Home 30 amp connection?

[CraigBorden]

Anyone out there run a 30 amp circuit solely for their trailer/RV at home? I've priced out the materials and it's actually not too bad so I think I'm going to go ahead and do it.
I've sadly got a 40 to 50 foot run from my panel to driveway but I still think it will worth it to have a full 30 amp connecting there for the trailer

[Jmooney]

It will need to be a dedicated circuit at 30amps. None of your household wiring ( feeding outlets & lighting) are suitable for 30amps

[Dagwood]

I just use my 15A service. I don't plan to live in the TT while at home and thus won't need the AC, but I've run my TV, Fridge and Lights off the 15A no problem.

When we get ready for trips, we fire up the fridge to get it cold before hitting the road.

Mind you I do realize you have a Much larger rig to power up.

[Camping Couple]

Originally Posted by CraigBorden

Anyone out there run a 30 amp circuit solely for their trailer/RV at home? I've priced out the materials and it's actually not too bad so I think I'm going to go ahead and do it.
I've sadly got a 40 to 50 foot run from my panel to driveway but I still think it will worth it to have a full 30 amp connecting there for the trailer

Go for it!! I did the same thing at my house 2 yrs ago. It was the best thing I ever did. You'll need the 30amp RV outlet, 10-2 wire and a single pole 30 amp breaker. I got all my materials at Lowes for less than $100.

Good luck

[AKGperson]

We have a 15A outlet box in the island (we have a circular driveway) in front of our house and I always plug in the TT when it's parked out front. It runs the AC fine without tripping the breaker even with a few lights and television on. I always wire outlets with 12 gauge wire so I may switch out the 15A breaker with a 20A if it starts tripping.

[VicS1950]

I would install a GFCI even though many (most?) campground 30 amp receptacles don't have them. I haven't priced it lately, but 30 amp GFI breakers traditionally are pretty expensive. Some might tell you that a GFCI is not necessary, but it gives extra safety. Check your local codes.

A 30 amp receptacle is a one trick pony so not convenient for other cord connected tools like leaf blowers, etc. If the 30 amp receptacle isn't GFI protected you set up an unsafe condition if using a 30 amp to 20 amp adapter to feed cord connected devices.

As others have mentioned already, a 20 amp circuit is plenty even when running a single A/C unit.

I suggest that you consider mounting a pedestal fed by a 20 amp GFI receptacle. The 20 amp GFI feed thru receptacle can be mounted near your power panel to be kept inside out of the elements. You can then mount a weatherproof 20 amp duplex receptacle and 30 amp RV receptacle on the camper pedestal. That way you get the benefit of GFI protection, a handy pedestal duplex receptacle, and convenient RV plug-in. Of course you could also just use an adapter to avoid buying a 30 amp receptacle.

For a 40 - 50 foot run I would still use #10 awg wire if running the A/C is anticipated.

FWIW. vic

[DocBrown]

I've been wanting to do this for a long time. I don't see a downside to it.

[DieselX]

If you have the space in your breaker box for the extra breaker, it's fairly easy. If not, it's a hassle. I put a pad up at my father in laws house complete with a sewer connection, that was easy too. Just told him he needed a cleanout anyway lol.

[NC Roamer]

I had a contractor set a 30 amp pedestal, put in a dump station and tie it to the septic tank and set a yard hydrant by the RV pad. When I thought of all the aggravation it will save me over the next 20-25 years, it was an easy decision.

[Newbie31UL]

We already had a dedicated 30 amp RV plug in our garage when we bought our condo. Unfortunately, our recently purchased 32 ft Precept won't fit in our driveway. So it's pretty much useless to us. The RV would stick out into the street 4 ft. Oh well, the plug was already there, I didn't have to pay for it to be installed.

[mets721]

I did it a couple of weeks ago. Like Camping Couple said, it's fairly cheap and I got everything from Lowe's as well. If you have a newer camper it probably already has GCFI in it. If that's the case you do not need an expensive GFI breaker. You don't want to have to GFI's on one circuit, they will cause unnecessary trips. A single pole 30A breaker is all that is needed. Good Luck!

[VicS1950]

Originally Posted by mets721

... If you have a newer camper it probably already has GCFI in it. If that's the case you do not need an expensive GFI breaker.

Those GFI receptacles do nothing for added safety of the pedestal 30 amp receptacle itself.

Originally Posted by mets721

...You don't want to have two GFI's on one circuit, they will cause unnecessary trips.

I hear this old wives tale all the time. Can you provide references?

If that theory is always true, please explain to me how all the RV's with multiple installed GFI receptacles plug in and operate on a 20 amp GFI protected outdoor receptacle using a 20 amp to 30 amp adapter. Isn't that putting multiple GFI's in series? Many RV's are fed/adapted off 20 amp GFI receptacle circuits when parked at home without any problems.

All newer hot air hair dryer units come with built in GFI protection which is plugged in to bathroom GFI circuits without issue.

Originally Posted by mets721

... A single pole 30A breaker is all that is needed. Good Luck!

That may be true, but your local electrical codes may require that all new outdoor receptacles be GFI protected for the added safety it provides. vic

[mets721]

The NEC code states that only 15A and 20A circuits have to have GFI in certain areas. It says nothing about 30A unless it's temporary power. If you want to put in a 30A GFI breaker, then go ahead. I'm just stating what I did. My RV has GFI and I didn't not feel that an additional GFI breaker is needed.

[skidoorider]

It is well worth the effort and expense. I actually install 2 outlets. One on the carport where we park our trailer and a second one in our garage so I can hook it up when the trailer is in the driveway for maintenance.

[VicS1950]

Originally Posted by mets721

The NEC code states that only 15A and 20A circuits have to have GFI in certain areas. It says nothing about 30A unless it's temporary power. If you want to put in a 30A GFI breaker, then go ahead. I'm just stating what I did. My RV has GFI and I didn't not feel that an additional GFI breaker is needed.

This discussion is for a home installation, not a dedicated campground pedestal that includes both a 30 amp and a 20 amp GFI protected convenience receptacle. I still think that the possibility of someone using that handy 30 amp to 20 amp adapter from their camper to run power tools in wet conditions is a real possibility.

Some people don't keep in mind that the NEC is actually a minimum requirement. Apparently you met your local codes.

The NEC does not require GFI outlets on RV circuits but some municipalities do. As I suggested, the local codes should be checked.

vic

[tugboat95]

My garage has a 40 amp circuit in it. I just plug into an outlet just inside my door. I over did the wiring when I bought the house to handle any load I out on it. My compressor is on a dedicated 30 amp circuit. Original circuit Would not run it and a table saw at the same time. So I split them. I also have a dedicated 60 amp circuit powering an out building and pool. I can tap in there if needed, but I have to turn off the pool pump.

[hoppers4]

What Camping Couple said. It's easy and cheap enough to run your own dedicated 30 amp circuit from your breaker box. You may have to go to an electrical shop to find a 30 amp box and outlet but the rest of it is available at Lowes or Home Depot. I did it 8 years ago and it's been well worth it for the AC (my house doesn't have AC).

[mike837go]

I cheated a bit. My barn/shop has 20A to the 110V outlets. I just swapped the 1 closest to where the TT is parked to a 30A.

[norty1]

I have 2 of them, one near the house and one under a outbuilding farther out. Both are handy. No GFCI for me, just a conventional 30a breaker.

All you need can be purchased at a big box store.

[AKGperson]

Mike, hopefully you meant you swapped out just the outlet and not the circuit breaker. If you swapped out the 20A breaker with a 30A breaker you run the risk of overheating the 12 gauge wires which is a fire hazard. 30A circuits must be wired with 10 gauge wire minimum.

Ken