp and 15amp adapters and call it done?
 
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Old 02-27-2019, 02:19 PM   #2
jcurtis934
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My initial reaction is to say find another campground. Putting your own 100 amp service in is not a wise thing to do. Makes you totally responsible for any damages. There would have to be two legs of 120vac at 50 amps each leg already in the pedistal, a new front plate with 50 amp recepticle, 30 amp recepticle, and 120 gfci recepticle would have to be installed in place of what's there. And why should you pay for or do this work, which is illegal for you to do? An easy way to set yourself up for future legal troubles IF you weren't killed in the attempt to do it.
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Old 02-27-2019, 02:53 PM   #3
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First, is this a site you bought?
If yes, then at least get an estimate from an electrician to upgrade it.

I am willing to bet the wire feeding it is too small. Plus you need 2 hots a neutral and a ground. Those may not even be there.

If you are going to be there in the summer, you will sorely miss not being able to run 2 ACs. So a 30-50 Amp dogbone is temporary at best.

And if your DW is anything like mine, she will be very adapt at tripping a 30 Amp breaker
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Old 02-27-2019, 03:24 PM   #4
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No we didn’t buy the site, it’s a seasonal site 6 of us have moved together.

And yes we are very worried about not being able to run both AC units. Our old campsite was 30amp and was full thick shade all day so we could get by with only one AC. This new spot, I’m gonna bet will be partial shade in the afternoon at best.
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Old 02-27-2019, 03:32 PM   #5
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First I would ask the "other folks" who have done it themselves.
Then hire someone like they probably did.
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Old 02-27-2019, 03:32 PM   #6
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I am not an electrician. But as a retired electrical engineer and as someone who has done some 120/240 residential type electrical installation I would not touch it. With only a 30 amp outlet currently there it is doubtful it had the necessary 4 wire 120/240 wiring to that box. And likely wire is not large enough to carry 50 amps.

And as mentioned, too many legal issues.

If you need 50 amps and they will not install it for you, find a new place to move.
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Old 02-27-2019, 03:50 PM   #7
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Originally Posted by BB_TX View Post
I am not an electrician. But as a retired electrical engineer and as someone who has done some 120/240 residential type electrical installation I would not touch it. With only a 30 amp outlet currently there it is doubtful it had the necessary 4 wire 120/240 wiring to that box. And likely wire is not large enough to carry 50 amps.

And as mentioned, too many legal issues.

If you need 50 amps and they will not install it for you, find a new place to move.
Great advice!
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Old 02-27-2019, 05:32 PM   #8
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I am an electrician...don’t do it!
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Old 02-27-2019, 05:42 PM   #9
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You don’t say where this is located weather wise. If the weather is not too hot, you can get by on 30 amps. Once trailer is cooled down, the 15k rear A/C on ours will keep the trailer cool if temps are 95 degrees or lower, and maybe at least some shade. But then ours is only about a 35’ rig.

BUT. It can also be annoying, because you will have to manage power carefully. If runnng A/C you will probably have to run water heater on propane. A/C plus water heater plus microwave or other high current device such as clothes dryer will likely trip a 30 amp breaker. No real problem as you just reset the breaker and try not to do the same again. But still annoying.
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Old 02-27-2019, 09:07 PM   #10
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What RV park is this? so we can avoid it!!
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Old 02-28-2019, 06:33 AM   #11
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PNW said it all.
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Old 03-06-2019, 07:51 PM   #12
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Originally Posted by rohrmann View Post
What RV park is this? so we can avoid it!!
Agree 110%
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Old 03-07-2019, 12:57 AM   #13
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And the rv park is where?
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Old 03-07-2019, 05:00 AM   #14
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Simply the fact that there is no GFCI indicates to me that everything is ancient. I would require THEM to update it or I would move on.
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Old 03-07-2019, 07:11 AM   #15
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You can't just turn 30 amp service to 50 amp service by moving some wires and changing the receptacle. If the park only has 30 amp service that's what it was wired for when it was built. They not going to wire a park with 50 amp service and only install 30 amp receptacles at the power poles. At the very least before you move have a licensed electrician come out to the park and inspect the the wiring in power pole for condition of the wiring, what gauge it is and the type of service that s feeding the park. The park might not even be up to code. That's why they probably are telling you to do it. They don't want to open a can of worms by having an electrician come out and finding faulting unsafe wiring at the park.
I do not stay at any park that doesn't have 50 service. I heard some newer parks being built now are installing 100 amp service to handle the larger rigs that now have 3 A/C's
Hopefully you have a surge protector but you can damage all the appliances in you rig with low voltage. I would find another park...
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Old 03-07-2019, 07:41 AM   #16
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If others have done their own upgrade I don't want to be there. Sounds like low voltage and fire are real potential problems.
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