30 amp VS 50 amp

[Jack & Donna Smith]

John: Our 73 had the Onan 6.5 and worked Ok for a couple of years,
then the engine "ate" a valve seat. We replaced it with a 5,5 Onan,
and it will work both Airs OK, but kicks the breaker when the
microwave, or vacume is used.. The 5.5 Onan has a ROBIN engine made
by Subuaru...
We had the Gen-Shore power rotoswitch replaced by an automatic
changeover switch. a new rotoswitch is near $400.!
Our old Toyota had a neat arrangment. The Shore power cord was
permanatly attached to the RV, & the Gen was hardwired to a Shorepower
type receptical. Then we simply plugged the shorepower cord plug
into the campground power, or into the recipital in the coach, as
needed.. SIMPLE !!
Check with CampWorld about replacing the bad A/C. They have one that
is slightly larger (15Kbtu) and uses slightly less power than the 13K
btu unit.
As for a new shorepower cord, or parts, check with your friendly
Marine (Boat) store, but be aware the prices there will make Bluebird
parts look cheap !!
Jack Smith
1973 FC 31 391
HOT! SoCal


--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "bubblerboy64"
wrote:
>
> My 1973 FC has a 30 amp service, or at least that's what is stamped on
> the shore cord. This bus has two air conditioners front and back. The
> previous owner never used the back one (mainly because it was
> inoperable) I have ordered and intend to have both up and running. My
> question? Am I going to be ok with 30 amp service? This bus was
> delivered new with two air conditioners I am pretty certain but every
> RV I have ever seen with two airs was always 50 amps. And I guess I
> could be wrong but there are two there now anyways. What if anything
> needs to be done?
>
> The previous questions about the weather striping and the refrig worked
> out. A trip to Lowe's took care of the air leaks and the refrig fixed
> its self. I was about to dig into it and I tried one more time and the
> gas took right off. Don't you just love it when something fixes
> itself?
>
> John Heckman
> central Pa
> 1973 31ft FC
>

[Pete Masterson]

In searching for a 50 amp extension cord for my coach, I see that
some eBay sellers are offering 50 amp cords with three 6 gauge wires
and one 8 gauge wire (presumably the ground wire). This corresponds
to some "50 amp range cords" I've seen in home centers with the same
size wires.

What is difficult is finding 50 amp Romex in the 6 gauge size. (I
needed a couple of feet of 6 gauge wire to wire in the Progressive
Industries surge protector I got for my coach...) I had to purchase
individual wires (in suitable colors) as the home center did not
carry any such Romex.

I have had no trouble getting 30 amp (10 gauge) wire for additions to
my home wiring system.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
El Sobrante CA
aeonix1@...



On Jul 8, 2007, at 6:47 AM, bubblerboy64 wrote:

> Thanks for the information on this subject. The ONAN is rated at
> 6500 watts not 8500. I would think if all is well it should handle
> the two air conditioners. I'll have to consider the conversion to 50
> amp service. I was not aware that 6 gauge wire for shore power was
> available. And here I thought 10 gaurge large. JOhn Heckman
> Central Pa
> '73 FC
>
>
>
<snip>


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Terry Neal]

Next time Pete, just go to a Home Depot or an electrical product
supplier and ask for 6/4 SWOO cord. They sell it by the foot. What I
used for my new 50 foot shore power cord. Also, Ernie Ekberg is making
him one too. It comes in other sizes such as 8/4 10/4 12/4 12/3 etc.

Terry Neal
Bozeman, MT
82PT40
74FC34



Pete Masterson wrote:

> In searching for a 50 amp extension cord for my coach, I see that
> some eBay sellers are offering 50 amp cords with three 6 gauge wires
> and one 8 gauge wire (presumably the ground wire). This corresponds
> to some "50 amp range cords" I've seen in home centers with the same
> size wires.
>
> What is difficult is finding 50 amp Romex in the 6 gauge size. (I
> needed a couple of feet of 6 gauge wire to wire in the Progressive
> Industries surge protector I got for my coach...) I had to purchase
> individual wires (in suitable colors) as the home center did not
> carry any such Romex.
>
> I have had no trouble getting 30 amp (10 gauge) wire for additions to
> my home wiring system.
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> El Sobrante CA
> aeonix1@...
>
> On Jul 8, 2007, at 6:47 AM, bubblerboy64 wrote:
>
> > Thanks for the information on this subject. The ONAN is rated at
> > 6500 watts not 8500. I would think if all is well it should handle
> > the two air conditioners. I'll have to consider the conversion to 50
> > amp service. I was not aware that 6 gauge wire for shore power was
> > available. And here I thought 10 gaurge large. JOhn Heckman
> > Central Pa
> > '73 FC
> >
> >
> >
> <snip>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>

[Ron Thompson]

Pete,

I have bought that 6guage, 4 conductor cable at both Home Depot and Lowe's.
They both had it. However what they have is for interior wiring and direct
burial cable. It is good for running inside your home from the breaker box to
and external 4 way plug. But if your intention is to run from a shoreline plug
to the motorhome you would want a more flexible cable and that would not be
available at Home Depot or Lowe's. You would have to go to a place like Greybar
Electric or some other electrical supplier.



Terry Neal wrote:
Next time Pete, just go to a Home Depot or an electrical product
supplier and ask for 6/4 SWOO cord. They sell it by the foot. What I
used for my new 50 foot shore power cord. Also, Ernie Ekberg is making
him one too. It comes in other sizes such as 8/4 10/4 12/4 12/3 etc.

Terry Neal
Bozeman, MT
82PT40
74FC34

Pete Masterson wrote:

> In searching for a 50 amp extension cord for my coach, I see that
> some eBay sellers are offering 50 amp cords with three 6 gauge wires
> and one 8 gauge wire (presumably the ground wire). This corresponds
> to some "50 amp range cords" I've seen in home centers with the same
> size wires.
>
> What is difficult is finding 50 amp Romex in the 6 gauge size. (I
> needed a couple of feet of 6 gauge wire to wire in the Progressive
> Industries surge protector I got for my coach...) I had to purchase
> individual wires (in suitable colors) as the home center did not
> carry any such Romex.
>
> I have had no trouble getting 30 amp (10 gauge) wire for additions to
> my home wiring system.
>
> Pete Masterson
> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
> El Sobrante CA
> aeonix1@...
>
> On Jul 8, 2007, at 6:47 AM, bubblerboy64 wrote:
>
> > Thanks for the information on this subject. The ONAN is rated at
> > 6500 watts not 8500. I would think if all is well it should handle
> > the two air conditioners. I'll have to consider the conversion to 50
> > amp service. I was not aware that 6 gauge wire for shore power was
> > available. And here I thought 10 gaurge large. JOhn Heckman
> > Central Pa
> > '73 FC
> >
> >
> >
> <snip>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>






Best Regards,
Ron Thompson
Waller, Tx.
1995 WLWB 42'Blue Bird
Body #F112297
(cockyfox@...)

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[erniecarpet@...]

Terry Neal provided a new 6-4 cable- pretty flexible to replace my 25 OEM.
Since I am about 45 feet away from the hookup- this will be great. I have been
operating with my OEM plus an extension cable. This will eliminate the splice
and I will remake the extension cord so that I can use that in marginal
situations.

Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Livingston, Mt




************************************** See what's free at http://www.aol.com.


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Pete Masterson]

Please pardon me for making some confusing statements -- I had two
issues:

1. I needed about 24 to 36 inches of 6 gauge wire to let me wire-in
the full-coach surge protector I bought. "House-type" wiring will
work fine. The Home Depot I went to appeared to be out of stock on
Romex-type 6 gauge 4 conductor wire. We found some single wires "in
stock" in 6 gauge with red, white, black, and green insulation. They
will do the job. Perhaps other Home Depot (or Lowes) maintain better
stock levels. While looking for this cable, I briefly considered
getting a replacement "range cord" as an alternative. It probably
would have worked, but I note that it had three conductors in 6 gauge
with the ground in 8 gauge wire.

2. After a 3 month on the road trip, I realize that I need a
relatively short 50 amp shore power _extension_ cord. (I have a 30
amp extension.)

At one RV park, I ran into a case where my coach cable couldn't reach
the power pedestal, or I'd need a super-long bunch of sewer hose. If
I moved too far forward, then the front jacks would be off a flat
concrete pad an onto a sloped ramp. After some considerable back and
forth and much arm waving by my spouse, I was able to 'fit' so that I
could reach all the usual hookups. A couple feet of extension cord
would have saved me a lot of maneuvering. Of course, it was in the
middle of a thunderstorm at the end of a long day of driving at the
time. (It always seem like many RV parks put the power pedestal near
the center of the space (and my hook-up is way toward the rear) and
the sewer line is way toward the back and mine is closer to the
center.... <sigh>.)

In a couple of other cases, I had to use extra sewer extensions --
but I'd have preferred to have less slinky hose to clean up in trade
off for reaching the power pedestal.

I note that Camping World sells a 30' 50amp extension cable with the
correct plugs molded on the ends. I probably could get by with only
10 feet ... but I'll probably buy the one at Camping World since it's
currently on sale until the end of the month.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
El Sobrante CA
aeonix1@...



On Jul 9, 2007, at 2:53 PM, Ron Thompson wrote:

> Pete,
>
> I have bought that 6guage, 4 conductor cable at both Home Depot and
> Lowe's. They both had it. However what they have is for interior
> wiring and direct burial cable. It is good for running inside your
> home from the breaker box to and external 4 way plug. But if your
> intention is to run from a shoreline plug to the motorhome you
> would want a more flexible cable and that would not be available at
> Home Depot or Lowe's. You would have to go to a place like Greybar
> Electric or some other electrical supplier.
>
>
>
> Terry Neal
> wrote: Next time Pete, just go to
> a Home Depot or an electrical product
> supplier and ask for 6/4 SWOO cord. They sell it by the foot.
> What I
> used for my new 50 foot shore power cord. Also, Ernie Ekberg is
> making
> him one too. It comes in other sizes such as 8/4 10/4 12/4 12/3 etc.
>
> Terry Neal
> Bozeman, MT
> 82PT40
> 74FC34
>
> Pete Masterson wrote:
>
>> In searching for a 50 amp extension cord for my coach, I see that
>> some eBay sellers are offering 50 amp cords with three 6 gauge wires
>> and one 8 gauge wire (presumably the ground wire). This corresponds
>> to some "50 amp range cords" I've seen in home centers with the same
>> size wires.
>>
>> What is difficult is finding 50 amp Romex in the 6 gauge size. (I
>> needed a couple of feet of 6 gauge wire to wire in the Progressive
>> Industries surge protector I got for my coach...) I had to purchase
>> individual wires (in suitable colors) as the home center did not
>> carry any such Romex.
>>
>> I have had no trouble getting 30 amp (10 gauge) wire for additions to
>> my home wiring system.
>>
>> Pete Masterson
>> '95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
>> El Sobrante CA
>> aeonix1@...
>>
>> On Jul 8, 2007, at 6:47 AM, bubblerboy64 wrote:
>>
>>> Thanks for the information on this subject. The ONAN is rated at
>>> 6500 watts not 8500. I would think if all is well it should handle
>>> the two air conditioners. I'll have to consider the conversion to 50
>>> amp service. I was not aware that 6 gauge wire for shore power was
>>> available. And here I thought 10 gaurge large. JOhn Heckman
>>> Central Pa
>>> '73 FC
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> <snip>
>>
>> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>>
>>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Best Regards,
> Ron Thompson
> Waller, Tx.
> 1995 WLWB 42'Blue Bird
> Body #F112297
> (cockyfox@...)
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Ryan Wright]

Pete,

On 7/9/07, Pete Masterson wrote:
>
> I note that Camping World sells a 30' 50amp extension cable with the
> correct plugs molded on the ends. I probably could get by with only
> 10 feet ... but I'll probably buy the one at Camping World since it's
> currently on sale until the end of the month.
>

I bought one of these on eBay - not sure if it was the camping world
brand, but it's a 30 foot, 50 amp extension cord with male & female
"dryer" outlets molded on. Paid less than $100 including shipping. I
don't know how much they want at Camping World but considering how
expensive these cord sets seem to be elsewhere, eBay might be worth
checking out. I'm very happy with mine.

You will appreciate the longer cable. There is no mechanism for
keeping water out of that big dryer plug and nobody wants to be
dealing with wet, raining conditions and a 50 amp extension cord just
laying there, soaking up the water at the joint between the two cords.
Seems dangerous as all hell to me. So, when I need to use my extension
cord, I connect the two cables then shove that joint way under the
bus. This keeps it out of the weather where it will stay nice and dry.

So even though I don't need all those 30 extra feet, they come in
handy to route the cable under the bus and back.

-Ryan