help with a 50amp breaker.

[Ken]

What type of R.V. uses 220 volt power?
Normal 50 amp service is 2 legs of same side of power source.
Trailer parks are going to 50 amp service and so smaller campers are having to purchase and adapter to be able to use there 30 amp power plugs.

Using your volt meter measure the voltage to ground should be 110 +/_ voltage
Do same to 50 amp service still 110 volts to ground and across the lines same conductor so no voltage.

 

[JB4310]

Wow I'm confused by this thread :confused2: alot of misunderstandings ?

I'm no electrician but can usually offer some advice, but not sure what to say here.

Just curious, but is that how the camp grounds power is supplied, the service is GFI protected before it gets to the camper? Seems that would wreck havoc with nuisance trips, but can understand the desire for fail-safe protection.

JB.

 

[Ken]

The R.V. camp ground power and power to camper is not 220 volts.
The older campers used power of 30 amp 120 volts+/- but then more campers started to use 2 a/c units each requiring about 15 amp each and the refrig M/w and t.v so on exceding the 30 service.
The 50 amp. R.V. power is 2 conductors of 120 volts from same side of source so double 120 volt single phase power. one side of the power goes to load panel for the normal 30 amp service in camper. the other goes to the load panel for the 2nd a/c unit and although double wiring same line of A/c.
That is why I asked which R.V. camper is using 220 volts. the OP said it tripped his breakers and should have. This is better than becoming bacon.
ken

 

[tcartwri]

The R.V. camp ground power and power to camper is not 220 volts.
The older campers used power of 30 amp 120 volts+/- but then more campers started to use 2 a/c units each requiring about 15 amp each and the refrig M/w and t.v so on exceding the 30 service.
The 50 amp. R.V. power is 2 conductors of 120 volts from same side of source so double 120 volt single phase power. one side of the power goes to load panel for the normal 30 amp service in camper. the other goes to the load panel for the 2nd a/c unit and although double wiring same line of A/c.
That is why I asked which R.V. camper is using 220 volts. the OP said it tripped his breakers and should have. This is better than becoming bacon.
ken

Wow, never knew that! That would explain a lot.

 

[hr3]

Wow, never knew that! That would explain a lot

and don't remember it for long I hope because,, The 50a outlet at the rv park is 240 volt not 2 120v circuits on the same leg,, Read the link.. Using a 50 to 30 Amp RV Power Adapter - RV Basics .com

 

[cycle_gator]

Thank you, for clarifying the issue of the 50 amp RV circuit. It IS MOST CERTAINLY FED FROM THE TWO LEGS OF A 220v circuit, any decent reference showing the wiring of an RV supply circuit shows this.

Now, a question for the OP, how far apart are the GFCI and the RV outlet? Do you have a two pole 50 amp GFCI breaker ( that is like gold)?

 

[Qapla]

Perhaps to clear thing up a bit, you could post some pictures of the connections.

If you don't have the RV plug taken apart, at least post some clear pics of the breaker panel with the connections showing.

Your original post does seem to contradict itself, so, like others, I am not sure how you have things connected.

Besides the HOT legs, there is the questions of the NEUTRAL bar and if it is BONDED or not.

 

[Ken]

and don't remember it for long I hope because,, The 50a outlet at the rv park is 240 volt not 2 120v circuits on the same leg,, Read the link.. Using a 50 to 30 Amp RV Power Adapter - RV Basics .com

Hr3 I stand corrected and was wrong. about the 220 volt circuit.
Re-reading my National Electrical code book Articicle 551 Figure 551-46(c) And reading the
explaination of uses.
551-46(c) attachment plugs.
Recreational vehicles (and now leaving a few lines out.)( 1) 15 ampere branch circuit
shall be 2- [pole 3-wire grounding type. rated 15 amp 125 volt conforming to 551-46c
R.V. (1) 20 amp circuit shall have attachment plug 2-pole 3-wire grounding type, rated at 20 ampere. 125 volts
Receational vehicles having a power-supply assembly rated 40 amperes or 50 amperes permitted by section 551-42(d) shall have a 3 pole 4 wire grounding type attachnent plug rated 50 amperes 125/250 volts figure 551 46(c).
50 amp plug the the X Y is voltage G ground and W
Then reading 1RV2 Forums 30/20 to 50 Amp adapter A question was asked if Y adapter sold by campinmg world were pluged into a 20 amp and 30 amp receptacle could produce a 50 amp circuit. Answer was Used to work but now don't Electrical code requires GFCI and these will present a ground fault so lose that leg.
All this rambeling just to say there is a great amount of confusion .
May better to use book that came with the camper to decide power uses.
visit 1RV2.com and there is 8 pages on this question of power.
ken

 

[Diamondpilot]

I am not sure what is going on here but I have wired up a couple of RV outlets when we built my friends barn. They WERE NOT 220, they were 110. Not sure if they were 30 or 50 amp though.

We have 30 and 50 amp services at the marina, now this is boats, They are 110 volt and 220 volt. Some bigger boats like mine actually use 2 30 amp leads and you have 2 seperate panels. There is a tie switch where you can just hook up 30 amp service #1 and tie panel #2 to it but you must watch your load then.

One last thought is if you camper is indeed 220 volt it could be the tongue jack. My barn has 2 30 amp Marine Hookups. If I put my boat in there with the motor touching the ground it will trip the GFI. Same thing with my tractor and the block heater. If I have the FEL Bucket or rear grader blade touching the ground the GFI will pop. When I say ground I mean my cement slab. To solve this issue I got conveyor belt and put it under the metal to cement contact and issue is solved.

Chris

 

[Ken]

Criss I used to think rv. boats and shore power was only 120 volts. But then brought to my attention that 220 is now being used by the large RV's including the S/B Generators.
Incourage you and all others to look at 1RV.com Forum there is 8 pages of confusion as to what type to use .
ken