50 amp to rv
#1
08-23-03, 04:05 PM
50 amp to rv
I don't know much about this type of thing but am pretty handy with tools.
I need to go about 100 feet from my breaker box through the attic and into my shop. I have questions on the size of the wire and what would be the best for my application.
I have some 6-3 romenex that is long enough but I'm not sure about the gauge. Is it sufficent?
I also noticed on the rv plug that there is 4 plugs yet on the other end only 3 where it plugs into the rv; where did the other go?
For color codes red= hot
black= hot
white= nuetral
bare =gropund
Is this correct?
Thanks,
Bob
I need to go about 100 feet from my breaker box through the attic and into my shop. I have questions on the size of the wire and what would be the best for my application.
I have some 6-3 romenex that is long enough but I'm not sure about the gauge. Is it sufficent?
I also noticed on the rv plug that there is 4 plugs yet on the other end only 3 where it plugs into the rv; where did the other go?
For color codes red= hot
black= hot
white= nuetral
bare =gropund
Is this correct?
Thanks,
Bob
#2
08-23-03, 06:22 PM
allright that wasn't too bad and it even works. Still wonder about the load on that wire size??? 125 ft if that makes any difference.
Now if I wanted to plug my welder into this 4 pronged socket is there an adapter that I can plug my 3 pronged welder into and then convert to a 4 prong rv type connection?
Thanks,
Bob
Now if I wanted to plug my welder into this 4 pronged socket is there an adapter that I can plug my 3 pronged welder into and then convert to a 4 prong rv type connection?
Thanks,
Bob
#3
08-23-03, 06:45 PM
Member
6/3 Romex cable is 6-gauge NM-B with three insulated conductors and a bare grounding wire. In most cases, this can be connected to any breaker up to and including 60 amps.
Your wire color code is correct.
But before you do anything, you need the electrical specs on that RV. What size breaker does it need, and does it need 120 volts, 240 volts, or both? You can answer all these questions by looking at the type of the plug on the RV. So please describe the plug in great detail.
125 feet is probably not enough to make a difference.
240-volt circuits are not normally interchangeable. Unless the RV and the welder have identical electrical requirements, it would not be safe to use any kind of adaptor.
Your wire color code is correct.
But before you do anything, you need the electrical specs on that RV. What size breaker does it need, and does it need 120 volts, 240 volts, or both? You can answer all these questions by looking at the type of the plug on the RV. So please describe the plug in great detail.
125 feet is probably not enough to make a difference.
240-volt circuits are not normally interchangeable. Unless the RV and the welder have identical electrical requirements, it would not be safe to use any kind of adaptor.
#4
08-23-03, 07:47 PM
What kind of welder is it? Most of those machines do have 50A requirements. If you do make an adapter for it remember that the 3rd prong on the welder is not a neutral wire but a ground wire. My neighbor made this same mistake wiring an air comp the other day. He used a 4 wire recept and cord, then used the neutral for the grounding. It wouldnt have been so bad except that it was on a detatched garage with a 4 wire subfed panel. Most welding machines that are 240v come with a 6-50R plug anymore even though some of them have a full load draw of only 17amps. (like a HH175) I guess NEMA allows it because they have their own thermal protection and 50A welding circuits are so common so the manufacturer figures its just easier to put the same big plug on instead of sizing different ones to different machines,,, its a bean counter thing I guess.
#5
08-24-03, 06:34 AM
Thanks a bunch!
The RV says 120/240 v
3 pole 4 wire 60 hz 50 amp.
It has 4 plugs that insert into my new outlet. The 2 on the sides connect to the hot wires. The round one connects to the ground wire and the flat one on top is the neutral.
I check an outlet in the rv and I have 120 v.
The welder is a miller thunder...
it requires 230 v and 47 amps at 60 hz.
It has a 3 plug that has 1 round and 2 rectangular with one of the rectagular much longer then the other.
The breaker I ran from the house is 50 amp 2 pole.
Is there a way to make the welder work on this setup? I am out of spots for new breakers.
Thanks again,
Bob
The RV says 120/240 v
3 pole 4 wire 60 hz 50 amp.
It has 4 plugs that insert into my new outlet. The 2 on the sides connect to the hot wires. The round one connects to the ground wire and the flat one on top is the neutral.
I check an outlet in the rv and I have 120 v.
The welder is a miller thunder...
it requires 230 v and 47 amps at 60 hz.
It has a 3 plug that has 1 round and 2 rectangular with one of the rectagular much longer then the other.
The breaker I ran from the house is 50 amp 2 pole.
Is there a way to make the welder work on this setup? I am out of spots for new breakers.
Thanks again,
Bob
#6
08-24-03, 08:13 AM
Member
You're in good shape. Simply put two receptacles on this circuit, one for the RV and one for the welder. Make sure you unplug one before using the other, since the circuit won't support both at the same time. The RV receptacle will use all four wires, but at the welder receptacle you will be capping off the white wire.
#7
08-24-03, 12:07 PM
so the welder will use 2 hot wires and one ground?
Anything wrong with making a pigtail vs setting up a whole new box?
Or is it better just to splice into the red, black and copper wire and make the new box.
Is it acceptable to use those huge wire nuts for a job like this?
Or is it better to come back out of one box and into the new one?
Sorry for so many questions,
Bob
Anything wrong with making a pigtail vs setting up a whole new box?
Or is it better just to splice into the red, black and copper wire and make the new box.
Is it acceptable to use those huge wire nuts for a job like this?
Or is it better to come back out of one box and into the new one?
Sorry for so many questions,
Bob
#8
08-24-03, 03:29 PM
No wire nuts in this setup. The wire is too large. You could do this either way and using 2 recepts makes for a neater job but you should use a Jbox I spose and use split bolt type connectors. I am not sure if it would be allowed to put 2 sets of wires under one of the recepts. I might be attempted to make an adapter. Maybe John has a better idea.
#10
08-24-03, 05:23 PM
Member
It only takes two wires to complete a circuit, one connected to each side of a load. This is true of 120-volt circuits as well as 240-volt circuits. A 120-volt circuit conventionally uses a black and white for its two wires. A 240-volt circuit conventionally uses a black and red (or sometimes two blacks or even a black and reidentified white).
Your RV needs both 120 volts and 240 volts. So it uses the black and red to get 240 volts, and black and white (or red and white) to get 120 volts. Your welder needs only 240 volts. So the red and black are sufficient. It has no use whatsoever for an extra wire.
Your RV needs both 120 volts and 240 volts. So it uses the black and red to get 240 volts, and black and white (or red and white) to get 120 volts. Your welder needs only 240 volts. So the red and black are sufficient. It has no use whatsoever for an extra wire.
