50 amp rv plug wiring code#

If you try to save money and wire 10 gauge wire to a 50-amp circuit, then you are asking for trouble. This size of wire is only rated for 30 amps making it perfect if your RV only needs 30 amp service. The 10 gauge wire is almost half the size of the 6 gauge option and it is not rated for 50 amps. It is best to go with the 6/3 wire to make sure your project and RV are safe from any risks. However, that gauge of wire can overheat and start a fire. Some people may recommend 8 gauge wire as it can be rated for 50 amps. The latter is cheaper and lighter but it is also smaller than the copper wire.īy smaller, it is meant that if your project calls for 6/3 copper wire, to get the same efficiency, etc., you would have to use 4 gauge aluminum wires. The second will be the type of wire material inside the insulation or otherwise known as conductors. When you go beyond 100 feet, new equations come into play and you will have to use a wire gauge that will help stop the 20% voltage drop that occurs. The first will be the length of the wire you will need. What will influence your purchase and eventual wiring will be several factors.

50 amp rv plug wiring code#

You can read the chart at this link as well as explore the NEC code prior to starting your wiring project. The NEC (National Electrical Code) has a good wire chart that helps explain what types of wire, conductors, and temperatures are for each wire gauge. If you are going longer than 100 feet, then you would need to go to the number 4 gauge to make up for the power loss over the distance 6/3 Wire For 50 Amp RV Plug If you are only going 100 feet or shorter, then 6 gauge is the best option. This applies to three-phase circuits, single-phase circuits, and voltages of all variations and sizes.ĭistance will be a factor in the size of the wire you will use. To be on the safe side, the 6 gauge is the best option of the two.

There is no 7 gauge wire so you have to pick one or the other. The 6 gauge or 6/3 wire is rated for 55 amps and that is the best wire to use when hooking it to a 50-amp circuit breaker. However, this does not mean 8 gauge is good for motor loads. The rule goes on to say that if the 8 gauge wire is used for electric heat-resistant flow then it can be rated for 50-amp service. That is even though this wire is only rated for 40 amps. Some new electrical regulations are saying that it is okay to use 8 gauge wires on a 50-amp circuit breaker. There are some different regulations on this topic. Can I Use a 6 Gauge Wire For a 50 Amp Breaker? There are some flaws to that wire that make using 6 gauge better. They may say 8 gauge is good enough but it is not. If you are in doubt, ask the electrical supply store where you are buying which gauge is best. Plus, 6/3 wire is used for residential wiring which the RV will fall under. Picking the right wire is essential to protecting your property and family. When it overheats, the wire can start a fire if the conditions are right. The trouble with going with thinner wire like 8 gauge is that the wire is not rated for 50 amps and can overheat on you. This gauge of wire can handle 55 amps with ease which is 5 more than you need. If you find that the number 4 gauge wire is too expensive, the best gauge to get would be the 6/3. Anything thicker than that would be over-kill for 50-amp service. The best two selections of wire you can choose will be either 4 or 6-gauge. The second thing to remember is that the thicker the wire, the more amperage it can handle without overheating. The first thing to remember when you are going wiring shopping is that the lower the gauge number the thicker the wire.