Installing 50amp @ house

mrlarson59 · 07-03-2019, 12:19 PM

Hiring an electrician to install 50amp @ the house so we can plug in while in driveway and run both AC units.

How do we ensure correct voltage is installed? For example, my brother said his electrician didn't understand the correct voltage requirement and wired a 220volt instead of 110volt. Not sure I'm using correct terminology so I apologize in advance. Just want to make sure installed properly with correct voltage.

ynpmoose · 07-03-2019, 12:55 PM

A 4-prong 50 amp RV connection is 240v as far as an electrician is concerned. In reality there are two 120v Hot legs, which most RVs use separately as they don't contain anything that needs 240v.

This same outlet is used for ovens and dryers in residential settings where the appliance uses true 240v.

Sundancer330 · 07-03-2019, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrlarson59

Hiring an electrician to install 50amp @ the house so we can plug in while in driveway and run both AC units.

How do we ensure correct voltage is installed? For example, my brother said his electrician didn't understand the correct voltage requirement and wired a 220volt instead of 110volt. Not sure I'm using correct terminology so I apologize in advance. Just want to make sure installed properly with correct voltage.

If your brother had a 30amp service at 240v that would be a problem, the only way to wire a 50amp is 240v

poohbear · 07-03-2019, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrlarson59

Hiring an electrician to install 50amp @ the house so we can plug in while in driveway and run both AC units.

How do we ensure correct voltage is installed? For example, my brother said his electrician didn't understand the correct voltage requirement and wired a 220volt instead of 110volt. Not sure I'm using correct terminology so I apologize in advance. Just want to make sure installed properly with correct voltage.

Sounds like the so called electrician miss wired a 30amp rv plug . Wired it for a welder or dryer . 30amp only uses 120volt, hot/neutral/ground . Very common mistake that should not happen.

Robbbyr · 07-03-2019, 01:12 PM

Wired correctly, between the two "hot" leads (usually black and red, possibly 2 black) it will measure 220 to 240 volts depending on what your incoming single line voltage reads. But each hot lead to the common (white) should read only 110 to 120 (sometimes a bit higher). It is wired like a 220-volt circuit, it is just that the RV only uses a single hot lead per circuit since few RVs have any "true" 220-volt appliaces.

ynpmoose · 07-03-2019, 01:13 PM

Taking a step back, do you need a RV 50 amp connection, or 30 amp connection?

If 50 amp, he should have wired a 240v 4 prong outlet (120v/120v/neutral/ground)

If 30 amp, he should have wired a 120v 3 prong, (120v/neutral/ground)

triplebvalp · 07-03-2019, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrlarson59

Hiring an electrician to install 50amp @ the house so we can plug in while in driveway and run both AC units.

How do we ensure correct voltage is installed? For example, my brother said his electrician didn't understand the correct voltage requirement and wired a 220volt instead of 110volt. Not sure I'm using correct terminology so I apologize in advance. Just want to make sure installed properly with correct voltage.

Have your electrician install this:

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Eaton-50-Am...-Panel/3027570

turtle032 · 07-03-2019, 01:20 PM

I would go ahead and install a 50a circuit and socket. I only needed 30 (for now) but I installed a 50a and use an adapter. This way when I get a larger TT/RV I won’t have to go through the process again.

damammel · 07-03-2019, 01:35 PM

If you are comfortable with using a multimeter you can check voltage at the receptacle. Do this at your own risk.

https://www.myrv.us/Imgs/PDF/50-amp%20Service.pdf

2naEagle · 07-03-2019, 02:48 PM

Almost everything you need to know about RV power.
RV Electric

With a 50 amp RV it is very important that you use a two pole breaker. Yes it will have 240 votes from line to line. The RV will only use 120 volts. But it is important to have both phases to keep the load balanced.

pawags45 · 07-04-2019, 09:22 AM

When I had my 50amp installed the electrician just ask me to take a picture of the plug and text it to him. He new what to install as soon as he saw the picture.

PhillyPhan · 07-04-2019, 10:00 AM

I've been wanting to do this for quite some time now. My breaker box is on the other side of the house though, so I'm expecting to pay a hefty price for the amount of cable that will be needed. If you don't mind me asking what kind of prices are you seeing for this install?

mrlarson59 · 07-04-2019, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhillyPhan

I've been wanting to do this for quite some time now. My breaker box is on the other side of the house though, so I'm expecting to pay a hefty price for the amount of cable that will be needed. If you don't mind me asking what kind of prices are you seeing for this install?

Husband talked to electrician today and he's installing tomorrow. We're buying all the materials needed. I'll know tomorrow the pricing and let you know.
We found out at last minute we're off for next 4 days, too late to make last minute RV camping reservations (bummer). So hoping costs of this install is same as what would have cost for our trip. I'll have AC (Texas heat) now once installed and will be parked in driveway, so I'll "pretend" I'm camping. :-)

pawags45 · 07-04-2019, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PhillyPhan

I've been wanting to do this for quite some time now. My breaker box is on the other side of the house though, so I'm expecting to pay a hefty price for the amount of cable that will be needed. If you don't mind me asking what kind of prices are you seeing for this install?

I paid $500.00 in Stewartstown PA (york County) but I also had him run a 120amp so I can plug in my diezel truck when its below 30% F. My breaker box is also on the other side of house and he had to dig about 25 feet to bury both lines.

DNelson · 07-04-2019, 11:22 AM

If he hasn't installed it yet have him look at the below diagram. If he has inspect the installation to be sure this is the outlet used. You can check the voltages as indicated to be sure it is wired correctly.

Cincinnati Kid · 07-04-2019, 11:33 AM

If you wire it for 50 amp, you will have 220 available, even though the rv is using it as 2- 110's. I'm thinking about it too, and the wire is the biggest expense, so while I'm at it, wouldn't I want to just put a sub panel out there so I can have the option to plug in a welder or something, in addition to the 50 amp RV receptacle?

mrlarson59 · 07-08-2019, 05:15 PM

UPDATE:
Total costs parts/labor $165
All he had to do was install plug located right under our breaker box. We had it placed inside our detached garage to prevent any weather issues. We just run our 36' electric cord we use when camping and it's long enough based on where we have it parked in driveway. SUPER happy as we've been "glamping" in driveway with shades pulled down pretending to be in Yellowstone! (MY HAPPY PLACE).

**JFlightRisk** · 07-08-2019, 11:37 PM

Thanks for the update post. I'm glad you're happy...or in your happy place.

I try to go to mine often.

W Kearney · 07-10-2019, 12:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sundancer330

If your brother had a 30amp service at 240v that would be a problem, the only way to wire a 50amp is 240v

We have friends who stayed with their motor home at their friends home...they had just had an electrician to wire a RV electrical hookup...he wired 220/240 ... even with a 50 amp motor home ...it blew everything in the RV ... tvs, microwave, refrigerator, etc, etc. Took forever to get everything fixed...then a month down the road something else happened related to the power surge. We had a 30 amp installed and repeatedly had to tell electrician it is NOT a 220 plug in for RV ... so checked it with tester before letting anyone plug in.

Forelyndogs · 07-10-2019, 12:46 PM

A licensed electrician (and you don't want to run a 50amp circuit with an amateur) should know how to correctly install that circuit and should install the proper plug. Of course you can always use a meter to determine if it is correct. Do you use a circuit tester that you attach to the power post at an RV park? You should and you can use that on your home hook-up. I only needed 30AMP but still plug in my circuit tester even at home.

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