Evaluating new RV electrical setup

[msrdo]

First of all, I am a new prospective RVer. I'm looking at a 2018 Forester Class C that had a second A/C installed. Attached is the wiring diagram. Sorry for the freehand drawing. I have a couple questions if someone would be so kind!

The 30A shore input is apparently inop. Camping World installed the A/C and has pulled 2 Romex lines to the area next to the water hookup. There is a 50A male plug attached there. The current owner has been getting power from a 30A cord and a 30A/50A puck attached to the 50A plug. This allows the rig to run both A/C units when docked. Assume this is ok. Would there be any issues with attaching directly to 50A pedestal? I guess one could draw more than 30A from the RV side.

My other issue is with the 30A standard input. When the cord is attached directly to the 30A plug, I do not get power to the unit. When attached at the 50A plug, I get power (sniffed) in a wire that is close to where I think the 30A plug is. I am planning to dig into the coach tomorrow to visually confirm the back of the 30A receptacle.

When plugged into the 50A plug via the 30A pedestal, am I able to get 30A to each side of the 50, or is it split?

Thoughts anyone? Thanks in advance.

 

[workinonit]

That sounds like a hot mess to me. The first and probably most important advice I can give you is to get yourself an EMS as fast as you possibly can. If there ever was a candidate for one it is you.

 

[workinonit]

If that 30A service is inoperable have you found the end to it? Where does it terminate?

 

[workinonit]

Based on your drawing it looks like the 50A is your main shore power. I would pull that 20A romex to the load center and land it on a breaker there. I think you need to get someone qualified to square that wiring away before you burn the RV down.

 

[rvlifer]

If camping world touched it run away. They are that bad. If you dont believe me check out the camping world sucks facebook group.

 

[bigbAZ]

If you are still serious about the purchase after the above advice to avoid CW (which I agree with 100% BTW) we need to know more.

It's not clear what this means 2 Romex lines to the area next to the water hookup. There is a 50A male plug attached there, are you saying they ran two separate Romexs and connected them to a 50 amp plug? Is the added unit being supplied straight from the pedestal hookup? In other words, did they use a 50 amp shore cord to bring power in then go to the 30 amp load center with L1 and to the added AC unit with L2? What's with the separate 15 amp feed, is that a separate cord that you plug in to shore power for that one receptacle?

We could use a few more details and drawings or some pics wouldn't hurt.

 

[bigbAZ]

Based on your drawing it looks like the 50A is your main shore power. I would pull that 20A romex to the load center and land it on a breaker there. I think you need to get someone qualified to square that wiring away before you burn the RV down.

I think you may be right, but the 30 amp load center will not have room or capacity for the added AC unit. The whole thing would need to be upgraded to a 50 amp load center.

 

[rvlifer]

I had camping world do roof maintenance once. They were supposed to remove the old sealant and replace it They used the wrong sealant and left large gaps where they should have sealed. They also cracked a skylight and broke a tv antenna. They got ugly when i complained. The entire roof had to be resealed

 

[No cats]

It's a factory 30A RV that's been converted to a 50A connector. The generator and ATS are 30A so that remains stock, including the load center (romex #1). The 2nd AC is a satellite independent unit that will not work on the generator (romex #2), only on the 50A "new" connector and cable to 50A pedestal. This looks to me like an OK way to do it. The two romex are just a way to split the neutral to 2 loads. If the workmanship is done right, I see no problem with it, it's actually pretty "elegant" as one of my engineering professors used to say.

 

[bigbAZ]

It's a factory 30A RV that's been converted to a 50A connector. The generator and ATS are 30A so that remains stock, including the load center (romex #1). The 2nd AC is a satellite independent unit that will not work on the generator (romex #2), only on the 50A "new" connector and cable to 50A pedestal. This looks to me like an OK way to do it. The two romex are just a way to split the neutral to 2 loads. If the workmanship is done right, I see no problem with it, it's actually pretty "elegant" as one of my engineering professors used to say.

The question is, how big is the Romex that is tapped in the 50 amp feed and where is the overcurrent protection located?

 

[msrdo]

If that 30A service is inoperable have you found the end to it? Where does it terminate?

That's the project for tomorrow.

 

[No cats]

I was assuming that the stock 30A RV wiring was used up to the 50A RV connector. I'm also assuming that a standard 50A RV cable is being used. You are right to be concerned if they jumped out the 30A RV wiring and replaced with with romex. I see no problem with the overall design.

 

[bigbAZ]

There is a 50A male plug attached there. The current owner has been getting power from a 30A cord and a 30A/50A puck attached to the 50A plug

I'll admit I'm not always the sharpest knife in the drawer but this has me totally confused. Unless the OP is mixing up "plug" with "receptacle". Maybe the 50 amp pedestal feed goes first to a 50 amp receptacle in the bay, then the 30 amp shore cord plugs into that with an adapter and the other leg goes off to the rear AC?

 

[msrdo]

That sounds like a hot mess to me. The first and probably most important advice I can give you is to get yourself an EMS as fast as you possibly can. If there ever was a candidate for one it is you.

Ha! Does have an EMS.

 

[bigbAZ]

I was assuming that the stock 30A RV wiring was used up to the 50A RV connector. I'm also assuming that a standard 50A RV cable is being used. You are right to be concerned if they jumped out the 30A RV wiring and replaced with with romex. I see no problem with the overall design.

I was referring the wire size and OC protection on the branch that feeds the rear AC.

 

[msrdo]

Based on your drawing it looks like the 50A is your main shore power. I would pull that 20A romex to the load center and land it on a breaker there. I think you need to get someone qualified to square that wiring away before you burn the RV down.

If you are still serious about the purchase after the above advice to avoid CW (which I agree with 100% BTW) we need to know more.

It's not clear what this means 2 Romex lines to the area next to the water hookup. There is a 50A male plug attached there, are you saying they ran two separate Romexs and connected them to a 50 amp plug? Is the added unit being supplied straight from the pedestal hookup? In other words, did they use a 50 amp shore cord to bring power in then go to the 30 amp load center with L1 and to the added AC unit with L2? What's with the separate 15 amp feed, is that a separate cord that you plug in to shore power for that one receptacle?

We could use a few more details and drawings or some pics wouldn't hurt.

bigb56: Yes. There are two romex cables from the coach. One side of the plug powers the transfer switch, the other powers the back A/C. There is a 20A breaker in a small "subpanel" in front of the back A/C unit. 30A ATS > Load center on L1, back A/C on L2.

The separate 15A feed is direct to an installed 115V 15A receptacle. I contacted the original owner. He indicated that was added for a small heater they used inside the RV to avoid running the propane furnace. It goes from the 15A plug directly to a 15A receptable.

 

[msrdo]

I assume that cable added was RV cable. My word was Romex. Sorry. Again, done by CW Tallahassee at the time of 2nd A/C installation.

 

[msrdo]

There is a 50A male plug attached there. The current owner has been getting power from a 30A cord and a 30A/50A puck attached to the 50A plug

I'll admit I'm not always the sharpest knife in the drawer but this has me totally confused. Unless the OP is mixing up "plug" with "receptacle". Maybe the 50 amp pedestal feed goes first to a 50 amp receptacle in the bay, then the 30 amp shore cord plugs into that with an adapter and the other leg goes off to the rear AC?

I believe the owner is using a 30A cord with a 30A/50A puck. 30A at pedestal, then connecting 30 to 50A receptable puck to the RV 50 plug. I will have to question him, but bet both A/C units running together would pop a 30A breaker at the pedestal. He does have a straight 50A cord in the unit though. I'll have to question him about that.

 

[bigbAZ]

So when you plug the 30 amp cord into shore power you get nothing but where exactly do you plug it in with the 50 amp adapter and get power, or how was the owner getting power that way? BTW a sniffer is not the best way to trace this out and you are likely to get false positives due to induced voltage

 

[bigbAZ]

I believe the owner is using a 30A cord with a 30A/50A puck. 30A at pedestal, then connecting 30 to 50A receptable puck to the RV 50 plug. I will have to question him, but bet both A/C units running together would pop a 30A breaker at the pedestal. He does have a straight 50A cord in the unit though. I'll have to question him about that.

So it sounds like there is a 50 amp inlet on the RV and you can attach either a 50 amp cord or a 30 with an adapter. If so, 30 amps may not run both ACs for long. They would both be on a single 30 amp leg. It's becoming more clear.
The only other thing I am curious about is what size wire is run to the new sub panel from the 50 amp inlet.

Likely the original 30 amp cord is abandoned, if so not sure why it wasn't removed.

PS Romex is allowed in RVs. It's the cables that you plug into shore power that have to be cord type.