How To Hook up an RV outlet

[Sweetfarm]

Hi everyone, I’m looking to run electric to my travel trailer. It has 30 amp service. I am digging a trench and going to get 10 gauge direct burial wire. Wondering if I can use this outlet? ( with an additional breaker in the basement)

Midwest Electric Products 70 Amp Power Outlet Box U041CP - The Home Depot

Enhance your electrical system with the GE 70 Amp RV Power Outlet Box. Featuring 70 Amps of maximum power, this durable box features a gray enclosure and is ANSI certified and UL listed for safety. The

www.homedepot.com

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

That box should work fine, though you could probably find a less-expensive option.

Don't know how long your wire run is from the breaker panel in the house to the RV box, but if it totals more than about 100' you should upsize your wire to 8AWG. And, if it was my project, I would run 8AWG anyway, just in case I ever wanted to change to a 50A service.

TJ

 

[Sweetfarm]

Thanks TJ. I need both the 30 amp and the regular house current. This is the only unit I’ve seen with both. I was tempted to go with eight gauge but I’m not sure my breaker box can handle 50 amps because I’m at my limit. I’m running about 200 feet. With the limited amount of power I’ll be using for the camper people seem to think it’s OK. Hope so! I talked to one electrician and he said a “70 amp” unit could not be used with 10 gauge wire and I understand that in theory but I do not believe he is correct.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

Thanks TJ. I need both the 30 amp and the regular house current. This is the only unit I’ve seen with both. I was tempted to go with eight gauge but I’m not sure my breaker box can handle 50 amps because I’m at my limit. I’m running about 200 feet. With the limited amount of power I’ll be using for the camper people seem to think it’s OK. Hope so! I talked to one electrician and he said a “70 amp” unit could not be used with 10 gauge wire and I understand that in theory but I do not believe he is correct.

With a 200' run, you absolutely need 8WG...maybe 6AWG! Your electrician is correct. The voltage drop with 10AWG wire over a 200' run will be substantial. And, using undersized wire could pose some insurance issues as well should you ever have an electrical fire. Saving a few bucks in the short term may not be a good long-term investment.

TJ

 

[Sweetfarm]

Thanks. I think you misunderstood me. Every electrician I’ve talked to said that the 10 gauge wire for 200 feet is fine for my needs. I don’t believe I have enough power in my circuit breaker box for 50 amp (8 gauge) as well. My question is whether or not that outlet would work with the 10 gauge. I appreciate your help.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

The size of the wire has nothing to do with how much amperage you draw from your main panel. Using 8AWG will not, in itself, draw any more amperage than 10AWG. The load you plug in at the end of the circuit governs how much amperage is drawn and since you will have a 30A receptacle for the RV and two 20A general use receptacles, your potential draw could be 70A if you use all three circuits at the same time.

TJ

 

[Sweetfarm]

So you’re saying I could go up to an 8 or 6 gauge and that won’t affect the breaker box it would just would perform better?

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

So you’re saying I could go up to an 8 or 6 gauge and that won’t affect the breaker box it would just would perform better?

Yes. Just be sure that the individual breaker in your main panel will accept the larger wire size. It most likely will, but if not, just replace the individual breaker with one that will.

TJ

 

[Sweetfarm]

Great, thanks TJ. I think I am going to go up to the eight gauge in conduit and there is no breaker in at the moment so I will put in a GFCI type. Somebody mentioned I need two 30 amp breakers and one 20 amp breaker. Now that I’ve got the wire figured out I will look more into that.

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

It looks like the power outlet box you have chosen comes with a 30A and a 20A breaker installed. The 30A protects the RV outlet and the 20A protects the two household outlets. All you need now is a 30A (or 50A if you want) breaker for the main panel at the house.

The breakers in the power outlet box (aka "sub-panel) will protect the circuits connected to it. The breaker at the main panel in the house protects against a short circuit between it and the sub-panel (or, an unlikely failure of one of the breakers in the sub-panel).

Good luck.

TJ

 

[Chargerman]

I would not put a GFCI breaker in your main panel. Many RV systems do not play well with GFCI’s. I would add a GFCI outlet at the point of use if you feel you need one there for other use

 

[Sweetfarm]

Hi everyone, well it’s been a while! I’ve decided to go with 4 or 6 gage wire for the 200 foot run. Probably 4. The last electrician I had at the house told me that I need to run separate wires for each breaker which is getting a little pricey. $600+. I was under the impression I could run a single wire to this outlet and put in a jumper to each breaker. Am I correct in thinking this?

 

[TJ&LadyDi]

You should be able to run a single heavy wire (#4) to a "sub-panel" at the RV connection point. The sub-panel would then have breakers in it for the individual circuits it feeds. This is similar to putting a sub-panel in a detached building like a shop, garage, etc.

Where are you finding your "electricians?" Are these licensed and bonded electricians, or handymen that do occasional electrical work? From my experience, you are receiving some questionable information. Or, the electrical code in your state is a whole lot different from the one in states with which I am familiar.

Get a state-licensed electrician and do it the way he says. And, get an electrical permit from the state to have the work done. That will get you an inspection and assurance that the job has been done correctly.

TJ

 

[Sweetfarm]

Thanks TJ. The subpanel in question is the one in the link above. It has a 20 and a 30 amp circuit breakers. That is why I’m questioning the number of wires. I’ll link it again.

Midwest Electric Products 70 Amp Power Outlet Box U041CP - The Home Depot

Enhance your electrical system with the GE 70 Amp RV Power Outlet Box. Featuring 70 Amps of maximum power, this durable box features a gray enclosure and is ANSI certified and UL listed for safety. The

www.homedepot.com

I have been talking to quite a few certified electricians and everybody seems to have a different opinion, that’s why I’ve been coming on here. The first electrician wanted me to use 10 gauge wire which now that I’m educating myself I realize is far too small. The second one wants me to run two 4 gauge wires which seems like overkill.

 

[Sweetfarm]

I don’t know, the more I talk to licensed electricians the more I realize that even though they have the title they might not know exactly what they’re doing. The last guy I talk to you also was planning on running 240v out there which is not at all the right thing to do and could damage my RV wiring! Before I drop $1200 on this project I want to do it once and make sure it’s done right.