Electricity 101 - Reading Recommendations?

[PharmGeek]

May I be clear here and just say that I am not trying to become some kind of make-shift electrician of any sort...

I am not trying to build personally the electrical service at home for my TT, instead I want to be sure that the person I hire does not make any obvious pit-falls and screws stuff up for my TT.

I am indeed ignorant about electricity...my post should make that clear and there is no reason to feel a need to point it out again....

I fail to understand the rationale for the advice to "leave it a mystery and stay alive"...

Alls I want to glean from this conversation is perhaps some basic ROUTINE steps to ensure when I plug in my TT, that its the proper electricity going in...and I want the option to use both at home too..

So I am a bit lost about the advice here...and what you are recommending I leave alone for my safety.

What I need to do is get a proper electrician to install my 50amp service at home.

And I want to be sure I know how to plug in my stuff safely at campgrounds and ensure that proper voltage etc is coming from those sources.

[PharmGeek]

clarification....I do need 50amp service to run both AC's....or at least that is my understanding....

I will leave the question of "do you really need two AC units" for another thread....there is mixed opinions on this it would appear.

[srpuywa]

I use an adapter for the 30 amp to a 15 amp and plug into a regular wall outlet when parked in the driveway, the newer trailer doesn't use much power with LED lights.

[lsbrodsky]

PharmGeek,

I am just trying to save your life. Your questions and comments indicate that you want to know more than you say you do. In the case of AC power a little knowledge is more dangerous than just walking away. I have known journeymen who were injured because they took a shortcut, even though they knew better.
The auto industry came up with the idea of idiot lights because people did not understand what the numbers were telling them. That is why I think the practice of using the lights on a polarity checker is a good practice. It tells you all you need to know for 30 amp service. Unfortunately it does not work the same way for 50 amp service. Unless you know what is behind it, there is no point in poking a voltmeter into the different holes in the socket. I suppose you could buy a 50 to twin 20 or 30 pigtail and use a polarity tester but that is expensive. Just trust the campground.
As for your home, if your electrician does not know what he is doing, get one who does. Other posts above have made that recommendation. Do not try to get smarter than your electrician, although it sounds like that may not be too hard with your guy.
Larry

[panheaddale]

I understand you being a pharmacist that you check and recheck and check again as can be told with 500 plus posts and no trailer yet. Sometimes it is better to leave things to professionals to do. What would you tell people if they came in and told you what medicine and how big a dose they needed. You do not understand electricity and it will get you hurt or killed. If you feel you still must know all about it and not just let it be a mystery then go online and search their are tons of places to find schematics that will show you exactly what you need to do

[Silverflames]

Understanding the basic concepts of home and RV electrical is not that difficult, I would get a basic understanding of how 110 and 220 works VS DC power, then safety rules when working with AC.

Leave the AC work (110 and 220) to some one who is skilled, until you have a good understanding.

I've been following your posts. It sounds like you are buying a AS with 2 AC units. So that should be a 50 AMP service to meet you power needs. You will need a 50 Amp box at your pad. While he is at it, he can pull one more wire and give you a 110 outlet, next to the 220 50 amp outlet. This would be helpful if want to have lights in your car port, run power tools, Etc.

[panheaddale]

Check this link it should answer alot. Covers 30 amp 50 amp and give you information about testers too. RV Electric

[PharmGeek]

patients who take medication benefit from understanding how their medications work in their bodies, potential side effects, what to do to prevent various side effects, recognizing said effects, etc...

Medicine has moved away from an authoritative model...of course ultimately, if you have a heart attack, or a stroke, seeing the proper specialist to advise on treatment is necessary...I would not advise patients to deploy their own cardiac stents at home, etc...but believe me...knowledge is power....

Let me be very clear again...I have no interest in installing ANYTHING electrical myself!!

I only want to be sure that I know how to check the health/function of outlets that I will plug into to avoid damaging my TT or worse...

I also want to have a good idea of what to look for in the case of a electrician/contractor error...

Perhaps I am conveying to some of you more interest in being some kind of electrician than I actually am...

All's I really want to do is properly plug it in and go about my fun, but in the process understand the common reasonable steps to avoiding damage or injury for the RV consumer...

[PharmGeek]

Originally Posted by Silverflames

Understanding the basic concepts of home and RV electrical is not that difficult, I would get a basic understanding of how 110 and 220 works VS DC power, then safety rules when working with AC.

Leave the AC work (110 and 220) to some one who is skilled, until you have a good understanding.

I've been following your posts. It sounds like you are buying a AS with 2 AC units. So that should be a 50 AMP service to meet you power needs. You will need a 50 Amp box at your pad. While he is at it, he can pull one more wire and give you a 110 outlet, next to the 220 50 amp outlet. This would be helpful if want to have lights in your car port, run power tools, Etc.

oh I would love an outlet for like an outdoor fan...in the summer, I sometimes when entertaining bring a large outdoor fan to the patio to cool the area and blow away bugs...right now I run an extension cord through a window to achieve this...annoying as heck. also useful for so many other things related to fooling around in that area...good idea. Thanks.

[PharmGeek]

Originally Posted by panheaddale

Check this link it should answer alot. Covers 30 amp 50 amp and give you information about testers too. RV Electric

perfect...thanks!!

[vswingfield]

Originally Posted by PharmGeek

oh I would love an outlet for like an outdoor fan...in the summer, I sometimes when entertaining bring a large outdoor fan to the patio to cool the area and blow away bugs...right now I run an extension cord through a window to achieve this...annoying as heck. also useful for so many other things related to fooling around in that area...good idea. Thanks.

They are more expensive than just one outlet, but boxes are available that have 50, 30, and 20 amp outlets and proper breakers for all. (The 30 amp outlet could come in handy if you ever have guests.)

See
https://bestconverter.3dcartstores.c...l#.Udx8UzvOkpg

or
RV Power Outlet Box - Multiple Plugs - PPL Motor Homes

[PhilipKS]

Interesting conversation. Thanks! Thanks also for the links. Like PharmGeek, I don't mess with 'lectric, but I do want to know enough to recognize dangerous situations, as well as avoid as much as possible being taken advantage of by a less than ethical 'lectrician. Best advice here: Use a 'Highly Recommended' electrician or contractor.

[Silverflames]

Since we are spending Pharmgeek's money, the multi outlet box would really be the way to go!

[PharmGeek]

the "rv electric" link was a really great link.

Lewster also recommended a surge protector...as did this link....it linked over to this TRC surge guard product...fairly pricey...but an important function I would think.

Im going on amazon to buy some of those basic testing products....that link also described how to test in specific detail the health of the 50amp receptacle .....interestingly they talk about sometimes running into a "fake" 50amp 120/240 outlet, where in there is only one 120 leg...

Great information there and a great reference. Ill be checking out the others as well.

WIll do a bit more research and purchase a surge protector as well....TRC one came highly recommended...

[lylesgl]

Originally Posted by PharmGeek

patients who take medication benefit from understanding how their medications work in their bodies, potential side effects, what to do to prevent various side effects, recognizing said effects, etc...

Medicine has moved away from an authoritative model...of course ultimately, if you have a heart attack, or a stroke, seeing the proper specialist to advise on treatment is necessary...I would not advise patients to deploy their own cardiac stents at home, etc...but believe me...knowledge is power....

Let me be very clear again...I have no interest in installing ANYTHING electrical myself!!

I only want to be sure that I know how to check the health/function of outlets that I will plug into to avoid damaging my TT or worse...

I also want to have a good idea of what to look for in the case of a electrician/contractor error...

Perhaps I am conveying to some of you more interest in being some kind of electrician than I actually am...

All's I really want to do is properly plug it in and go about my fun, but in the process understand the common reasonable steps to avoiding damage or injury for the RV consumer...

I agree with Pharm's approach of becoming an informed consumer. I had an electrician wire a 30 amp outlet outside my home for my TT. He wired a 30 amp 240V outlet. Fortunately I was smart enough to conduct some research, purchase a voltmeter and test the outlet BEFORE I plugged in. Turned out he was an idiot. I had to email him info on what he needed to do. He returned and wired the outlet correctly. Maybe "idiot" is too strong a term...he was "uninformed"...

[PharmGeek]

MAN, are we glad you did not plug that in

Actually, out of sheer curiosity...what would happen :O ?

[A W Warn]

This thread prompted me to read some owners manuals on Airstream's website. I learned that trailers with two AC units may have a 50 amp service. I did not realize this was an option. The verbiage in the manual is regarding 120v breakers on distribution circuits. What the manuals do not state is if the main breaker is 120v or 240v. Will someone enlighten me?

[Silverflames]

Originally Posted by PharmGeek

MAN, are we glad you did not plug that in

Actually, out of sheer curiosity...what would happen :O ?

It would/could burn ip a bunch of stuff, like the fridge board, inverter, fan motors, etc...

[panheaddale]

Originally Posted by A W Warn

This thread prompted me to read some owners manuals on Airstream's website. I learned that trailers with two AC units may have a 50 amp service. I did not realize this was an option. The verbiage in the manual is regarding 120v breakers on distribution circuits. What the manuals do not state is if the main breaker is 120v or 240v. Will someone enlighten me?

Read RV Electric

[Skater]

Originally Posted by Silverflames

It would/could burn ip a bunch of stuff, like the fridge board, inverter, fan motors, etc...

More like the converter, microwave, air conditioner, fridge 120 volt side, etc. Not as much the 12 volt stuff.