Follow up question to the 30Amp Service

[Starstream]

I didn't want to highjack the other thread but I have a follow up question;

Is there a difference between a 50Amp outlet at a campsite and the house? My breaker box at the house uses double pull breakers for 50Amp outlets. Is it the same for a campsite-- A double pull breaker?

Since I am redoing the trailers electric control systems (breaker box, fuse box, transfer switch, converter and inverter). Should I put in a system to handle 50Amp service?

I know this may open a can of worms. I would like to know and get as much information for the best, longest lasting complete electrical junction set up I should purchase and install? Reading through several of the threads, I see advantages for all-in-one units and also for getting separate units.

Our AS is a 1979 31' with a single A/C unit. We will use the AS for weekend getaways. Longer trips up to a month a few times a year. We would like to be able to set up for boondocking and campsites with only having to leave the area for trailer dumping and refill for water and LP.

We would like to be able to integrate a solar system as time goes on and use sets of 6volt golf cart batteries. We would also like to get a pair of inverter generators (minimum of 2,000 watts each) and convert them to be used with LP.

[DKB_SATX]

Unless you are planning to add a 2nd AC unit, I don't think you get much for upgrading to 50A. You get to carry a stiffer, heavier, more-expensive power cord, basically.

[clancy_boy]

30A service box added to you existing home panel box - depending on the length of cable run - would be under $100 in parts. It's a DYI if you are comfortatble working in the breaker panel box. Did mine in the garage in under an hour and the AS loves the setup. It's nice for visitors.

[Wayward]

If I was rewiring I would go "50amp". Why?...... (or really, why not?)

"50amp service" really means "220v service" in RV talk.

"30amp service" really means "110v service" in RV talk.

30 amp RV service brings in one hot wire and the neutral to your exterior plug, giving you the ability to install a 110v "breaker box" and draw a maximum total of 30amps through your various "single pole" breakers. So you have (30 x110) or 3300 watts of power to use as needed.

50 amp RV service brings in 2 hot wires and the neutral to your exterior plug, giving you the ability to install a 220v "breaker box" like in your house, with 2 banks of circuit breakers. You can mix and match 110v breakers and 220v breakers. So you have (50 x 220) or 11,000 watts of power to use as needed.

The 50amp/220v setup provides you over three times as much power vs the 30amp/110v setup for very little extra hardware.

You could for example put a 110v AC unit on each bank and be OK. Or you have the option of installing 220v appliances like a tankless water heater.

Only if you wanted a 220v appliance, would you have to put a "double pole" breaker in.

You would have the option of putting your "essential" 110v circuits on one bank and power it from a 30amp-only campsite with a 30amp cord (or a 50amp cord with adapter). You could then have "bonus circuits" (like espresso machine, icemaker, or hot water dispenser) on the other bank to use when there is 50amp service available and use a 50amp cord.

[Minno]

Starstream,

(Cool name btw - we owned a Starstream trailer before we bought the Airstream. )

To answer your question, yes, the campground post will have a double breaker for the 50 Amp outlet. Likewise, if you have 50 Amp service in your RV, the main 50 Amp breaker will be a double breaker.

30 Amp service use a single breaker for the campground post and the RV main breaker.

Chris