what size breaker panel can be used for 50 amp set up? 60 amp panel?

adamhere · October 09, 2015, 04:06:16 PM

Looking into setting up the breaker panel for ac for 50 amp service and finding it difficult to find the set up I want in a 50 amp RV panel. Most seem only to have only four circuits. I found a Parralax but Wooodys RV up here in Edmonton wants $300, buying any in US means I spend an additional almost 25% now plus shipping. Can I use a 60 amp panel and leave the 60 mains in and not switch to 50 amp main? Thanks Nuts

Cary and Don · October 09, 2015, 04:15:50 PM

We have a 100amp panel box. Look at Home Depot of Lowes. If you have 50 amp service you can wire for 220 if you want. You can invert one leg of the 100 amp box easy and leave the other leg not inverted if you don't use 220. The more breakers you use the better. That way you can drop loads if you want with the flip of a switch. Mount the panel box where you can access it easy.

Don and Cary

adamhere · October 09, 2015, 04:50:39 PM

Ok so if I go with the 60 amp, we will use 17ish breakers at 15amp each no 220. Do I need to change the main? Sorry I am not sure what you mean by inverting one leg? Does a 60 amp run two 30amps mains with 120 on each leg? Is 100 amp 50 each leg?

Brassman · October 09, 2015, 05:07:32 PM

I used a Square D QO Breaker load center (panel), and backfed the line in through a 50 amp breaker. They sell a retaining clip to hold that breaker in, I assume to make it more difficult to pull that breaker. You also need to install a neutral bar, they sell that too.

Cary and Don · October 09, 2015, 05:18:20 PM

Maybe I misunderstood the question. There is a main double pole breaker where the electric comes into the coach. I am talking about the main breaker panel box. A 100 amp panel box will have two legs, each 50 amp. This box will hold all the breakers for each ac circuit in the coach. How you wire from the electric coming into the coach to the panel box will depend on your inverter and generator setup.

Don and Cary

TomC · October 09, 2015, 05:24:44 PM

I bought three circuit breaker boxes from Home Depot. They were about $60 each. I have one with 4 circuits to switch from gen to land line. One circuit breaker box with 16 circuits for my main distribution. One circuit breaker box with 16 circuits for my inverter loads. I also have 2-12 fuse 12v panels for my 12vdc service. All together, I don't think I spent a total of $300.00. Good luck, TomC

chessie4905 · October 09, 2015, 06:16:25 PM

I'd use 20amp breakers with 12gauge wire for those circuits.

adamhere · October 09, 2015, 06:47:52 PM

Great advice everyone, that clears it up for me. (For now) Thanks

Jim Eh. · October 10, 2015, 06:25:04 AM

Quote from: TomC on October 09, 2015, 05:24:44 PM
I bought three circuit breaker boxes from Home Depot. They were about $60 each. I have one with 4 circuits to switch from gen to land line. One circuit breaker box with 16 circuits for my main distribution. One circuit breaker box with 16 circuits for my inverter loads. I also have 2-12 fuse 12v panels for my 12vdc service. All together, I don't think I spent a total of $300.00. Good luck, TomC

How do you switch the source for different load centers?

eagle19952 · October 10, 2015, 07:17:32 AM

Quote from: krank on October 10, 2015, 06:25:04 AM
How do you switch the source for different load centers?

transfer switch.

a box of relays.

Mine is a Todd Engineering.

gumpy · October 10, 2015, 05:32:05 PM

Quote from: Cary and Don on October 09, 2015, 05:18:20 PM
A 100 amp panel box will have two legs, each 50 amp.

Not quite. A 100 amp panel will be set up initially for 240 volts at 100 amps per phase. If you are not using 240 volts, it will provide 100 amps per side, or 200 amps total at 120 volts.

For a 50 amp service, the 60 amp Square D QO breaker panel is perfect. I think it has 8 slots, and you can put double breakers in each, for a total of 16.
Put in a separate 60 amp disconnect, and you can use all the slots in the panel.

bobofthenorth · October 10, 2015, 08:24:12 PM

Quote from: adamhere on October 09, 2015, 04:06:16 PM
Looking into setting up the breaker panel for ac for 50 amp service and finding it difficult to find the set up I want in a 50 amp RV panel. Most seem only to have only four circuits. I found a Parralax but Wooodys RV up here in Edmonton wants $300, buying any in US means I spend an additional almost 25% now plus shipping. Can I use a 60 amp panel and leave the 60 mains in and not switch to 50 amp main? Thanks Nuts

The short answer is your main disconnect needs to be a maximum of 50 amp on a 50 amp service.

The longer answer is that you need to study this a lot more before you start pulling wire. Right now there are great gaping holes in your understanding. Holes that can kill you or your family.

bigred · October 11, 2015, 08:28:53 AM

Buy a MLO CB panel .Does not matter if it is 60 ,100,or 200. any brand UR comfortable with.Put a 50 amp double pole breaker in the top spaces of your panel.Forget the Main Lugs in the panel.Run one leg of your 50amp service to one leg of your 50 amp breaker then run the other leg of your 50 amp service to the other leg to the other leg of your 50 amp breaker .Then run your neutral [WHITE WIRE] to the neutral lug in your panel and the ground [green wire] to your ground.Be sure you ground the ground bar to your panel with the screw provided in your panel .Mark your 50 amp breaker as a MAIN.This sticker used to be included in the panel also .If not ,a magic marker will do as well.You can then put your 120v circuit breakers in your panel.Balance the load as much as you can on each side of your panel.This MB set up is what is known as "back feeding"the main. Hope this helps.

Lin · October 11, 2015, 09:37:28 AM

You will need to decide whether you want a 120 or 240 service. The 50 amp connections in a RV park are 240v; that means that you have two feeds of 120v, 50 amp service coming through your 4 wire (3+ground) shore cord. You could also do, as we did, use only a 3 wire shore cord that gives us only one feed of 120v, 50 amps. If you do this, you will need to add a jump wire somewhere to energize both legs of your box with 120v each.

It all depends on your design for your coach. For example, if you are building an all electric coach, it is likely that you will have some 240v appliances, so you must have a 240v service. Since we use propane for heat and cooking, 120v, 50 amps is quite adequate and gives us a 25% lighter shore cord.

jackhanow · October 11, 2015, 10:02:11 AM

wow. my 5 works on propane and i plug my fridge in to the cord and charge my batteries with a double battery tender and and have more than enough power to live. my 102 only needs more power for the ac units. use a portable propane on demand water heater. 20 lb bottle lasts 4-6 weeks washing dishes and taking showers. i do recommend extra outlets inside and even a couple outside.