50A garage outlet

[cookie12]

Don't know why I did not do this sooner. Recently ran #6 wire in garage attic and fished the outside wall and installed a 50A outlet. Have a subpanel in garage with basically nothing on it and installed the 50A breaker. Problem was with the reg outlet on a 15A breaker anytime a vacum and a/c was on the breaker would most all of the time trip. Now this is not a problem. On weekends we are not camping, and have company, we us it as a guest house. Anyone thinking about doing this, all I can say is don't hesitate it is worth it!

[davel1971]

I put in a 30 amp last year then we upgraded to a 5th this year. Just use an adaptor since I doubt I will ever exceed that at home. At least we can have the AC on while working on it/cleaning it.

[cookie12]

You are right and took that into consideration. Will never probably even come close to using 30A but buddy had some #6 wire and thought if I am running it why not connect all the wires and make it a 50A. We have had friends also pull their rig to our acreage and had to use a extension cord and of course they would trip breaker when a/c was turned on. They will be able to an adapter to hook up as most TT's are 30A.

[davel1971]

I should have put a 50A to begin with, knowing we would be getting a 5th wheel eventually, just not so soon. Since you got the wire from a buddy, good choice. I had to buy a 100 ft roll of 10 gauge since my breaker box and RV outlet are on opposite ends of the house. That cost enough, cant imagine what #6 wire would be

[SKnight]

I keep thinking of doing this, keep reminding myself that I'm wanting to sell this place, then wish I would do it anyway! Lol!

If I need the AC I fire up the generator and run the AC through the 30A connection. Hey, they say it's good to exercise the gensets, right?

Next house I guarantee will have not only at least a 30A plug (Might even spring for 50A) I'm hoping to have a water spigot too. All in the future, right?

[ehorn]

Hey cookie hope you researched the 50a wiring before unless you already know, that the 50a isn't a 240 connection but rather 2 120 connections. Don't wire it in as a 240... I have a 50 and 2 30's wired in at our farm for when company shows up, we have yet to use the 50. I understand since you had the wire awesome just really,hoping you wired it correctly hate to see you fry your electrical.

[BamaBob]

We park our 5er at the house so having 50A outlet was required
Best.Mod.Ever.

[cookie12]

Originally Posted by ehorn

Hey cookie hope you researched the 50a wiring before unless you already know, that the 50a isn't a 240 connection but rather 2 120 connections. Don't wire it in as a 240... I have a 50 and 2 30's wired in at our farm for when company shows up, we have yet to use the 50. I understand since you had the wire awesome just really,hoping you wired it correctly hate to see you fry your electrical.

The breaker is a double pole 50A so the plug end has 2 hots which go back to the breaker each wire to its own connection, common goes to the common rail and then the box and the ground wire are connected and goes back to ground in panel. Each spade in plug connector is 120V. Hope I have it hooked up correctly. It is working so I assume I do?? Does this sound right? I have had it hooked up for about 2 weeks now to the garage outlet.

[ehorn]

Sounds like you have it if I remember correctly. Actually obviously you do lol if it hasn't fried it lol.

[MillerTime]

Originally Posted by ehorn

Hey cookie hope you researched the 50a wiring before unless you already know, that the 50a isn't a 240 connection but rather 2 120 connections. Don't wire it in as a 240... I have a 50 and 2 30's wired in at our farm for when company shows up, we have yet to use the 50. I understand since you had the wire awesome just really,hoping you wired it correctly hate to see you fry your electrical.

50 amp is wired the same whether you use it as 240 (the voltage measured across the 2 positive legs) or as 120 with both legs used separately. You just need to make sure your polarity is correct on all conections.
The 30 amps are usually the ones wired incorrectly since most older 3 prong 30s (commonly found on dryers or other house hold appliances) uses 2 positive legs and a neutral or ground, which makes it a 240 plug.
Rv 30 amps use 1 positive leg, a neutral and a ground....thus the 120v.

Ps. We have had a 50 amp service on our garage for a couple years now, and fixing to add a second one on the other side of the house so I can park the 5er in another location if desired. Love it!!

MillerTime- Future Sabre Handler!!

[quick83]

Came up with an idea to save the money of buying all that expensive wire!! I Put the 50 amp box next to breaker box in garage and plug into 50 amp box with 50 amp extention cord. ( I used the money for the wire for an ext cord, cause I needed an extention cord anyways.

[R Whitlow]

RV dealers call it a 120 volt 50 amp outlet. This doesn't exist it is a 240 volt 50 amp plug all day long.
I installed a 50 amp, water and sewer connections at home, go all the way if you are doing it.

Master Electrician
Robert Whitlow


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[supercab79]

Had a 30 at the front garage and put a second one in for the winter time storage on the back rear garage. Being cheap was the reason for the 30's then we bought our 365 and usually like you set it up as a guest house when family stay for awhile. Well as old Murphy would have it every time the ac and the occupants would use the toaster, hair dryer, etc or both ac's would come on pop goes the 30. So like they say do it right or do it twice and now the front garage has a 50 and love it no more calls at work " hay seething happened we were curling our hair laying on a heating pad running the ac watching TV using a crock pot and all of a sudden everything went off. How do I do the breaker thingy where's it at?" Well thank God after the 50 went in no more of that. Just my 2 cents but 50amp all the way....

Plus here in Pa my parents usually stay in it in late fall while up from Fl and they like electric space heaters better than the noise of the propane furnace and with the 50 it's no sweat..

Good luck
Marc

[jevanb]

Originally Posted by R Whitlow

RV dealers call it a 120 volt 50 amp outlet. This doesn't exist it is a 240 volt 50 amp plug all day long.
I installed a 50 amp, water and sewer connections at home, go all the way if you are doing it.

Master Electrician
Robert Whitlow


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so if I replace my receptacle 220VAC for the generator/welder in the garage with a 50 RV receptacle I will be ok.

[AquaMan]

Originally Posted by jevanb

so if I replace my receptacle 220VAC for the generator/welder in the garage with a 50 RV receptacle I will be ok.

It doesn't appear that the wiring is heavy enough for a full 50amp draw, but to answer your question, yes. As long as you wire the plug correctly. You could also make your own adapter to use your existing outlet. Just don't change the breaker for a heavier one.

[R Whitlow]

Originally Posted by jevanb

so if I replace my receptacle 220VAC for the generator/welder in the garage with a 50 RV receptacle I will be ok.

You will have to leave the 30 amp beaker in the panel because you have 10 gage wire going to the outlet , but yes it would work. If you have two AC units they will have to be on two different hots in the rv panel to run both, that should be the only issue you might have.

I would leave the welder outlet and add the rv outlet under the welder outlet. Most twist lock outlets have a flat plate that the wire connects under, you can place the wire going to the RV outlet under the same plates on the other side of the screw. This way you can use the welder pr the RV.


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[dretired]

I had wanted a rv plug in on the garage..this is what Menards had..

[cookie12]

Great idea on the extension cord. For someone who does not have a 50A extension cord it totally makes sense to buy and extension and use it off of the sub panel outlet. The #6 gauge is quite pricey and #4 is worse.

Love that box, very clean install. Heading to Menard's this weekend and will have to check it out.

[R Whitlow]

This is what I installed. http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0009R...110_SY165_QL70


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