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05 /19/ 26, 4:14pm

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Subject: Re: 50 Amp service Author: Peter (78 35FC) [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ] Date Posted: 02/ 17/ 07, 6:40pm In reply to: Ken 's message, "Re: 50 Amp service" on 02/ 17/ 07, 2:54pm 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 [ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

[> [> [> [> 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 ]