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05 /19/ 26, 10:38am

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Subject: 50 Amp service Author: Ken (84pt 35) [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 02/ 14/ 07, 2:50am Hey guys, well I need some help on the wiring diagram for the 50 amp service plug receptacle, 84 pt 35 it has two seperate 30 amp receptacles and the 50 amp, the 50 amp is colored red and so is the end of the cord, the 30 amp ones are not painted. all the ends on all the cords look the same they are all the three prong 2 slants and a round on the end that plugs into the wall, the other ends are all the bluebird twist lock connectors. I figured that the 50 amp 240v service plug would have a hot leg to both the slants and the nutral ground to the round, but thats not it, anyone know how this is wired and how it works. if I use my 120v adapter on the 50 amp service it works for a minute before it blows the breaker, but all hook up lights are good. is the 50 amp service just a 120v system? any help is appreaciated, and thanks in advance [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> Subject: Re: 50 Amp service Author: Peter (78 35FC) [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 02/ 17/ 07, 9:12am The 50 Amp power cord should have a 4 prongs. Three vertical and a round ground. the thee prongs are; two hot, one common, and the round is ground. I can only assume that either the plug has been changed or perhaps the previous owner changed the cord so he could plug one plug into 30 amp 120 V service (through the 50 amp rec in the bus). the best thing to do is open the metal plug and see how it is wired. The 50 amp power cord should be much bigger diameter than the 30 amp. If it is the same size then someone has changed it. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> Subject: Re: 50 Amp service Author: Ken [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 02/ 17/ 07, 2:54pm Thanks Peter, the 50 amp service twist plug on the coach, is just a 3 pole plug same as the two 30 amp receptacles, when I plug in the two 30 amp plugs I have every thing working in the coach, although the leg gauges up front still only show 1 leg of power, I just bought the coach and when I picked it up they had the 50 amp service cord plugged in and everything worked , the 50 amp cord looks the same as the 30 amp cords, same size and same legs on both ends the outlet side is the two slants and a round, the end looks to have been hot but was still working and it wasent throwing there breaker, its definately not a true 240 volt service from what I can tell so far yet why would they have two leg gauges up front and two amps as well, unless this coach used some type of isolation or voltage deverter I dont know, and I hate to start tearing the coach apart to figure it out when everything seems to work ok. I ohmed the adapter cord he gave me to plug into 240 volt service which has the three verticals and the round to the two slants and round and all it does is take away one leg of power and and leaves the other live on a 50 amp breaker, when I try this connection thru the 50 amp cord all connection lights work, every thing works the same as when the two seprate 30 amp cords are plugged in, still no input reading on the leg gauge, and the plug end does get a little warm. Tells me the coach is just a 120 service, yet the sticker in the service compartment says 240 volt, and any info I have found in my manuels say its 240 volt, yet all the plugs and recptacles appear to be original.even when the generator is fired every thing is the same as being plugged in . When I first wired my 240 service plug I just asumed that the two slants on that 50 amp plug would be hot and the neutral and groung would be tied too the round. so I just hooked it all up the swiched the masted to 50 amp setting and almost blew everything up direct short to ground, luckly I still had my hand on the switch and was able to get it back of before anything blew, although there was some electrical smell coming from back in the converter charger area,but I doesnt appear to have hurt anything, I was shocked and pissed obiuosly of that happening and have been ohming and doing everything I can short of tearing the coach apart to figure this out, it would be nice to know exactly how this works or whats been done but since everything appears to work, and there is no 240 volt appliances in the coach I guess I wont worry about it, it just would be nice to have 240 volt. I do appreactiate any and all feed back on this matter. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> Subject: Re: 50 Amp service Author: Peter (78 35FC) [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 02/ 17/ 07, 6:40pm I sounds like a previous owner has rewired that 50 amp power cord to be used for a single 30 amp service. When you use the two 30 amp (120 volt) plugs, one of them powers one of the distribution bars in the distribution panel (circuit breaker panel) and the other 30 amp(120 volt) plug powers the other distrubution bar. Normally when you have 50 amp (240 volt) service one leg provides power (120 volt) to one of the distribution bars and the other leg provides power (120 volt) to the other distribution bar. The adapter plug that you have sounds like the kind that you buy at camping world. It is designed to allow you to plug a 30 amp (120 volt) plug into a 50 amp(240 volt) service, when no 30 amp (120 volt) service is available. It does exactly what you said, in that it drops one of the legs of power so in fact you get just single 50 amp 120 volt service to your RV. I think the problem is that someone replaced the cord on your 50 amp service cord. There should be a 4 wire cord. Two hot- normally a black and a red (that go to the two power prongs on your bus receptacle) one common- normally white wire that goes to the other prong and a ground - normally green that is attached to the metal outside housing if it is a metal plug, or to the grounding strip if it is a plastic plug. This provides 50 amp (120 volts) to each of the distribution bars in the bus. You should take and open the 50 amp plug that attaches to the bus and I am think that you will find that it is wired with just three wires. I suspect that the single hot wire is attached to two of the prongs in order to power both sides of the distribution box from a single 30 amp (120 volt) power source. I believe the problem is with your power cord not the bus. If you would like to talk give me a call. (250) 334-2852 [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: 50 Amp service Author: ken [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 02/ 19/ 07, 5:32pm Thanks Peter for your time and input, I think you are exactly right, after playing with it more last night useing the two seperate 30 amp cords, I am showing 120 volts on bolth legs on leg gauges,and of course useing the 50amp service the with just 1 leg 120v 50 amp it all works, so that is what they have done is just tie the two legs to one on the 50 amp plug. Thanks again for all the help on this, I think I will just leave it for now , I have a seperate generator that I use for the trailer and welder ect.. I will just continue to use it for 220 volt plug ins. Thanks agai peter [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: 50 Amp service Author: Bill Schreurs [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 02/ 19/ 07, 8:31pm Ken: Wow, I do not read this forum often, maybe I will from now on. I have to dispute a number of things which Peter has said, and also what you have done. Gosh, you are setting yourself up, or someone else, to get killed. The 50 amp plug has only three prongs, and the fourth is the steel case at the ends. The cable with the red painted ends is exactly that - 50 amp 240 volt service. You mention that when you run the generator the one leg does not show any power either, are you looking at voltage or current. If that is the case, maybe the cords are ok, it could be the selector switch, 30/50/gen etc. Try moving the selector switch. Now about killing someone - NEVER, NEVER in a RV should the ground and neutral be connected together. If you were to connect them together, and if you lost the ground connection, and someone came and touched the coach under the right conditions, they could possibly be the ground path, causing either serious or fatal injuries. Ken, email me if you wish, then maybe we can talk on telephone, and then you can print here what you found. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: 50 Amp service Author: ken [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 02/ 20/ 07, 3:25am Hi Bill and thanks for your input, I surely agree with you on not tying the ground and neutral together I have seen situations where people have done that and have been jolted from it, I was just trying the obious wiring when I first tried to wire a plug hear at my house. Do you have one like mine with the red marking for 50amp and the yellow for the 30 amps, if so then what you are saying is on the three prong 50 amp receptacle you have two legs that are hot, one leg is neutral, and the case of the plug is ground? if that is the case then how does the other end hook up, it is the 2 slants and one round plastic insulated end no sheild or anything exsposed for the ground hook up,I guess at this point the only way to really know is to pull the receptacle and see how it is wired. Thanks for your help on this issue, and since how it is now, it works and is all properly grounded and safe I will just leave it alone and move on to other things on the coach. Thanks again [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: 50 Amp service Author: Bill Schreurs [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 02/ 21/ 07, 7:41am Ken: My plug on the male end has 4 prongs, the one used for a 50 amp 240 volt service [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> [> Subject: Re: 50 Amp service Author: Bill Schreurs [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 02/ 19/ 07, 8:39pm Peter: Where u from? I got a 250 prefix on my phone as well. You must be in BC Canada somewhere. Bill [ Post a Reply to This Message ]

[> [> [> [> [> Subject: Re: 50 Amp service Author: Peter [ Edit | View ] Date Posted: 02/ 20/ 07, 6:24pm Yes, I am in Courtenay, on the Island. [ Post a Reply to This Message ]