How to Wire a 50 Amp Camper Power Outlet
Parking your RV in your driveway doesn't require electricity, but if you wish to use the RV at your residence or check to verify everything is operating, you need to install a 50-amp camper power outlet. Plugging your RV into a standard 15-amp outlet in your home only operates the lights; you need to provide power to operate the appliances and the air conditioning. Wiring a dedicated 50-amp 240-volt circuit gives you the opportunity to check if the water heater and the air conditioning operates correctly before you get to the campsite.
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Things You'll Need
- Drill
- 1-inch wood or masonry bit
- Phillips or slotted screwdriver
- Two prong electrical tester
- 6/3 nonmetallic (NM) cable
- Utility knife
- Wire cutter/stripper
- 3/4-inch double gang two hole weatherproof box
- Wood or masonry screws
- Outdoor silicone caulk
- 50-amp outlet weatherproof cover
- 50-amp double pole breaker
Instructions
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1
Mark the location on the structure where the 50-amp camper power outlet installs. Choose a location convenient for both the camper plug and for wiring to the service panel. Drill a hole through the structure wall for the electrical cable using a 1-inch wood or masonry bit.
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2
Turn off the main breaker at the service panel and remove the panel cover, exposing the breakers and wiring. Test to confirm the power disconnection by touching one prong of an electrical tester to the screw at the back of any breaker and the other prong of the electrical tester to any metal on the service panel. No wattage registers on the tester with the power disconnected.
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3
Pull a length of 6/3 nonmetallic (NM) cable from the service panel to the outlet location. Remove the outer sheath of the cable at both the service panel location and the outlet location using a utility knife. Strip 3/4 inch of insulation off the black, red, white and green wires at both locations using a wire stripper/cutter.
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4
Install a 3/4-inch double gang two hole weatherproof box over the hole drilled in the structure using wood or masonry screws. Caulk around the weatherproof box where it sets against the structure with outdoor silicone caulk.
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5
Install the 50-amp 240-volt power outlet in the weatherproof box by sliding the white wire under the screw labeled neutral on the back of the outlet, slide the black wire under one of the two screws labeled hot, slide the red wire under the remaining hot screw and slide the green wire under the screw labeled ground. Tighten all four screws to hold the wires securely to the plug. Gently push the plug and the wiring into the electrical box and attach it to the box with screws provided with the plug. Cover the 50-amp camper power outlet with a weatherproof cover.
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6
Install a 50-amp double pole breaker into the service panel. Slide the back of the breaker into the slot that holds the other breakers in the box and push it over the center bus bar. Slide the red wire from the 6/3 NM cable under one of the two set screws on the back of the double pole breaker and slide the black wire under the remaining screw on the breaker. Tighten both screws to hold the wires securely to the breaker.
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7
Slide the white wire from the 6/3 NM cable underneath a set screw on the neutral bar. Slide the green wire underneath a set screw on the ground bar. Both the neutral bar and the ground bar are located inside the service panel. The neutral bar has all white wires installed in it and the ground bar has all bare copper or green wires installed.
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8
Replace the cover on the service panel and turn the main breaker back on.
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Tips & Warnings
Test to verify that you have disconnected the electricity in the area you are working to avoid electrical shock.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit rving, image by Greg Pickens from Fotolia.com
