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Old 09-06-2008, 03:20 PM   #1
Marc Morgan
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Connection to house

I'm a new 3400RL owner. We have the unit at home and would like to plug it in and use it. I know its a 50amp 4 prong coming out , but can I plug that in( with proper adapter) to a 110 socket and power everything or do I need 220? I know I can get an adapter but if I need to make a new socket to plug in( outside weather proof) might as well make one that will run air conditioner and everything else. I already have a 50 amp circuit breaker but it just goes to a 220 socket.

Thanks
Marc
 
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Old 09-06-2008, 03:31 PM   #2
sailer
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Marc you have to talk to a elerctrian ,spelling,, you have to wire in a true 50 amp plug ,, it will take #8 or #19 wire and a seperate breaker for this , its not 220 ,, that will blow up the unit,, they can tell you how to do it but it will come from the breaker box ,, if you don't like working in the hot box get a pro to do it , at least you will be alive when he is done,, i ran omly a 30 amp to mine as are you living in it with 2 air cond or just running the freg etc ,,, sailer
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Old 09-06-2008, 03:33 PM   #3
Emmel
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First of all Marc, welcome to the MOC forum.
Our Montana also is a 50amp, but I just use the 50 to 30 amp reducer and hook up to a 30 amp outlet that was installed purposefully for the Montana. This 30amp outlet in on it's own breaker, but it is a 120volt. This will run the air and anything else we want to run without over burdening the breaker.
I had this circuit put in when we had our house built, also a sewer and a water hookup.
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Old 09-06-2008, 03:40 PM   #4
kdeiss
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All you need is a 50 Amp female to a 30 Amp Male adapter $18.00 at Camping World
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Old 09-06-2008, 03:44 PM   #5
HughM
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Marc, If you are going 50 amp then you must have 6/4 wire. 4 wires of 6 gauge. It's not that hard if you know what you are doing.
Don't let someone sell you 8/4 wire or smaller.
Hugh
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Old 09-06-2008, 04:02 PM   #6
Imp
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We have a 50 amp to 30 amp cord (bought at Camping World) and then put a 30 to 20 adapter on the 30 amp hookup and plugged into the 110. You just have to be very careful what you use or have running at one time. We were able to use the fireplace or hair dryer or microwave or toaster, but no two together.
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Old 09-06-2008, 04:11 PM   #7
Waynem
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Marc,
This is for INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES

When I had the 3400RL I had a 50amp to 115 pig tail I purchased at the dealer. I also had 30 to 50 for that occasional CG that did not have 50amp.

When sitting here in the driveway I would use the 50 to 115 and plug into the regular extension cord going into the garage. I could run 1 air conditioner and some lights in the Hanna and the television. To many at one time would trip the house 20 amp circuit breaker. Running a vacuum cleaner would trip it and running a coffee pot on the same line would trip it. Once I got used to what I could and could not use I kept it cool in there anytime I had it in the driveway.

I had an electrician come in and install a 50Amp service. He went by the directions in the link above, but he knew ahead of time how to do it. I stood beside him when he metered the receptacle so that I was sure of the voltage and polarity.

Good luck, and having 50Amp installed is well worth the investment. Just think, you can invite other MOC'ers to come visit!!!!!



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Old 09-06-2008, 04:37 PM   #8
fulltimedreamer
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Marc,

The 50 Amp RV plug is a standard 120/240 3 pole 4 wire grounding service. From each of the hots to ground is 120 volts. Across the two hots you will measure 240 volts. In an RV you use the two hots to feed 120 volts to each leg of your RV electrical service panel. Use the link Wayne gave above and you will be fine. Be sure to look at the chart to determine the size wire you need.
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Old 09-06-2008, 05:55 PM   #9
bsmeaton
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Mark,

I run mine on 20A from the house all the time. I just use the adapter to 30A, than another to 20A. It is barely enought to run the AC.

I had a 100' cord on a reel for the yard and used it to plug in the monty. It overheated because it was coiled and the heat couldn't escape, and it took nearly 3 hours for that cord to quit burning once I threw it in the grass . Moral of the story - I bought a heftier cord at Home depot to get the full 20A benefit.
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Old 09-06-2008, 06:33 PM   #10
mtheo
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Mark
Your plug is a 50 amp 240 volt system, that being said you can run most of it on a 30 amp 120 volt circuit with no problem. Try running your A/C for very long on a light/long cord and a 20 amp circuit and you can damage the motor due to voltage drop. If you are going to run the A/C be sure to at least use a 30 amp cord, which is #10 wire.
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Old 09-07-2008, 01:47 AM   #11
Marc Morgan
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Thanks to all!!! You were a big help.
Marc
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Old 09-07-2008, 04:06 AM   #12
Waynem
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A minimum of 12 AWG for 120 V. (Remember that the higher the AWG number, the smaller the wire - typical garden extension cords are 14 AWG and that is not good enough.)

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Old 09-07-2008, 04:23 AM   #13
ols1932
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Marc,
It's no problem to connect your rig to a 20-amp, 115-volt receptacle with the proper adapters (from 50- to 30-, 30- to 15/20-amp). We did it all the time when we were still living in our stick house. And, we do it when hooked to our Honda 2000. You won't be able to run your AC for any length of time, however because of not enough current.

You don't need to be an electrician to do this. It's just a matter of plugging in using the adapters.

Orv
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Old 09-07-2008, 06:30 AM   #14
dsprik
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So I need 6-4 wire for a 90 ft run for 50 amp service - not 6-3?
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Old 09-07-2008, 06:57 AM   #15
ols1932
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by dsprik

So I need 6-4 wire for a 90 ft run for 50 amp service - not 6-3?
Dave,
Sounds good to me.

Orv
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Old 09-07-2008, 09:06 AM   #16
dsprik
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Thanks, Orv. Someone told me incorrectly...
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Old 09-07-2008, 10:10 AM   #17
cmp-shooter
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I had an electrician install on the rear of my home a 30 amp outlet[box] and I have the 50amp cord stretched out and with a 50 to 30 amp adapter I add 2- 30 amp cords..50 footers and this runs all I need for back yard camping....OH YEA also I had the cable guy hook me up a box[next to 30amp box] with the cable connection and had a 100 foot cable with gets to RV and have nice 2 TV cable.................
this rids me of SOME of the guilt of not being able to use the Monte as much as I'd like
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Old 09-07-2008, 01:57 PM   #18
bsmeaton
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Dave, 6-3 for 50A would be correct for an household applicaton such as a range - however, RV and Mobile homes require a separate neutral and ground, so they use a different plug type and 6-4 would be correct.
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Old 09-07-2008, 02:26 PM   #19
dsprik
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by bsmeaton

Dave, 6-3 for 50A would be correct for an household applicaton such as a range - however, RV and Mobile homes require a separate neutral and ground, so they use a different plug type and 6-4 would be correct.
Thanks for the clarification, Brad. May have saved me some money on the wrong wire... or from worse
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Old 09-07-2008, 07:12 PM   #20
skypilot
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If you already have purchased the cable, Save some money and use the 6/3 but then run a separate 6 (or 4) common in the same conduit.
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