Total 50 AMPS or Across both lines?
 

I am hoping someone can clear up the following questions.

Thor, Tuscany 45 AT, 2017.

As you can see from the picture I on my Firefly control panel it displays 2 lines with the voltage and Amps on each line. My question is do I have a total of 50 AMPS when adding the two lines together, or is it 50 AMPs on each line?

Not really a fan of "turn everything on and see" so I thought I would ask the group.

Thanks in advance.

A 50 amp outlet will deliver 50 amps on both line 1 and on line 2 at 120volts.
so 100 amps X 120 volts equals 12,000W of power.


Only if you plug into a 30 amp outlet (with an adapter) will you be restricted to one 30 amp 120 volt circuit or 3,600 W of power.

OldWeb's got you covered - 50 amps each side.

With that much total power available: I can now see the advantage of a 50 amp system... :o

Yup, great for charging up the EV @ 8kW with room to spare.

:o My EV is just a 36 Volt golf cart... :hide:

I’m impressed with the 552 hours on generator. :thumb:

I have to question the 62 cycles per sec.
how many times must you set your clocks back?

yep, the 'good ole' electrical term for our RV service is labeled as '50amp', yet it's 50amps at 240volts! So, since 240v is twice 120v, you have up to 100AMPS to use, since most folks don't have anything 240v in their coach.

This is why it's many times misunderstood by 'average' campers that our 50amp outlet is 'only' 20amp more than their 30amp outlet,,,,, yet it's 70AMPS more.

This is really due to the fact that a single 100amp wire cable would be so large, so unwieldy, and heavy, and require a huge set of connectors and breaker, that two 50amp lines, with a shared Neutral, gives you a much easier time handling the infrastructure required for this amount of power.

Why don’t you suggest a new RV electrical standard in the middle to split the huge difference in capacity? :eek:

Would you prefer 50 Amp at 115-Volt, or 30Amp at 230-Volt? ;)

I’ll support you with either, but like 30 Amp X 230-Volt better. :thumb:



Seriously though, I remember an article a long time ago calling for a new standard that could offer more capacity, but short of 100 Amp equivalent. Just can’t recall details.

I do like the idea of upgrading the 'ol 30amp capacity to a 240v variety, which, like the 50amp variety, would support up to 60amps of 120v power even for the smallest of campers. Well, of course, this would require a differing Main Panel within the camper, which would 'split' the 240v power into two 'sides', like our 50amp panels do, but that's probably a 'doable' upgrade, along with the additional 10gauge wire for the shore cord, and the additional 'room' for the double-pole breaker in the Power Pedestal, which would be another 'change' for campgrounds and rv parks .... EEEEKKKK!!!!

The reason 30 Amp 120/240 Volt with ground could be a relatively easy future standard, which is NEMA 14-30R receptacle, is that with a simple and cheap adapter (already in production), existing 30A motorhomes could plug in — and 30A pedestal breaker would protect motorhome properly (limits to 30 Amps). Any new standard would require compatibility with existing motorhomes so campgrounds/industry could implement changes over time, and 14-30R would support that. New campground sections and motorhome manufacturers could supply 30A 240V for equivalent of 60 Amps, plenty for dual air conditioners without needing power management systems.

Unfortunately, 30A 120/240 Volt would not save enough capital investment over existing 50A standard to make it worth the trouble so I don’t see it happening; not unless it’s done for other reasons.

On the plus side, a 30A 120/240 Volt 14-30R connection could not only power existing 30A motorhomes, but with a different adapter supply up to 60 Amps to larger 50A motorhomes which could easily power their 2 air conditioners.

I can’t recall what was proposed years ago, but now that 50A is so common, it’s very doubtful there will be changes to RV electrical system unless it’s to increase power beyond 50A.

A combined 60 Amps would make a great middle ground between present 30A and 50A RV services, but probably not cost effective.




Sorry for thread thrift, but I assumed LDRider had already gotten his answer.

Yep, 50 amps per leg. Just understand that if either leg goes over 50 amps, the breaker is gonna trip and both legs will be dead. Also remember that 50 amps is 240 volts L1 to L2 just like your electric range in you house. People think it is different in an RV than at home but they are wrong. They say" it's 2 legs of 120 volts" and that is exactly what is. No different that at home.:thumb:

We were in a campground that only had the advertised 50amp.

The ped had 30 and 20 breakers for 50amp service :rolleyes:

I've seen some also say '100amp' service

when you arrive, it's the typical 50amp, 30amp, 20amp outlets most any other 'full service' campground has, too.

Goes to show, you can't fix stupid.

My RV has two ACs and 50 amp service. Zion CG has only 30 amp plug, so using adapter.

100 degrees yesterday needed both ACs. Turned them on with delay. Also electric hot water heater and fridge. So far only tripped the breaker a couple of times...I suspect when both ACs were starting compressors at same time. When it cools go back to one AC at a time, alternating front and rear. Works!

Put the WH on gas. you gonna wear out the main breaker.:whistling:

And the fridge!

I suspect you were overloading the 30 amp breaker:

Each AC at 15+ amps
Fridge at 4+ amps
Water heater at 12+ amps

No starting cycle needed to trip the 30 amp breaker.