Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 04-26-2017, 12:11 PM   #1
Junior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Posts: 5
can I power trailer from my house?

Got a new Grey Wolf 26bh...30-amp service

can I run power from my house, and use trailer as a guest room?

if so, can I use a/c and heat?

Thanks, folks!
Frank51 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2017, 12:24 PM   #2
Pickin', Campin', Mason
 
5picker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,051
Yes, a properly wired 30 amp service at your house will allow all of that.

Be sure whomever wires up the 30 amp service knows the proper wiring for a 30 amp R/V outlet.
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA

Days Camped '19=118 '20=116 '21=123 '22=134 '23=118 '24=64
5picker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2017, 12:24 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
BamaBob's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2013
Location: Whereever our Berkshire is Parked!
Posts: 7,082
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank51 View Post
Got a new Grey Wolf 26bh...30-amp service

can I run power from my house, and use trailer as a guest room?

if so, can I use a/c and heat?

Thanks, folks!
Short answer: Yes.

Long Answer: No, you can not just run an extension cord from the house - that is 15AMP and you will need at least 30AMP (50AMP?) to run the A/C & Heat.

A lot of owners will put a 30(50)AMP pedestal where they have their RV. This is a relatively simple job if you are home-handy and not that expensive if you call a electrician -- and CALL a electrician if you do not know what you are doing - do NOT rely on YouTube/websites!

Some folks even go whole hog and put in a drop to their sewer and run a spigot for water hookup as well. Turns your RV into a nice guest room and/or escape pod for you
__________________
Bob & Anne-Marie [BamaBob & 6 Actual]
| 2017 Berkshire XLT 43A with Ultrasteer Tag | Blue Ox Avail + KarGard II |
| SMI AF-1 Air Brake | 2016 Jeep Cherokee Overland TOAD | Pedego Bikes |
Nights Camped: 2013 - 242014 - 422015 - 56Jul 2016 - Fulltime
BamaBob is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2017, 12:30 PM   #4
Pickin', Campin', Mason
 
5picker's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: South Western PA
Posts: 19,051
Show them this...
Attached Thumbnails
Click image for larger version

Name:	rv-service_wiring1.jpg
Views:	463
Size:	69.0 KB
ID:	135968  
__________________
2022 Cedar Creek 345IK 5th Wheel•Solar & Inverter•2017 Ford F-Series SCREW 4x4•Factory Puck•B&W Companion•TST Tire Monitor w/Repeater•Sinemate 3500w Gen.
F&AM Lodge 358 Somerset, PA - JAFFA Shrine - Altoona, PA

Days Camped '19=118 '20=116 '21=123 '22=134 '23=118 '24=64
5picker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2017, 12:47 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
actadh's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: West Virginia
Posts: 240
Same possibility of limitations when you install 30 amp at home that you might experience in a campground - you likely can't run everything at the same time.

I still turn off the AC to run the microwave etc. as I do when I camp.
__________________

-Laura 2016 Shasta Oasis 18BH & 2015 Ram 1500 Hemi
actadh is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-26-2017, 01:01 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
yetavon's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: WNC
Posts: 560
Quote:
Originally Posted by BamaBob View Post
Some folks even go whole hog and put in a drop to their sewer and run a spigot for water hookup as well. Turns your RV into a nice guest room and/or escape pod for you

YUP!!!!!
__________________
Retired Paramedic
2020 FSX 280RT
2005 Silverado 1500 Ext cab 5.3 H.O.
2011 HD Road King
Nights camped since 2019.....all of Em...Homes a 2001 Sea Breeze 36' 5 ER
yetavon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2017, 11:39 AM   #7
Member
 
mac.dblues's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Lower Arkansas (L.A.)
Posts: 87
We used ours for a guest house over the Easter weekend. We have a 20A circuit in our well house that we plug into. Lights and A/C will run no problem on 20A, we just have to make sure the water heater is turned off.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank51 View Post
Got a new Grey Wolf 26bh...30-amp service

can I run power from my house, and use trailer as a guest room?

if so, can I use a/c and heat?

Thanks, folks!
__________________
2017 Cherokee Grey Wolf 26RL Dragged around by a 2004 Ford F-150 FX4 5.4L
2018 Nights Camped 05 : 35 total booked
2017 Nights Camped 37
2016 Nights Camped 23 (3 in popup)

Laissez les bons temps rouler!
mac.dblues is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2017, 11:50 AM   #8
Bubblehead Elite Rank
 
JayNC's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: North Carolina
Posts: 41
Had a local electrician run a new 30 amp breaker, run outdoor cable, and install a outdoor 30 amp RV service box at the corner of my driveway - $109 and took him about 2 hours.

My outside hose pipe valve is less than two 25' hoses away for Potable water use.

I machined an adapter that, 'if I had to', I could attach my sewer hose to the city cleanout connection by the edge of my lot. I haven't done it for real, because I think it's frowned upon, but I do have that emergency option if needed. I could always dump them for free at the dealer I purchased my TT from...he's only about 20 mins away.

So yes, yes you can use it for an emergency 'suite'....
JayNC is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2017, 12:15 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Northern CA
Posts: 528
Outside home hookup

I used a 20A outlet in my garage, running the power to a back to back outlet on the outside wall and power my TT to include either AC or Heating (not both) very successfully. In addition, I ran a sewer line underground to a cleanout at the rear of my house. For water, I just use the fresh water tank. Everything works out just fine.
JimMorrell is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2017, 12:24 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Thurman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Albany, GA.
Posts: 1,359
I installed a 30 amp RV box on the outside of my shop strictly for the purpose of plugging in my TT. I also have water hooked up year round. Down here in SW Ga. it gets pretty hot most of the year and I leave my A/C on 78* all the time. It doesn't get cold enough to worry about that. My g'son's had rather stay in the camper when they stay a weekend anyway. After they stay and I need to dump the tanks I have a macerator pump that pumps about 15' to a septic system behind the shop, so easy to do. As others have stated, you can do this on a properly installed 30 amp service for the RV.
Thurman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2017, 12:25 PM   #11
Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 30
Aside from the hook ups, you may need to be careful of any city or HOA codes that would preclude you from having "guest" use the trailer.
duby325 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2017, 12:35 PM   #12
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2016
Location: West Central Ar
Posts: 43
What duby 325 said-codes and ordinances in most cities or town will not allow a rec vehicle to be occupied on lot with residence (doubling up on one lot) nor will they allow doubling up on sewer or water service- and our code does not allow rec vehicles to be parked on street or front of house-- side or rear of house only. (3 day courtesy parking in front of house or driveway for cleaning, loading or unloading)
DeeWayne is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2017, 12:47 PM   #13
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,363
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frank51 View Post
Got a new Grey Wolf 26bh...30-amp service



can I run power from my house, and use trailer as a guest room?



if so, can I use a/c and heat?



Thanks, folks!


Sure can. Lots of options. Here is what I installed on the outside of my outbuilding. You can do the same from your home:

Click image for larger version

Name:	WP_20140902_002.jpg
Views:	174
Size:	232.5 KB
ID:	136060

That box is supplied by an 80 amp breaker, so I can run the 50, 30 and 20 amp receptacles at the same time. Cost for breaker and wiring was not a big deal.
325BH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2017, 12:49 PM   #14
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2016
Posts: 133
Sure you can. You can even get a 110 volt adapter to put on the end of your 30 amp power cord to plug into a 110 house outlet. I did it for years with no problems, even ran the AC and furnace. Never tripped a breaker. Just be sure your 110 plug adapter fits good and snug on your power cord. Any looseness or play in it may cause it to spark and heat up, or even melt.
D-Man is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2017, 12:57 PM   #15
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,363
Quote:
Originally Posted by D-Man View Post
Sure you can. You can even get a 110 volt adapter to put on the end of your 30 amp power cord to plug into a 110 house outlet. I did it for years with no problems, even ran the AC and furnace. Never tripped a breaker. Just be sure your 110 plug adapter fits good and snug on your power cord. Any looseness or play in it may cause it to spark and heat up, or even melt.


I get into arguments all the time regarding this. Lots of people (salesmen, owners, etc.) say you can't run the ac off a 15 or 20 amp circuit. Works just fine. Try and run too many other things and you risk tripping your 15 or 20 amp breaker you are plugged into, but other than that it works fine. Gotta make sure your extension cord is proper gauge.

The ac units don't draw as much as some people think.

I don't think they realize the ac is on a 20 amp breaker.
325BH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2017, 12:57 PM   #16
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 2,024
Quote:
Originally Posted by 5picker View Post
Show them this...
...

Or a cheap Camco RV plug adapter and a heavy extension cord plugged into a 30 breaker protected 110/1 outlet. I do it all the time, in fact my unit stays shore powered from my shop when I'm not using it.
SidecarFlip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2017, 01:01 PM   #17
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,363
can I power trailer from my house?

Quote:
Originally Posted by SidecarFlip View Post
...



Or a cheap Camco RV plug adapter and a heavy extension cord plugged into a 30 breaker protected 110/1 outlet. I do it all the time, in fact my unit stays shore powered from my shop when I'm not using it.


Not sure which receptacle a "30 breaker protected 110/1 outlet" is, but based on a little deciphering, that is what the 30 amp RV receptacle is (which is really 120vac). Specifically, what receptacle are you referring?
325BH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2017, 01:17 PM   #18
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: SE Michigan
Posts: 2,024
Quote:
Originally Posted by 325BH View Post
Not sure which receptacle a "30 breaker protected 110/1 outlet" is, but based on a little deciphering, that is what the 30 amp RV receptacle is (which is really 120vac). Specifically, what receptacle are you referring?
You can buy online or at Menards or Lowes, a RV (just walked out and looked at it because mine is plugged in right now in the yard) adapter plug that plugs into my shore power cord (it's female on the shore power end and male 3 prong on the other end that you can plug an heavy duty extension cord into.

Looks like a yellow hockey puck about 3 inches thick. My extension cord runs into my shop and plugs into a 30 amp receptacle inside. Now, in my case the 30A female in the shop is a NEMA 30 receptacle do I had to put a NEMA 30amp male on the end of the extension cord to mate the receptacle in the shop.

They come in 15 amp and 30 amp.

Of course the outside (in the weather plugs and adapters are coated with di-electric grease as well. No need for moisture induced shorts to ground. been doing that for years now.
SidecarFlip is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2017, 01:26 PM   #19
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 1,363
Quote:
Originally Posted by SidecarFlip View Post
You can buy online or at Menards or Lowes, a RV (just walked out and looked at it because mine is plugged in right now in the yard) adapter plug that plugs into my shore power cord (it's female on the shore power end and male 3 prong on the other end that you can plug an heavy duty extension cord into.



Looks like a yellow hockey puck about 3 inches thick. My extension cord runs into my shop and plugs into a 30 amp receptacle inside. Now, in my case the 30A female in the shop is a NEMA 30 receptacle do I had to put a NEMA 30amp male on the end of the extension cord to mate the receptacle in the shop.



They come in 15 amp and 30 amp.



Of course the outside (in the weather plugs and adapters are coated with di-electric grease as well. No need for moisture induced shorts to ground. been doing that for years now.


I'm quite familiar with NEMA receptacles and plugs. I think you missed my point.

The 30 amp RV plug is a 30 amp NEMA plug. You said your garage was a 30 amp NEMA receptacle, but said you had to use an adapter... so that means is it different than the RV. My question was, which one?

The 30 amp RV is NEMA TT-30... which is 120vac/30amp. I assume you have some other NEMA receptacle in your garage?
325BH is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-27-2017, 02:12 PM   #20
Member
 
SARDogDad's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 66
Just a thought...When you have this done, either have a 30 and 50 amp receptacle or get a 50 amp with a 50 to 30 amp adapter for your 30 Amp plug. That way, you are ready to upgrade when you get that, NEXT, bigger trailer! I just did the 30amp and we're already looking to go up to a 50amp trailer.
SARDogDad is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
power, trailer

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:51 PM.