Question for Electrician

Scotty · 06-13-2015, 09:13 PM

I would like to convert my 2015 Hemsiphere Lite 272RLIS TT that has 30 Amp service to 50 Amp. I know I need to change the main breaker to a 50 Amp, buy a 50 Amp cord and change the female connector on the TT. Is that all? Is the wiring sufficient to handle the load? We're used to the 50 Amp service in our 5er and if possible would like to change our new TT. I did notice on some units similar to ours that was pre wired for a second AC, they had 50 Amp service.

jaibyrd · 06-13-2015, 09:28 PM

Your 30 amp is a 3 wire system. Probably has 10 gauge from panel to the receptacle. For 50 amp, it's a 4 wire receptacle and will need a larger gauge wire from panel to that receptacle. Not a simple change.

Crockett · 06-13-2015, 09:37 PM

youll use a 50 amp cord to a 50 amp panel. then run one leg of 110 to your existing panel making it a sub panel. youll then run off the other leg of the 50 panel to your auxilliary loads. the trailer wont be wired for a 2nd ac. i usually just run surface mount to get the power to the vent.

elrand · 06-13-2015, 09:39 PM

the 50 amp panels are wired to use 2 hot legs where as the 30 only has 1 hot leg. Just putting a breaker in and changing your shore power cord wont work. you would need to buy a new service panel that can take the 50 amp service. but the real reason is why do you want to change to a 50 amp service? are you planning on having a second AC installed or in another way increase the power use of your TT. The current service installed on your TT is sized for what load is there. if your wanting to use the 50amp outlets at campgrounds I would just get a 50 to 30 adapter.

OldCoot · 06-13-2015, 09:41 PM

The most difficult thing would be fishing the new wire from the new 50A receptacle to the new box. Easiest way to do that is to tape the new 8ga 3 wire with ground to the existing 30A wire and pull it.

rana · 06-13-2015, 09:58 PM

I would have to ask.. considering that it would be a fairly tall order of business and expense to rewire for 50amp.. is there a specific reason? There might be a more efficient and less expensive alternative to what you are trying to accomplish.

Crockett · 06-13-2015, 10:18 PM

i think he just wants a second ac yarome. he can just run a second cord...

rana · 06-14-2015, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crockett

he can just run a second cord...

That would make better sense. I'm from the old school where you lick your finger and touch a wire to test for current... if it only goes to your shoulder.. that's 110. If it hits you down into your gut.. that's 220. Converting a 30a RV to 50a.. that's just down right scary.

Tank99 · 06-14-2015, 11:01 AM

Wow some of these suggestions could seriously hurt or kill someone. Or if your lucky only burn down the camper. I agree with everything elrand said except for the adapter. Reason is you will still have 50a on a 10 gauge wire. Not good if you go with a second A/C. Still a fire hazard. Unless the RV adaptors have some kind of fuse in them to get from 50a to 30a. If so then your fine. But then again you right back where you started. I would rewire the whole system. 30 years as a commercial and industrial electrician.

Tank99 · 06-14-2015, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yarome

That would make better sense. I'm from the old school where you lick your finger and touch a wire to test for current... if it only goes to your shoulder.. that's 110. If it hits you down into your gut.. that's 220. Converting a 30a RV to 50a.. that's just down right scary.

Home owners rule:
2 wires= hookem up
3 wires= screws' em up
4 wires= "censor, censor" em up.

Oaklevel · 06-14-2015, 11:15 AM

Our RV tech also along with the other changes the converter would also need changing????

We ran another breaker box and now have two 30A pigtails / cords the second ran to a 50A to 30A adaptor for the pedestal the 30A beaker box will protect the trailer.

DaveSchwartz · 06-14-2015, 12:46 PM

You would be OK if you replace the 30A socket on the camper with a 50A plug, continue to run to the existing converter off one leg and wire the second leg to a new 50A panel with appropriately sized wire. DO NOT change the 30A breaker in the existing converter to 50A... the existing wiring from the socket to that converter is only sized for 30A as is the bus inside the converter - you will melt/burn something. You could then move some circuits from your existing 30A panel to the new panel to balance the loads.

Crockett · 06-14-2015, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tank99

Wow some of these suggestions could seriously hurt or kill someone. Or if your lucky only burn down the camper. I agree with everything elrand said except for the adapter. Reason is you will still have 50a on a 10 gauge wire. Not good if you go with a second A/C. Still a fire hazard. Unless the RV adaptors have some kind of fuse in them to get from 50a to 30a. If so then your fine. But then again you right back where you started. I would rewire the whole system. 30 years as a commercial and industrial electrician.

what suggestion was that? nobody said anything about what gauge wire, just that they would runa leg. 50 amp, 8 ga and 30 gets 10ga.

Tank99 · 06-14-2015, 04:13 PM

Crokett I missed your first post. I was on my phone scrolling with my thumb. I will agree with your first post 100 percent. I was referring to the licking of the fingers (I think he is joking) and 8 gauge 3 wire. Not the right number of conductors which would leave me to believe there would be some kind of rigging going on. I should have worded my first sentence differently.

elrand · 06-14-2015, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tank99

Wow some of these suggestions could seriously hurt or kill someone. Or if your lucky only burn down the camper. I agree with everything elrand said except for the adapter. Reason is you will still have 50a on a 10 gauge wire. Not good if you go with a second A/C. Still a fire hazard. Unless the RV adaptors have some kind of fuse in them to get from 50a to 30a. If so then your fine. But then again you right back where you started. I would rewire the whole system. 30 years as a commercial and industrial electrician.

The only reason I suggested the adapter is if 1. The 50a outlets tend to be less abused at campsites and 2. No changes to the current loads on the TT. Scotty said he saw trailers with prewired for the second ac not that he was going to add one

davel1971 · 06-14-2015, 05:11 PM

why would you buy a new camper that you already knew doens't meet your demands or needs? You can get 50 amp as an option in most campers these days. Should have just looked harder or ordered one.

Crockett · 06-14-2015, 11:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tank99

Crokett I missed your first post. I was on my phone scrolling with my thumb. I will agree with your first post 100 percent. I was referring to the licking of the fingers (I think he is joking) and 8 gauge 3 wire. Not the right number of conductors which would leave me to believe there would be some kind of rigging going on. I should have worded my first sentence differently.

its all good...thought maybe said something dead wrong ..pardon the pun. a lot of coaches ( 27' and up) are built with one AC. these may cool inadequately in quite a few areas of the US. some people may not want to step up to a coach with 50 amp service. a second AC would be a pretty common upgrade IMO...

Scotty · 06-15-2015, 11:38 AM

No all is cool. Thanks all for the comments. Was just wondering what was involved and I'm no electrician. Not looking to install a second AC. Wife is just used to running Hair dryer while AC is on etc (in our 5er). She ask so I ask. No problem. 30 AMP it shall be......

We love this unit and out previous units were all 30 Amp.

robertew · 08-16-2015, 07:03 PM

The reason I'd consider going from 30A to 50A is not to add a second A/C. When our single A/C is running and the microwave is running, either the trailer's 30A breaker will trip or the park's 30A will trip. With the plug converter, it works most of the time but if the water heater starts or a hair dryer is used, the trailer breaker will trip. I've considered unhooking the A/C circuit from the panel, adding a single circuit breaker box and supplying power through a # 12 extension cord and plugging it into the park's 20A outlet.

Hyseas · 08-24-2015, 08:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elrand

The only reason I suggested the adapter is if 1. The 50a outlets tend to be less abused at campsites and 2. No changes to the current loads on the TT. Scotty said he saw trailers with prewired for the second ac not that he was going to add one

Risk of fire. The danger is between the 50A breaker at the campground panel and the 30A breaker in the RV. In other words, the 30A cord and where it makes the transition from cord to the RV's 30A hard wire that goes to the RV's breaker panel. I have repaired an RV where the 30A cord/hard wire transition (in a metal junction box) burned up all of the wiring inside the junction box. If it wasn't for the metal junction box, it would likely have burned up the RV instead. Everything between the campground panel and the RV's breaker panel (internal RV wiring and cord) is designed to carry 30A - and you will be plugging it into a 50A breaker. Ask any electrician about attaching a 30A cord to a 50A breaker.

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