Remember back in the days when houses were wired with 60 amps of 110 volt power. Why would you ever need more power than that in a house, there were only light bulbs to use. Who ever dreamed there would one day be a/c, microwaves, electric driers, electric ranges, computers, and all the goodies we have today. Yes I agree 200 amp service for an rv might seem like overkill today, in the future who knows. I agree with you running the 200 amp service.
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A 200 amp service would not be that much more than a 100 amp service and would eliminate the need to rewire in the future at a lot higher price. thou 100 wuld still be more than wat is needed now. Most RV's have either a 30 or 50 amp service except for maybe some of the monsters.
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50 RV
15 washer
30 dryer
15 freezer
20 baseboard heater
15 building
30 water heater for laundry (possibly)
145 amps total
So - I know I don't need the full 200 amps, but my fear is that 100 amps will be on the fence. The next level is 200. The cost to install 200 amp over 100 amp service for 5 sites is not that significant.
Almost all houses today have a 200 amp panel, and because of that the equipment is very inexpensive. The site would also be electrically "cabin ready" if I ever chose to switch a site to a cabin.
The sites will be rentals. I will be very strict about the junk. That's the main reason I'm including the building - so people will have a place for the inevitable "stuff".
Nick Wildwood wrote: However be careful you don't turn it into a trailer park. Long term campers have a lot of long term stuff which can quickly clutter up the place. You better have rules to keep that under control and out of site.
I understand what you are saying. And I intend to keep close tabs on everything. I'm hoping to find snowbirds who would like to keep a site leased all year, even while they are gone. I care about my neighbors property values, and I believe in good stewardship. I will not create a ghetto.
Also, if anyone had a boat or cargo trailer I can provide a parking place in a back pasture. Junk will not be an issue. I'll be the one mowing, and if I have to climb off the tractor to move something there will be hell to pay! (just kidding)
Of course if anyone wanted to store their rig on a site while they went home for a season I'd keep an eye on things for them.
I'm hoping to market the sites through a couple of the major class A dealerships on I-75. I only need 5 customers.
tvman44 wrote: A 200 amp service would not be that much more than a 100 amp service and would eliminate the need to rewire in the future at a lot higher price. thou 100 wuld still be more than wat is needed now. Most RV's have either a 30 or 50 amp service except for maybe some of the monsters.
Actually the 50 amp RVs are wired so that theoretically they can pull up to 100 amps - 50 amps on each leg.
Barb
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Nick Wildwood wrote: Most people's houses don't have a 200 amp panel.
Actually it would be a rare home built today that doesn't have a 200A service. I find in a stick built that 100A gets taxed very quickly in the summer with central air. That said a 200A service is overkill in 2008 for an RV site, but as was stated above the price difference is so little that it only makes sense to just go to 200A now and be done with it.
BarbaraOK wrote: Actually the 50 amp RVs are wired so that theoretically they can pull up to 100 amps - 50 amps on each leg.
Barb
As such that would be a 50A 240V service Barbara. All single phase 240V services to homes are treated as amps per leg. The other thing not being taken into consideration is the fact that you never want to load any service, or any branch circuit breaker for that matter, up to 100% of rated load. Any electrical system should be designed to not exceed 80% of rated capacity.
atb wrote: I understand that larger RVs need 50 amps. But:
50 RV
15 washer
30 dryer
15 freezer
20 baseboard heater
15 building
30 water heater for laundry (possibly)
145 amps total
So - I know I don't need the full 200 amps, but my fear is that 100 amps will be on the fence. The next level is 200. The cost to install 200 amp over 100 amp service for 5 sites is not that significant.
Using 80% of rated capacity, which is industry standard design criteria, your 200A service should not carry more than 160A at one time. That said though you will never see 145 amps drawn by everything you list if it were all running at the same moment in time.
I suspect you could get away with 100A services to each, but a wise man plans for the future especially when the cost difference is negligible. I like your overall idea and also think going 200A covers you far into the future. I wish you the best on this endeavor. It sounds like something I would be interested in staying at some day and in an area I definitely plan to visit in the future.
Given the right property, view, location, services and sound infrastructure (pad - electric - cable - wireless - water - sewer) I'd think you'd have no problem finding 5 responsible tenants. Reading your responses, sounds like you're planning for success.
Don't forget the other annoyances to RV's like mice, snakes, bugs & domestic pet control
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