Sizing an Electrical Circuit for a Motor Home
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How to Size an Electrical Circuit for a Motor Home: Motor Home Electrical Circuit Design, Motor homes typically have a 120 volt or 220 volt cord and plug setup which is used to connect to a main AC power source. |
Motor Home Panel Electrical Wiring
Electrical Wiring Question: I live in a stationary motor home and wish to provide my own power to it now.
- I have access to a breaker panel. I’m 300 ft from this panel .
- I want to power a small like dorm refrigerator freezer, TV, VCR and some small kit appliances but I don’t know the total amps for theses.
- What I’m wanting to do is run a main line to a mini breaker or sub panel for my own circuit with a ground rod as well.
- I was thinking I may need perhaps 80 amps worth of power supply.
- What would be the line size I would need to run that distance to make this happen. In the future I may be installing a solar panel so I would not have to depend on a “regular power supply in case of a power outage or a nasty storm .
- If you can give me some insight I would really appreciate it.
- My motor home is old and I would rather not use the system that it has which is self contained.
Thank you. I look forward to your response.
This home electrical repairs question came from: Tom, from Ft Pierce, Florida.
Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical wiring question Tom.
How to Size an Electrical Circuit for a Motor Home
Application: Motor Home Electric Service Panel
Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced – Best installed by a Licensed Electrical Contractor.
Tools Required: Electricians pouch of hand tools and the various power tools necessary for installing the specific electrical service panel.
Estimated Time: Depends on the type of panel and available access to the project area and if trenching will be required.
Notice: Installing an Electrical Service Panel should be done according to local and national electrical codes with a permit and be inspected.
Motor Home Electrical Circuit Design
- Motor homes typically have a 120 volt or 220 volt cord and plug setup which is used to connect to a main AC power source.
- The exact size of the electrical service will depend on the panel size which is located within the motor home.
- If additional circuits will be installed to the motor home which will not be connected to the existing panel of the motor home then this additional wiring will need to be supplied with power from an additional power sources or panel.
- In order to properly size the additional panel an accurate calculation for the loads must be determined.
- Once the total load is known then the additional factors for the circuit will need to be addressed such as the length of the circuit which will be installed to the location of the motor home.
- As the components of this project begin to formulate then all of the applicable electrical codes must be applied.
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Be Careful and Be Safe - Never Work on Energized Circuits!
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Living in a motor home is pretty amazing…. I have some Question, if you put electrical circuit to your motor, were are you going to connect it? from your motor? or get a line from the city or province? are you still paying for bills?
Motor Homes typically have a cord and plug which is stowed or located in a side compartment of the coach. When traveling it is common to stay a day or more at different locations which have RV Hook Ups. The RV Cord is used to plug into an exterior RV Receptacle with the same electrical configuration. The cost to connect the RV is usually included with the Daily Fee while staying at the RV Park.
Dave