Glenn And Kitty
Breaux Bridge, LA
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Joined: 11/01/2005
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I'm installing a receptacle for my 24ft Trail Sport. The exact length of wire I will use is 53 1/2 feet from the 30 amp breaker in my main electrical panel to the spot I will put the receptacle. I've been looking up the wire size for that run and most Internet sites call for #8 over 50 feet and #10 for under fifty feet.
I have nothing else that will run on that circuit. I expect the voltage drop for #10 wire on the 53 1/2 run will be about 3.2%. Since I'm so close to the "under 50 foot" mark and my small RV does not pull that much voltage would I be ok with the #10 and just fudge on the extra 3 1/2 feet? What do you think?
Glenn
2006 Trail Sport 22QB
2006 F-250 Super Duty
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bigdually
North Reading, Ma
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My electrician told me, as long as I don't use my AC not to even bother with the 30 amp circuit, just to adapt to a 15 or 20amp. We camp at a friend house often and they only have a 20 amp we use and we just don't use the air and its fine.
So I say if you are comfortable with it do it, Around here we need a permit to do anything and code would prevail. The larger would be my personal choice if your going to put a 30 amp plug in because someday somebidy may used it to the limit and better to be safe than fried
1999 f350 "BIG DUALLY" V10 4dr lb 2wd 4.30 locker just hit 58k
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tom_kat
way upstate new york/lake george area
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sooner or later your going to want to use the AC to keep cool or a electric heater or maybe some power tools from it your better of useing the larger cable and being done with it.you should add a 20 amp outlet along with the 30 amp outlet you will find its handy to have later on,we even ran cable tv out there when we put in power.
1985 Class A Holiday Rambler Imperial 33 +1979 Class C Holiday Rambler Statesman 1000 = 24 ft
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Mandalay Parr
Phoenix, AZ
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If you do it right the first time, you won't have to do it over. Never know what your future needs will be.
Jerry Parr
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itsalleasy
USA
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Joined: 07/20/2007
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If I was going to all the trouble of adding a plug it would be 30 amp, properly wired. And remember, your actual load is thru probably another 25 feet of cord attached to the trailer. I would definitely use #8.
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Beach-Rat
Northern Virginia
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Joined: 09/14/2007
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Just a couple of thoughts..
Cut 3 1/3 feet off of the coiled up power cord in the belly..
I'd run it.. the A/C only draws high amperage while it starts, not while it runs..
How many campgrounds run the extra 3 1/2 feet and we don't know it?
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Hurricaner
Hurricane Utah
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Joined: 02/17/2007
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Since you are coming off the main panel, it will be fine. If you were coming off a sub panel, I might be tempted to go to #8. But since you are coming from the main, you're are not going to deal with what can easily be a 2% voltage drop at the sub.
Sam & Kari
Hurricane, Utah
2004 34' Damon Challenger 315
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Chief45
Porterville, Calif.
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I agree, overbuild the system. You may want to upgrade your RV in the future or if you ever sell the new owner my focus in on "rv parking" and want a 50 amp system. If you can afford it - upgrade.
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Glenn And Kitty
Breaux Bridge, LA
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Original poster here with a few more thoughts. My reason for going with the #10 is that I have a metal building and I can buy #10 in "self-contained conduit" and easily run it through the building. If I go with #8 I have to buy separate conduit, put it in place, and then run the #8 through it.
I already have four 20 amp 110 outlets in the area so I don't need to add another one of those. In addition, I have plugged my RV into a 20 amp outlet and turned on the AC while monitoring the voltage with a meter. The "start up drop" was less than 112 volts and continuous run was always above 118 volts. I even turned on the micro wave and voltage did not drop below 112. My unit just does not use much current.
Using #8, my total cost will nearly double because of that size wire and the separate conduit, not to mention the added time and labor of that configuration. All things considered (and I'm talking 3 1/2 feet over the recommended format) it just seemed more practical to use #10, but I didn't want to be way out of line with what is acceptable.
Glenn
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randrx2
Newport News, VA
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Joined: 03/26/2005
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Assuming you have a 30 foot cord + the 53.5 ft = 83.5 ft. If you run at 80% load on the circuit (24A) your voltage drop would be = 4.9V or 4.1%.
The AC is only going to run at 20A max and that calculated at 4V or 3.3%.
You should be okay. 3% voltage drop is ideal but 5% is acceptable.
"Breath in, breath out, move on."
Winnebago View 24H "Pebbles"
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