kcstepp1992
Indiana
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Okay here is my situation.
I bought an older (1990 Mallard Sprinter) motorhome back in August. I have been fixing the insides and getting it ready to be used a lot. The previous owner had cut off the old plug for power and put in its place some sort of breaker or whatnot to plug into a fuse box at his house.
I cut that thing off and went and bought a 30 amp connector to put onto it because that is what its rated for.
I open up my new connector and read the directions and immediately see an issue. The connector is to have 3 wires to connect into it. Black, White, and Green. No big deal....except that my wiring also has a red wire.
I pulled all the wire out to see if there was a splice anywhere along the way and there wasnt. I went in under the bed area and opened up the fuse box/converter and found the wire and trace the wire to it. I unscrewed the lid so I could see how the wires connected on the inside. Inside that box all 4 wires are connected to different things in there. I didnt see any wiring diagram in there at all. I do have some electrical know how but nothing super extensive.
Does anyone know anything about a 4 wire 30 amp connector possibly? Everything Ive seen online shows 3 wires as well so im really at a loss at this point.
Thanks
Ken
* This post was
edited 07/19/12 08:21pm by kcstepp1992 *
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WyoTraveler
Northwest, Wyoming
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Are you sure it is 30 amp circuit? That red wire may be the other side of a 50 amp circuit.
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dupreet
High Point, NC
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Hi,
It sounds like your MH is wired for a 50A RV service. This uses four wires, two hots, neutral, and ground. The PO probably tied the two hots together on the RV side of the box you pulled out so it could be fed from a standard 30A outlet.
If I were you, I'd seek a little free advice from an RV shop on exactly what you have and how it's wired. If the PO put in a jack-leg box, they could have monkeyed with other stuff too!
Todd
Todd
1993 Ford E-350 pushed by a 1988 Wilderness 24' TT
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kcstepp1992
Indiana
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I am unsure. On the panel where my plug is it says its 30 amp and lower. I have taken some photos. I am hoping they turn out. I will have them posted shortly.
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kcstepp1992
Indiana
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Okay first photo is of the wires on the outside:
The second photo is where the wire comes into the back of my converter. The red wire is there on the left and its connected to a black wire.
The black wire that is connected with the red wire runs to another fuse box. I am unsure of what it does. I always assumed it was normal. Yep I know what assuming does. This last photo is of the other fuse box.
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B's Bunch
Shelbyville, TN. USA Why live any where else?
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Last box appears to have been installed by PO. No connectors, gnd and neutral connected to same lug ect. I would check further before I assumed anything or call PO to find out what was done. Be safe and good lick Larry
Larry,Brenda,Travis,Jarred & MEME the Boston Terror TheBunch 2011 American Coach Revolution 42T
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wolfe10
Texas
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Yup, that last box is NOT to code. Green and white should be to different (and isolated from each other) lugs.
That would also suggest that he modified the shore power cord into a 50 amp. That is a real "poor man's 50" and a long, long way from conforming to any electrical code.
Brett Wolfe
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EX: 1993 Foretravel 36' U-240
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WyoTraveler
Northwest, Wyoming
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It does look like a 50 amp mod by the PO. Most likely so they could run extra electric heaters or an extra A/C. The job doesn't look too professional.
If that incoming 50 amp cord is in good condition you could rip out all those boxes and wire the 50 amp cord properly, or just rip out the boxes and use the 30 plug you bought and not use the red wire.
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westernrvparkowner
montana
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A previous owner has installed some additonal electrical services and converted the rig to a makeshift 50 amp service. What they did not do is upgrade the distribution panel and instead split the 50 amp service to two seperate sub-panels. Not up to code, so have a qualified electrician check and see what else they cobbled together to be sure you don't have a fire breathing death trap.
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kcstepp1992
Indiana
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Thanks for the replies. I kind of got the feeling that the guy was a whack. So I am thinking the best thing right now is to probably plan on taking out that extra breaker box and re wire it back to 30 amps. Everything does seem to work nicely on the generator thankfully.
Guess Im going to have to delve into another project....yippee. I know those green wires run over to my main box as well. I need to start tracing all the wiring and such now and decide if I need to bang head on desk or not.
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