| Author | Message | ||
| John Elnitski
Rating: N/A |
I am builing a 50 amp system in my bus, I am spliting the two hot lines in the breaker box, one per pole or side of the box. Do I use a 50 amp breaker for each or 25 amp or something different. | ||
| Stan Rating: N/A |
It depends on what you want. Do you want 50 amps at 240 volts or 50 amps at 120 volts? | ||
| John Elnitski
Rating: N/A |
I will be only doing 120 volts devices in my bus no 240. | ||
| Stan Rating: N/A |
Since you don't understand the relationship between volts and amps. I will rephrase the question. Do you want a total of 6000 watts or 12000 watts? | ||
| John Elnitski
Rating: N/A |
all I know is that I have a breaker box that I can set up as two separate legs which I will try to balance the load. I plan to have 3 rooftop airs, elec frig, elec 120 v two burner range, converter for 12 volt equipment such as water pump,lights, fans and aquahot water heater and heat source and some 110 recepticles. I might hook up the aqua hot up to at 120 v source also. So the way I understand it is I need a main breaker for each leg. When you hook up to a 50 amp system at a campground can you pull 50 amps per hot line or is 25 amps per hot line. I want to match each main breaker with what I can pull. | ||
| Stan Rating: N/A |
You will use a 50 amp breaker. If you use a house style main entry panel it will have a main breaker in the top of the panel. I have not seen a house style panel with a 50 amp breaker. If you use a panel without the top main breaker section (commonly called a sub panel), then you install a double 50 amp breaker into the box so that it is connected to each bus bar. Note that all adjacent slots are not necessarily both bus bars. Your shore power connects to that breaker and feeds the bus bars through the breaker. If either side of the panel is overloaded it will trip the breaker cutting off shore power to the panel. Search the archives on this board for a lot of info and wiring diagrams of 240 volt 50 amp installations with how to connect in the generator and inverter. | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
John - See if this is of any use to you: RV Wiring Diagrams | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
John - Also (all this has been hashed over three million times on this forum...but....) You may not always find the "50 amp"service at a campground is actually providing 50 amps per side. Many older parks (and some "updated" parks) only provide two standard 120v 30amp (or a 20a and 30a) circuits to the pod, and terminate it on a 50 amp socket. You may or may not be able to run everything at once. | ||
| John Jewett (Jayjay)
Rating: N/A |
John, from what I can ascertain of your experience level, I think you desperately need a highly qualified elecctrician, preferably one with a recent copy of the National Electrical Code. If you continue alone, I fear you will spend a lot of money needlessly, re-do several things over (again needelessly, and it's expensive too!) and you are most likely to hurt yourself or someone you love. Do Be careful...JJ | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A |
JJ,, that is some of the best advice I have ever seen posted on any board and the only advice posted here that John should consider. Except maybe this one. LOL Richard | ||
| Jerry Liebler (Jerry_liebler)
Rating: N/A |
John, The function of breakers is to protect the wires, The 50 amp shore cord can handle 50 amps so the first breaker(s) should be 50 amps. If you plan any 240 volt use this should be a dual breaker ie. one side trips both, these are much easier to get and work fine in all situations. From the box outward another breaker will protect the 'branch circuit'. Regards Jerry 4107 1120 | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
The poster "John Elnitski" asked a very simple question: "I am building a 50 amp system in my bus....... Do I use a 50 amp breaker for each or 25 amp" And from that, he's determined to be too incompetent to wire his own bus? He only posted one more time since his first post, and only to explain his first question better for those that are making a mountain out of a dog turd. Nearly all states allow an individual to wire their own home without license or prior training. Why don't you folks give the guy a break and just answer his questions decently? | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Thanks Jerry! Others should take note. | ||
| John Jewett (Jayjay)
Rating: N/A |
JohnMC9. Yes, most states have a roll-your-own ruling for wiring and plumbing, B-U-T, it still has to pass the NEC inspection procedure. ...JJ | ||
| Stan Rating: N/A |
I thought I answered the question after he clarified his need. Did I do something wrong? | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A |
There are certain critical systems in our buses for which the unexperienced should not undertake to repair, maintain or modify - brakes, electrical, steering, etc. Remember you are not the only one affected by these systems - The health safety and welfare of your family, invitees and the public in general are at risk here I'd like to meet everyone but I do not want to BUMP INTO YOU on the road I'd like to converse with you all but I don't want to SPARK UP a conversation while leaning on your bus I don't mind people TAKING A DIFFERENT ROAD as long as they stay in their own lane I don't see where a novice should take a word of caution by an experienced professional or someone who's BTDT as an insult to their intelligence - I see it as someone who has your best interest at heart FWIW - Niles | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
The words, Niles.... Were akin to me telling you, that since you had no prior professional experience driving a bus, you should hire a professional to drive it for you. No-one has to be an expert at anything, experienced at anything, or all that knowledgeable about anything, to make a motorhome out of a bus shell. Most here, learned about one aspect or another, as they plowed through the debacle. If you haven't crashed and burned due to lack of professional driving experience, may I consider this matter settled and closed? | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A |
John - I have had prior professional experience up to 60 tons and overdimensional loads - I would not drive a vehicle I was not qualified to operate - nor should any one else - learning to drive a bus with reasonable ability can be accomplished in a matter of weeks with professional training - learning to be an electrician takes years - even though an individual is familiar with ordinary household and even commercial wiring, it does not qualify them necessarily to deal with the unique RV issues of grounds and bonds that they will have to design and install in order to protect them from harm - And yes, John you may consider this matter closed - | ||
| H3-40 Rating: N/A |
Wait just a cotton picken minute there Niles!! Since when do they make Bud trucks that weigh in at 60 tons? And the last one I saw in the local 7-11 didn't take up any more space than it usually does and it sure didn't have an escort service either! You got some splainin to do boy!  Ace | ||
| niles steckbauer (Niles500)
Rating: N/A |
I hear when the Pepin guys are running from Jax and are overweight at the scales, they have to tap the kegs and drink 'em down to legal GCW - tough job huh? Niles | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A |
"It depends on what you want. Do you want 50 amps at 240 volts or 50 amps at 120 volts?" Stan, to my knowledge, no park offers 50 amps at 120 volts. There is a 20 amp or 30 amp 120 volt outlet, or a 50 amp 240 volt outlet. Therefore, he must wire to the 240 volt circuit regardless of whether he needs 240 volts or not. Then he has available two legs of 50 amps at 120 volts each. From his initial question it is apparent that he is not even aware of this simple fact and I feel he should be seeking qualified advice before he starts making plans. Unfortunately not all the advice he receives from the replies on the board is qualified and that is why JJ and I both agree that he needs to get some local qualified advice if he is to do the job properly. Richard | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
Call ten (10) campgrounds and ask if they supply 220 volts at the outlet, at the campsite Count the "no" and "yes" answers. Then ask if they have 50 amp service for RVs. Count the "no" and "yes" answers. Then take the next two weeks explaining yourself away to them, about 30 amp, 50 amp, 120v and 240v and the relationships between them.... and why the sky is blue.... and how gravity works. Most all campgrounds describe their supplied service as 50 amp, 120v (or 30 amp, 120v). The poster wants to wire his panel for 120v using a 50 amp incoming service. Jerry L explained it perfectly. I didn't plan on changing my name to Don Quixote, but it annoys me to see a new poster to this board; someone seeking basic information, portrayed as inadequate and inept for asking a simple question, by those that have more experience. Just answering questions without the banter and innuendos would be welcomed. Most of us come here to learn, and take what we can from the posts. Even the most experienced here, make mistakes or misstate their answers at times. Asking a question regarding anything very basic, does not indicate ineptness or lack of qualifications to do the job correctly. (now, where's the rest of those blasted windmills?) | ||
| David (Davidinwilmnc)
Rating: N/A |
I'm not trying to get in the middle of this, but some of this discussion seems to have gone astray. If I didn't already know how to wire a 50 amp RV service, I would be confused. One can have 240 service without using 240 volt appliances. It would be more helpful to an inexperienced individual to explain the standard methods of wiring a 50 amp RV service. That is, 2 legs of 120 volts with a common neutral. Next, we can explain that this will work ideally in campgrounds with up-to-date wiring (50 amp service). In campgrounds with 30 amp service, we should describe the adapter used to connect the 4 prong, 50 amp male plug to the 30 amp RV outlet. This would also be a good time to give the limitations of using 240 volt appliances (they won't work on a single leg 30 amp outlet). Besides the shore cord, there really isn't a cost difference in wiring for 240/50 amp. The really short, quick answer is to use a 240 volt, 50 amp tandem breaker similar to what's often used on an electric stove. One incoming hot wire goes to one pole on the breaker, the other hot connects to the second pole on the breaker. | ||
| Stan Rating: N/A |
Richard: It is not necessary to have 240 volts in order to get 50 amps AT 120 volts. You only have to run three wires to the four wire plug that is used for 240 volt service. You then have everything on one leg at 50 amp capacity. I am sure that you understood my question, since John was not clear on what he needed. When he clarified his requirement I told him to use a double 50 and pointed out that it would have to be connected to each leg, which would be for 240 volts. I guess I don't explain well what is clear to me. | ||
| John MC9 Rating: N/A |
(You're doing fine, Stan! Even -I- can understand it!) | ||
| Richard Bowyer (Drivingmisslazy)
Rating: N/A |
You are absolutely correct Stan. JUst trying to keep straight what is normally available/supplied at most campground. I have never seen a three wire, 50 amp, 120 volt shore cord. They are all # 6, 50 amp, four wire, 240/120 volt and it would be kinda silly not to use the other hot leg. Tha is unless you rigged up your own cord. LOL Richard | ||
| Stan Rating: N/A |
Richard: I think there is an advantage in only using one leg if you only need 50 amps at 120 volts. First off there is no balancing of load, and when it comes to tying in an inverter (which is usually 120 volts) it is much easier. If you have 240 volts on the shore cord, you need additional switching to tie in 120 volt inverter or gen set. What I am trying to say is that the simplest system is if you can get by with one hot and one neutral from all sources. |