Can I upgrade from 30 amp to 50 amp?

[rosede]

I have a 2012 Outback with 30 amp service. I would like to update the service to 50 amp, is that possible? I'd like to be able to run the AC and microwave at the same time, hell, even use the electric hot water and AC at the same time.

Thanks

Daryl

[Canonman]

30 to 50 amp is a huge upgrade. Take a look at the rated amp draw for your A/C (they usually run around 10 amp) and your M/W (again around 10 amp) and see if you really need this change. We've run both our A/C and MW while on shore power with no issues.
Can't remember what the WH was running on but usually propane.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Most campground pedestals also have 20amp conventional outlet. I've rigged my water heater to run on a 12 guage extension cord and not use the 30 amp RV power. Worked great.

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by rosede

I have a 2012 Outback with 30 amp service. I would like to update the service to 50 amp, is that possible? I'd like to be able to run the AC and microwave at the same time, hell, even use the electric hot water and AC at the same time.

Thanks

Daryl

Does your unit have the wall switch to choose either AC or Microwave? If so it will be a major PITA for the DIY’r without an electrical background.

[wiredgeorge]

I got sick of popping the breaker in my electrical box every time the missus used the microwave as we use the A/C most all year when camping here in Texas. I put a conventional outlet in the box where the microwave is plugged in and ran wires down to an external Marinco plug on the back of my trailer and from there use an extension cord to plug into the 15/20A outlet available at almost all campground and don't use the original microwave wiring or breaker. Haven't popped a breaker since.

[Stircrazy]

Originally Posted by rosede

I have a 2012 Outback with 30 amp service. I would like to update the service to 50 amp, is that possible? I'd like to be able to run the AC and microwave at the same time, hell, even use the electric hot water and AC at the same time.

Thanks

Daryl

It's not that hard. it will require you to change your power center to one made for 50 amp. This splits your AC breakers into two bus bars allowing you to put breakers on different legs. Also, a new shore cable has to be run from the power center to the outside of the rv and then the 50-amp extension cord. a lot of tedious wire transferring but that's about it

[Squanto]

Our rig is 50Amp but we have stayed in 30Amp sites where the MW and/or coffee maker have popped the breaker. Usually that's when we're on end of the power line. We just turn off the A/C until we're done with the others.

[TXiceman]

On a 30 amp rig, you should be able to run the A/C and microwave at the same time provided it is wired correctly. The microwave and A/C should be on separate breakers.

You may need to put the fridge and or water heater on propane.

Ken

[Squanto]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

On a 30 amp rig, you should be able to run the A/C and microwave at the same time provided it is wired correctly. The microwave and A/C should be on separate breakers.

You may need to put the fridge and or water heater on propane.

Ken

In my case, I have a Power Watchdog hard wired into the basement. If the shore power pulls down to 104V or less, it shuts down the leg with low power until the voltage returnsfor 90 seconds. When we're on 30Amp, that's the whole trailer. So, when we're at the end of the power string is when we have problems but it's not a big deal.

[flybouy]

I'd recommend a soft start for the ac first. If you do upgrade to 50 Amp service the soft start will not be a waste of money. 30 Amp service requires some power management on your part. We have a 15k ac unit and we can run and the microwave as long as nothing else is on and the battery is fully charged, i.e. the converter is running at a min.

We run the fridge and water heater on gas and it doesn't take that much gas. We turn the counter top ice maker off when we run the microwave. When showering, I'll turn the electric heating element on for the WH along with the gas for faster recovery. Running the ice maker ac, and wh electric runs fine without tripping any breakers.

[wifi_guy]

Originally Posted by rosede

I have a 2012 Outback with 30 amp service. I would like to update the service to 50 amp, is that possible? I'd like to be able to run the AC and microwave at the same time, hell, even use the electric hot water and AC at the same time.

Thanks

Daryl

I doubt you are going to be able to accomplish this without some heavy modifications. Might be cheaper to get into a new camper. I doubt the lines ran throughout your camper would support that load.

We can run 1 of our AC units, Fridge and microwave off a 30 amp. Maybe you just have a bad breaker? They do/can go bad. OR, did the manufacture installed the wrong breaker in the wrong place? Maybe they put in a 15 amp breaker for these items when it should have been a 20 amp or even 30 amp. Have you look into that scenario?

[fulltilt]

My daughter purchased a 2013 Keystone Vantage...I call it a fiberglass version of an Airstream ! She had quite a wish list, besides a new roof & floor covering, she wanted a 2nd AC & a electric fireplace ! LOL So I removed the 30 amp panel & supply [#10 Nmd90 wire], I installed a 50amp panel, transferred the existing breakers & purchased the additional ones needed. I increased the supply wire to #6 NMD90. I really like the new panel, nicely laid out, has a switch for "lithium" battery charging & more importantly, is approved for a number of brands of breakers, including the originals & ones sold at Lowes/Home Depot ! Switching the panel itself isn't a big deal, but fishing the supply wire was difficult, & my son in law took care of that. The panel I used, if you are interested, was the following Progressive Dynamics PD4560 Inteli-Power 4500 Series AC/DC Distribution Panel - 60 Amp. In the picture I am taking an DC amperage load on the slide motor circuit as Keystone in their ultimate wisdom realized their LR lighting circuit was overloaded if all the lights were turned on, so they put some on the slide motor circuit without branch protection.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Nice upgrade! As you have shown it is possible, but it is a major undertaking.

[Pbtman]

I’m like others that have been mentioned before. You’ll be undertaking quite a project. Most rv’s (and I say most) that are wired for 50 amp service are usually running the entire rv on 30 amp. They reserve that 2nd 110 volt leg for the second air conditioner. Even when we had the old camper, we used one of those dog bone adapters that go from 50 amp to 30 amp and I plugged into the campground’s 50 amp receptacle.
My 2019 Outback is usually running the ac unit, water heater on electric, tv on and we can run the microwave. Never popped a breaker except when we were at an older campground in Branson Missouri and we were on the very last of the electrical run.

[rlh1957]

Putting a SoftStartRV box on your ac will solve many issues of starting & running an ac on 30amp service snd running the microwave, on 30a shore power.

If your ac or microwave aren’t wired to be hot from inverter then inverter/solar won’t help those.

Rewiring a rig to be 50amp from a 30amp service is a very involved job.

Easier to wire in plugs/breakers and AC to be hot when not on shore power but inverter pulling from batteries.
With 3000W inverter you could start the ac. With SoftStartRV box you’d be able to start ac & microwave or coffee maker.
Starting snd running is one thing… keeping it running is another. Will 2 batteries at 100ah = 200ah you won’t be running very much for long. And 400watts in solar panels will only recharge your batteries, but don’t provide enough electricity to run the rig.
200ah in lead acid only gives about 100ah useable since you don’t want to take them below 50%.
Lithium batteries can go down to about 10% before the auto shut down to keep from damaging them.

There is a math formula that can be used to figure your electrical need for what you seek to do.

It helps show whether your ac can run for 40 minutes or 30 minutes with microwave and coffee maker, or what power rewuirements are needed to run ac for 5 hours.
Power Management and Budgeting.

[CedarCreekWoody]

Originally Posted by Pbtman

I’m like others that have been mentioned before. You’ll be undertaking quite a project. Most rv’s (and I say most) that are wired for 50 amp service are usually running the entire rv on 30 amp. They reserve that 2nd 110 volt leg for the second air conditioner. Even when we had the old camper, we used one of those dog bone adapters that go from 50 amp to 30 amp and I plugged into the campground’s 50 amp receptacle.
My 2019 Outback is usually running the ac unit, water heater on electric, tv on and we can run the microwave. Never popped a breaker except when we were at an older campground in Branson Missouri and we were on the very last of the electrical run.

Sorry to tell you but you're still running on 30 amps. The 30 amp breaker in your camper limits you to 30 amps for safety reasons.

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by Pbtman

I’m like others that have been mentioned before. You’ll be undertaking quite a project. Most rv’s (and I say most) that are wired for 50 amp service are usually running the entire rv on 30 amp. They reserve that 2nd 110 volt leg for the second air conditioner. Even when we had the old camper, we used one of those dog bone adapters that go from 50 amp to 30 amp and I plugged into the campground’s 50 amp receptacle.
My 2019 Outback is usually running the ac unit, water heater on electric, tv on and we can run the microwave. Never popped a breaker except when we were at an older campground in Branson Missouri and we were on the very last of the electrical run.

A 50 Amp RV panel has 100 amps at 120vac available, 50 amps per leg X 2 legs. Often the panel won't be balanced i.e. more breakers/circuits connected to one leg but the full 50 amps per leg is still available when plugged into a 50 Amp 120vac receptical.

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by Pbtman

I’m like others that have been mentioned before. You’ll be undertaking quite a project. Most rv’s (and I say most) that are wired for 50 amp service are usually running the entire rv on 30 amp. They reserve that 2nd 110 volt leg for the second air conditioner. Even when we had the old camper, we used one of those dog bone adapters that go from 50 amp to 30 amp and I plugged into the campground’s 50 amp receptacle.
My 2019 Outback is usually running the ac unit, water heater on electric, tv on and we can run the microwave. Never popped a breaker except when we were at an older campground in Branson Missouri and we were on the very last of the electrical run.

Every 50A RV that I have looked at/worked on has circuits on BOTH legs and only the Air Conditioners are on separate legs.

And if you look at the main breakers there are TWO 50A for a total of 100A available.