220v dryer power

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220v dryer power

September 25, 2011, 01:46:00 am

I pulled the Splendide washer/Dryer out of my 95 u320 to install new carpet underneath.

I just came across a great deal on a Bosch stack-able compact washer/ dryer, and I'm thinking about installing them instead of the Splendide.

My question; The dryer is 220v. 2400 watts. Can I run a 220v line from the electrical box by combining two 120v circuits?

Thanks.

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #1 – September 25, 2011, 08:52:57 am

Yes, an electrician can do this if you have room for a duplex breaker (one that connects to L1 and L2). You will have to manage total amp draw in the coach. Clearly it would not work on 30 amp (single hot) or improperly wired 50 amp outlets.

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #2 – September 25, 2011, 09:06:21 am

You should be able to. Just remember there will be places you won't get 220 because they didn't wire correctly. You also won't get it on the generator.

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #3 – September 25, 2011, 02:22:44 pm

You could also wire the generator for 240VAC, but it is not a recommended configuration. See Voltage.

If you make changes, but sure to use a qualified electrician who understands that RV wiring is has some different configuration and requirements compared to stick and brick home wiring. She should also review with you any issues that might be introduced by a change in wiring. She should DOCUMENT THE CHANGES AND INCLUDE THAT IN THE REFERENCE MATERIALS FOR YOUR COACH.

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #4 – September 25, 2011, 08:41:45 pm

I am aware and others have mentioned the issues with unbalanced PowerTech 240-volt loads, but there is another issue to be aware of in our coaches.

When a 10Kw PowerTech is wired for 240-volts, each 120-volt leg max amps is 42-amps and the neutral wire max amps could be zero to 42-amps.

When a 10Kw PowerTech is wired for 120-volts, each 120-volt leg max amps is 42-amps and the neutral wire max amps could be 42 to 84 amps.

Our cable from generator to transfer switch & breaker box uses a #6 cable with a maximum rating of 50-amps for each of the hot & neutral wires. Since many have 120-volt generators, any current load greater than 50-amps on the neutral is considered an overload where the white neutral wire could burn up since there is no circuit breaker on the neutral wire.

When a 120-volt generator is loaded with 35-amps on each leg, the neutral wire will be carrying 70-amps, much more than the 50-amp maximum rating. Transfer switches have burned up and maybe other wires damaged with these loads.

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #5 – September 25, 2011, 09:15:51 pm

It is my understanding that all of the Powertech generators were wired for 110V from the factory. Are you saying that to be safe they should all be modified to 240V? Was the original setup violating code?

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #6 – September 25, 2011, 09:45:10 pm

Quote from: Barry & Cindy – September 25, 2011, 08:41:45 pm

... When a 10Kw PowerTech is wired for 120-volts, each 120-volt leg max amps is 42-amps and the neutral wire max amps could be 42 to 84 amps. ...

Yowser! I just checked the wiring diagram that came with our U295. There are four #6 wires from the generator to a bulkhead connecter, but only three #6 wires from the bulkhead connector to the shore power transfer switch. It appears that the three wires would be two 120V supplies with 50A breakers and one neutral to serve as return for both supplies. That does indeed present the situation that Barry described. Each air conditioner is listed at 18.5A. That would put 37A on the neutral if both air conditioners were running at the specified load. Additional loads could push the rated capacity of the neutral wire.

The possibility of overloading the neutral is a consideration when using generator power. It would probably to prudent to avoid using the clothes dryer and/or electric water heater at the same time both air conditioners are in operation while on generator power. Like Kent, I wonder about conformance to standards. Extending a fourth #6 wire to the transfer switch, or wiring the generator for 240VAC might have avoided the issue. (I don't know what is in the guts of the transfer switch.)

I will think again about wiring the PT-10 generator for 240VAC, and the possibility of using it as an emergency generator for the water well and S&B house. (We will only do that with a proper transfer switch for the electric supplies to the S&B house.)

BTW, we had Bosch compact stackers in a previous S&B house and they were great!

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #7 – September 25, 2011, 11:38:59 pm

Relating to 120-volts vs 240-volts, I have seen campgrounds with 50-amp RV connectors that had two 50-amp breakers that must have been on the same underground feed wire because the voltage between the two hot connectors was zero instead of 240-volts.
This is the same situation we are in with 120-volt generators. This 'incorrect' campground wiring not a problem for us as we are not likely to run more than 50-amps in total, so our neutral wires are ok. But if our coach did draw 60 or more amps our shore cable, transfer switch, etc would also have an overloaded neutral.
I am sure this is not a common situation but would go unnoticed to all that do not have any 240-volt appliances.

I have a homemade tester that we all talked about several months ago that I plug in to campground outlets before we plug in our shore cable, even though we have a Progressive Industries EMS hard wired to protect us. My tester has a neon light that glows only with 240-volts so we are aware if we have two 120-volts circuits instead of a 240-volt circuit.

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #8 – September 26, 2011, 01:08:15 am

Thanks for all the advice.

I bought the Bosch washer and dryer today, along with a Bosch stainless energy star rated ,side by side counter depth refrigerator that will replace the burned up RV unit that was installed and laid waste to this magnificent motorhome.
I will pass at trying to get 220v out of the generator. I will be content with the 220v operation off of a shore power hook up. Doing the laundry is NOT that big of a issue.
With all the work I have done restoring this Motorhome I can't help but try and raise the bar when ever I replace something. I don't plan to sell it so I want it right for my Family for years to come.

I shudder to think how much harder this project would be if I didn't have all the help from the members of this Forum!

THANKS!

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #9 – September 26, 2011, 10:10:41 am

By bring up the caution about overloading the neutral generator wire, no one is recommending re-wiring generators from 240-volts to 120-volts to eliminate the problem. Changing from 120-volts to 240-volts raises another set of issues.
If you have a concern about neutral wire overload, just keep total generator loads below 60-amps (7,200 watts), which is a whole lot in anyone's book. Motorhomes are full of limited resources that have to be managed, just know that generators are not the same as shore power.

Some will find that their PowerTech generators are already wired for 240-volts, which can be verified by putting one volt meter lead on each of the two hot connections, usually one red and one black. You can find these hot wires in the main breaker panel with the cover off. With generator running and shore cable unplugged, generators wired for 120-volts will read zero volts and if you see about 220-volts generator is wired for 240-volts.

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #10 – September 26, 2011, 10:22:26 am

Quote from: Lon and Cheryl – September 26, 2011, 01:08:15 am

I bought the Bosch washer and dryer today, along with a Bosch stainless energy star rated ,side by side counter depth refrigerator that will replace the burned up RV unit that was installed and laid waste to this magnificent motorhome.

Lon,

We're looking forward to the photos of the remodel/restoration, particularly the refrigerator part.

Michelle

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #11 – September 26, 2011, 10:36:24 am

Also you will see that unless loading is perfectly balanced, the voltage does not match. The voltage regulator only adjusts one phase.

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #12 – September 26, 2011, 11:55:40 am

Lon,
My dryer is also a 240 volt unit. Some times we will do a load of wash while on 30 amp service then dry it on the road on the generator if we are going to run the generator for air conditioning anyway. Works fine

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #13 – September 26, 2011, 06:59:08 pm

Quote from: John Duld – September 26, 2011, 11:55:40 am

Lon,
My dryer is also a 240 volt unit. Some times we will do a load of wash while on 30 amp service then dry it on the road on the generator if we are going to run the generator for air conditioning anyway. Works fine

Since we have the same model and year Foretravel could you tell or show me in a sketch how you wired your 220v power for the dryer from the main power box in a PM?
Also how did you get the 220v from the generator?

Thanks

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #14 – September 27, 2011, 04:35:57 am

Quote from: Steve & Michelle – September 26, 2011, 10:22:26 am

We're looking forward to the photos of the remodel/restoration, particularly the refrigerator part.

Michelle

I can't wait for the day that this Foretravel is ready to have its picture taken!

I always get a chuckle when I read the posts about curtains and shade selection, when I'm standing in the kitchen looking up at a 4X6ft hole in the roof, and a mass of burned wires and A/V cables, and melted ceiling insulation in the middle of the coach. I sure will know in detail how this thing was put together. Actually I'm VERY impressed with the solid construction, the amount of roof supports, and the thickness of the fiberglass and Gell coat. Its very reassuring to see how well the entire coach survived despite a inferno burning in the middle. The major damage is very isolated to a relatively small area.
Sure makes it worth the trouble and MONEY.
REAL QUALITY takes the pain out of all the work and expense.

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220v dryer power

September 25, 2011, 01:46:00 am

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #1 – September 25, 2011, 08:52:57 am

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #2 – September 25, 2011, 09:06:21 am

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #3 – September 25, 2011, 02:22:44 pm

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #4 – September 25, 2011, 08:41:45 pm

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #5 – September 25, 2011, 09:15:51 pm

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #6 – September 25, 2011, 09:45:10 pm

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #7 – September 25, 2011, 11:38:59 pm

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #8 – September 26, 2011, 01:08:15 am

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #9 – September 26, 2011, 10:10:41 am

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #10 – September 26, 2011, 10:22:26 am

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #11 – September 26, 2011, 10:36:24 am

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #12 – September 26, 2011, 11:55:40 am

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #13 – September 26, 2011, 06:59:08 pm

Re: 220v dryer power

Reply #14 – September 27, 2011, 04:35:57 am

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