Camper Hook Up

[kda3310]

I have a camper trailer hook up to install. 240 volt single phase. It has four breaker spaces in it. One double pole 50 amp, one single pole 30 amp and one single pole 20 amp breaker. It has matching size outlets on it. 240 volt 50 amp plug, 120 volt 30amp plug and one 15 amp GFCI outlet on it. It can not pull more than 80 amp on a single leg. I am sizing the conductor size by 80 amps x 1.25 = 100 amp. It looks likes I need two #3 THHN hots, one #6 THHN neutral and one number #8 THHN ground. I know not all things will by running at the same time. Is there some way I can run a smaller wire size and how by code?

 

[ActionDave]

Where are you coming up with 80A? My whole house with everything thing possible turned on and lit up doesn't pull 80A.

 

[iwire]

551.73 has the size requirements.

 

[peter d]

Where are you coming up with 80A? My whole house with everything thing possible turned on and lit up doesn't pull 80A.

There's a street a few blocks over from me with 11 houses on one 50 kva transformer. :lol: Yes, I counted, being the nerd that I am.

 

[kda3310]

Where are you coming up with 80A? My whole house with everything thing possible turned on and lit up doesn't pull 80A.

The double pole 50 amp and the single pole 30 amp come up to the max potential on one leg as 80 amps. But, I know what your saying. So how do I size this?

 

[iwire]

The double pole 50 amp and the single pole 30 amp come up to the max potential on one leg as 80 amps. But, I know what your saying. So how do I size this?

551.73 tells you the VA of these outlets

 

[peter d]

551.73 tells you the VA of these outlets

Are you saying he should look in 551.73?

 

[augie47]

If this is a stand alone camper spot I don't think Art 551 would apply as it would not be a "park".
If you do apply Art 551, the 50 amp would be the only receptacle you would need to count and even then it would be at 9600 va. I would not think twice about feeding the site with a 50 amp feeder unless you know for sure there will be multiple loads.

 

[kda3310]

If this is a stand alone camper spot I don't think Art 551 would apply as it would not be a "park".

That's the thing. I don't know if they will try to put two campers on this after I leave. I have all three pugs here. So do I come up with the sum of 9600va, 3600va and 2400va. I still come up with 75 amps. Or, do I just calculate the 50 amp plug.

 

[iwire]

If this is a stand alone camper spot I don't think Art 551 would apply as it would not be a "park".

I think it applies to any camper electrical connection

551.1 Scope. The provisions of this article cover the elec-trical conductors and equipment other than low-voltage and automotive vehicle circuits or extensions thereof, installed within or on recreational vehicles, the conductors that connect recreational vehicles to a supply of electricity, and the installation of equipment and devices related to electrical installations within a recreational vehicle park

 

[iggy2]

I have a camper trailer hook up to install. 240 volt single phase. It has four breaker spaces in it. One double pole 50 amp, one single pole 30 amp and one single pole 20 amp breaker. It has matching size outlets on it. 240 volt 50 amp plug, 120 volt 30amp plug and one 15 amp GFCI outlet on it. It can not pull more than 80 amp on a single leg. I am sizing the conductor size by 80 amps x 1.25 = 100 amp. It looks likes I need two #3 THHN hots, one #6 THHN neutral and one number #8 THHN ground. I know not all things will by running at the same time. Is there some way I can run a smaller wire size and how by code?

I wouldn't include a 1.25 multiplier - not necessarily a continuous load.

 

[Coppersmith]

Those camper pedestals are designed for one plug at a time use. Only one of those breakers should be turned on at a time. However you are correct in that you can't stop the campers from doing it, however the 50 amp 2 pole breaker feeding the pedestal from the main panel will. If they complain later because it's tripping, tell them they are overloading it. You should be sizing the wires to 50 amps.

 

[kda3310]

551.73 tells you the VA of these outlets

If I am reading this right the 240 volt 50 amp outlet should be calculated at 9600 VA. The 120 volt 30 amp outlet with a 20 amp GFCI outlet should be calculated at 3600 VA.

9600 VA + 3600 VA = 13200 VA
13200 VA ÷ 240 volts = 55 amps
55 amps × 1.25 = 69 amps

80 amp feed breaker
Two #4 THHN hots
One #6 THHN neutral
One #8 THHN ground

 

[JFletcher]

If you're concerned about cost, go with AL. I can only assume you are figuring #3 copper as 100A is its ampacity with 75*C limits. #1 AL will be far less expensive.

 

[brantmacga]

Are you saying he should look in 551.73?

This is why we need a like button.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[kda3310]

Those camper pedestals are designed for one plug at a time use. Only one of those breakers should be turned on at a time. However you are correct in that you can't stop the campers from doing it, however the 50 amp 2 pole breaker feeding the pedestal from the main panel will. If they complain later because it's tripping, tell them they are overloading it. You should be sizing the wires to 50 amps.

I think your right. What is throwing me off is it says max over current device is 125 amp. It makes me think this one was designed to be able to run two at the same time. I'm probably just over thinking this and trying to make it where two can run on it. I just want to make sure it works when I leave even if I overdo it a little. However overdoing it too much cost a lot of money.

 

[Coppersmith]

Assuming the equipment can legally have multiple outlets in use at one time, perhaps you should just ask the owner if s/he wants to pay for the larger wire and main breaker panel breaker to allow multiple use or just pay for the smaller wire/breaker single use option. (And of course any other variable expense like conduit size and added labor.)

 

[JFletcher]

Assuming the equipment can legally have multiple outlets in use at one time, perhaps you should just ask the owner if s/he wants to pay for the larger wire and main breaker panel breaker to allow multiple use or just pay for the smaller wire/breaker single use option. (And of course any other variable expense like conduit size and added labor.)

Agreed. Also, if you look at campsite reviews, power problems are high on the list of complaints, so overdoing it a bit now may pay off big time (or at least not hurt them) when people leave reviews on the various sites. Getting a review like "Power went off multiple times. Wouldnt stay here again (1 star)" are not what you want to see.

 

[Coppersmith]

That's when you take your portable generator, place it as close to your neighbor's trailer as possible, and run it all night.

 

[iwire]

Those camper pedestals are designed for one plug at a time use.

i disagree with that, do you have a source or reference stating that?

Only one of those breakers should be turned on at a time.

Why is that?

So you think it's a violation for me to plug my camper into the 30 amp outlet and my radio into the 20?:huh:


A camper pedestal is just a job specific panelboard, we would not be having discussions about adding up the current ratings of the breakers in a homes panel to size the service. We know we would use load calculations. The same applies here. It will require more than a 50 amp breaker at the supply.