RV hookup?

[rudy558]

Hi all,

I hope this is the right location for this, sorry in advance if it isn't

I'm in the process of buying my first RV, GD Reflection 337RLS.

Background: I thought I did my research and checked on the hookup at our home, but now I’m concerned that I may have been wrong and it isn't RV ready. I’m planning to have an expert look at this later in the week, but I’m hoping to get a preliminary idea from y’all so I know what to expect.

Broadly speaking: does this setup look like it’d work for a brand new 50-amp RV?

Let me know if you need more info!

[howson]

rudy558

I did an image search on DuckDuckGo. That outlet appears to be a 240/50 outlet. See https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/138837600993166624/ where the image below was snipped from and inserted here:



I suspect if that outlet is used you'll fry all the electrical equipment in your RV in a fraction of a second. In other words -- DO NOT CONNECT YOUR RV TO THAT OUTLET.

A proper "RV" 50A outlet looks like this:



I'm not an electrician, but I suspect the existing wiring can be repurposed (rewired) to accommodate and correctly power your RV. Consulting a qualified and licensed electrician is highly recommended!

Howard

ncitro ?
Jkwilson ?

[rudy558]

rudy558

I did an image search on DuckDuckGo. That outlet appears to be a 240/50 outlet. See https://www.pinterest.ca/pin/138837600993166624/ where the image below was snipped from and inserted here:



I suspect if that outlet is used you'll fry all the electrical equipment in your RV in a fraction of a second. In other words -- DO NOT CONNECT YOUR RV TO THAT OUTLET.

A proper "RV" 50A outlet looks like this:



I'm not an electrician, but I suspect the existing wiring can be repurposed (rewired) to accommodate and correctly power your RV. Consulting a qualified and licensed electrician is highly recommended!

Howard

ncitro ?
Jkwilson ?

Oh my gosh, I spent a decent amount of time trying to figure out what type of outlet that is (my Dad couldn't remember what it was, just that he uses it for welding). You are amazing, thank you for finding that! I didn't think of trying an image search.

I'll definitely be contacting an electrician - I don't mind dabbling in repair projects, but I steer clear of anything that can kill me with a touch, AKA electricity lol

[ncitro]

Oh my gosh, I spent a decent amount of time trying to figure out what type of outlet that is (my Dad couldn't remember what it was, just that he uses it for welding). You are amazing, thank you for finding that! I didn't think of trying an image search.

I'll definitely be contacting an electrician - I don't mind dabbling in repair projects, but I steer clear of anything that can kill me with a touch, AKA electricity lol

Howard is right, that other will not have a neutral in it, so you will not be able to pull 120v power from it, only 220/240. The RV actually runs two 120v 50 amp circuits in split phase. There's technically 220 in the rig but the way the panel is built you can't get 220 very easily. With no neutral you'd be in trouble. It looks like the wiring is all accessible, you'll just need to pull another conductor in and change the outlet.

[Jkwilson]

Be very clear with the electrician that you need 120V. Many hear 30A and assume 240V. The welding outlet is likely 240V.

[rudy558]

Be very clear with the electrician that you need 120V. Many hear 30A and assume 240V. The welding outlet is likely 240V.

Thanks for that info! The RV is actually 50 amp, should I still specify the 120V requirement or is it different?

[rudy558]

Howard is right, that other will not have a neutral in it, so you will not be able to pull 120v power from it, only 220/240. The RV actually runs two 120v 50 amp circuits in split phase. There's technically 220 in the rig but the way the panel is built you can't get 220 very easily. With no neutral you'd be in trouble. It looks like the wiring is all accessible, you'll just need to pull another conductor in and change the outlet.

I'm super happy to hear that this'll likely just need some adapting! I imagine that will be less expensive than other possibilities.

[ncitro]

I'm super happy to hear that this'll likely just need some adapting! I imagine that will be less expensive than other possibilities.

Yeah I'd think it should not be bad. To answer your other question, go 50 amp, tell him you need it to be a 14-50R. Should be the same that's used for a modern electric range.

[Jlawles2]

Agree with above, Except specify that you want both hot legs and the neutral the same gauge. A lot of modern 14-50R setups do not run the same gauge wire on the neutral as it's there for protection and low amp control loads.

Most modern electric 240VAC runs on the newer 4 conductor setup, so your electrician should be able to bring up that plug to what you need easily.

FYI: Back in the good old days, they would put in transformers to drop the voltage from 240 to 120 or even just grab one hot leg and the ground. This is why they have stopped using them.

[AlexPeterson]

Be very clear with the electrician that you need 120V. Many hear 30A and assume 240V. The welding outlet is likely 240V.

50amp is 240 between the hot legs. As others have said, there is a neutral and ground as well. (30a RV outlets are only 120v)

[COReflection]

I'm super happy to hear that this'll likely just need some adapting! I imagine that will be less expensive than other possibilities.

I just ran a 50A circuit in my shop to my welder but it also works for my camper too. Once you install all the wires as others have noted.....the RV plug will adapt back to a welder style plug if needed. I run my larger welder and my camper from the same circuit with a plug adapter for the welder. This should be super easy for a qualified electrician. I did mine in about an hour myself right off the sub panel that I installed in my shop.

[ncitro]

I just ran a 50A circuit in my shop to my welder but it also works for my camper too. Once you install all the wires as others have noted.....the RV plug will adapt back to a welder style plug if needed. I run my larger welder and my camper from the same circuit with a plug adapter for the welder. This should be super easy for a qualified electrician. I did mine in about an hour myself right off the sub panel that I installed in my shop.

Yep, mine does double duty as a electric car charger as well lol.

[Cate&Rob]

The key visual difference is that a 50A 240V welder plug is a 3 prong outlet and a 50A 240V RV plug is a 4 prong outlet. It is easy to go from 4 to 3 to plug your welder into an RV outlet . . . but not possible to go from 3 to 4 to plug your RV into a welder outlet without adding the 4th (neutral) wire.

Rob

[Jkwilson]

Agree with above, Except specify that you want both hot legs and the neutral the same gauge. A lot of modern 14-50R setups do not run the same gauge wire on the neutral as it's there for protection and low amp control loads.

Most modern electric 240VAC runs on the newer 4 conductor setup, so your electrician should be able to bring up that plug to what you need easily.

FYI: Back in the good old days, they would put in transformers to drop the voltage from 240 to 120 or even just grab one hot leg and the ground. This is why they have stopped using them.

No. Neutral is 100% not for protection. Neutral is 120V from each hot and is what gives you 120V. Ground is the protection conductor.

[TedS]

This may help explain.