220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Topic: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV? (Read 2265 times) previous topic - next topic

220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

May 25, 2015, 01:23:34 pm

I see there is a 120 volt standard plug (short 12" cord) in the battery area the previous owners had 110 volt cord plugged into when I bought the coach..

I am assuming it is being converted to 12 volts for the interior? because they had both house batteries unhooked and there were lights on in the interior..

I haven't even looked if there are 110 volt outlets inside..

My big question is.. I would think that I should be able to run the roof top AC's from shore power
220 volt correct ? but I haven't found any place to plug up a 220 volt lead .. except, there is a 220 volt plug laying loose (on a 12" short black cord) at the base of the generator.. but I am assuming that is from the generators output.?

I don't have an owners manual.. so sorry for the stupid questions... I don't want to plug up 220 to something and burn something up.

Anyone ?

Thanks

Mark

ps.. found floor safe, no combination

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #1 – May 25, 2015, 01:29:46 pm

CAREFUL>>>>>>> There is no 220 Volt power in your FT. All power is 110. Don't look for a 220 outlet until you understand how your coach is wired. Do a search on this forum for 110 V power. Lots of info.
A DRYER PLUG AT A HOUSE CANNOT BE USED.........
Hang Loose and I ( and others ) will find some info for you so you can safely plug your coach in.
Start here
http://rveducation101.com/articles/basic_rv_electricity_savvy.pdf
RV Electrical Systems
Gary B

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #2 – May 25, 2015, 02:44:25 pm

Quote from: Gary Bouland – May 25, 2015, 01:29:46 pm

CAREFUL>>>>>>> There is no 220 Volt power in your FT. All power is 110. Don't look for a 220 outlet until you understand how your coach is wired. Do a search on this forum for 110 V power. Lots of info.
A DRYER PLUG AT A HOUSE CANNOT BE USED.........
Hang Loose and I ( and others ) will find some info for you so you can safely plug your coach in.
Start here
http://rveducation101.com/articles/basic_rv_electricity_savvy.pdf
RV Electrical Systems
Gary B

Thanks Gary for that informative write up... ok..

I was thinking the roof top units were probably 220 volt.. my bad..
I still would think 220 volt would be required to run both AC's at the same time, one each on a different leg.... running both on a 110 volt, 10 gauge cord just sounds wrong

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #3 – May 25, 2015, 02:52:30 pm

Here's a great resource to help understand RV electric

RV Electric

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #4 – May 25, 2015, 02:55:27 pm

You need a 50 amp shore power connection to run both A/C units, and a 30 amp connection to run 1 A/C. A standard 15-20 amp 110V "household" connection will only power the "light duty" items in your coach, like TV, small kitchen appliances, etc.

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #5 – May 25, 2015, 03:25:10 pm

Quote from: Michelle – May 25, 2015, 02:52:30 pm

Here's a great resource to help understand RV electric

RV Electric

Very informative Michelle, thanks

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #6 – May 25, 2015, 03:28:15 pm

Quote from: cajk – May 25, 2015, 02:55:27 pm

You need a 50 amp shore power connection to run both A/C units, and a 30 amp connection to run 1 A/C. A standard 15-20 amp 110V "household" connection will only power the "light duty" items in your coach, like TV, small kitchen appliances, etc.

I agree Cajk..

but I don't see that accepting connection ... unless it's the short 12" cord 220 volt plug laying in front of the generator..

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #7 – May 25, 2015, 04:47:14 pm

Mark,

I don't know what you are looking at when you say "short 12" cord 220 volt plug". Like I've said before, photos are very helpful in describing items. Do you mean the 12" cord has a female socket on the end, or a male plug? Either way, what does it look like?

There are only 3 configurations of socket/plug that apply to RV service...they are shown in the line drawing below. 4-prong is 50 amp, 3-prong is 30 amp, and the last one is standard household service.

If the 12" cord you are looking at has any other configuration of socket or plug on the end, then I would be very cautious about trying to use it.

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #8 – May 25, 2015, 05:01:48 pm

Look in the wet bay of your coach-- where the tanks are located. You should have a power receptacle in there for the coach power. It will look like a 220V plug, but if you check the shore power cable you will see that the coach plug is marked 125/250V, and it is being used at 120V 50 amp. The plug is dual rated, but it is not wired for 220V, at least not on my 90' model.

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #9 – May 25, 2015, 05:17:12 pm

An RV 50 amp shore power cord has 3 straight and 1 round blade-- in the wet bay for your coach:

Outer straights are both 120 VAC
Center straight is neutral.
Center round is ground

To check a CG 50 amp outlet with a voltmeter (assuming you are safe working around AC):
Either outer straight to center straight or center round= 120 VAC
Center straight to center round= 0 VAC
Outer straight to outer straight= 240 VAC

So, while this IS 240 service, you have zero appliances running on anything but 120 VAC (i.e. each is fed by ONLY one hot). Same for most things in your brick and stick house-- most outlets, lighting, etc is 120, powered by one hot, one neutral and one ground.

If you only have 30 amp service at a CG outlet, the 30 male to 50 female adapter connects the SINGLE HOT in the 30 amp side to BOTH HOTS on the 50 amp side so everything will work. Only difference is that you now only have 30 amps total available instead of 50 on each hot= 100 amps available.

NEVER PLUG INTO WHAT LOOKS LIKE AN RV 30 AMP THAT IS WIRED FOR 240 VAC (such as welding machine). It will burn up thousands of dollars of equipment!

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #10 – May 25, 2015, 06:18:35 pm

I think he said he had a plug in the generator compartment. . If it comes from the gen set.. it's a buddy plug. I, surprised it's a 50A, usually a 30. Further if it is a 50A, maybe it hooked up to Po house as emergency backup..

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #11 – May 25, 2015, 06:53:55 pm

Did you ever get the thing home?

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #12 – May 25, 2015, 07:33:14 pm

Quote from: stump – May 25, 2015, 06:53:55 pm

Did you ever get the thing home?

I'll take some pictures of the male 220 outlet on a short 12" cord at the generator..

When you say wet bay.. you mean the storage water tanks bay? I'll have to look. I never paid much attention to that bay.

Yes.. I got it towed in yesterday.. I did snap a few pictures.. but need to try and remember how to photo bucket them to share it's new parking spot at my property

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #13 – May 25, 2015, 07:52:48 pm

Quote

but need to try and remember how to photo bucket them

No need to use PhotoBucket. You can upload directly to Foreforums. Just drag the files into the "Add Files" area below. Looking forward to your photos.
jor

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #14 – May 25, 2015, 10:43:44 pm

Quote from: jor – May 25, 2015, 07:52:48 pm

No need to use PhotoBucket. You can upload directly to Foreforums. Just drag the files into the "Add Files" area below. Looking forward to your photos.
jor

I guess I'm blind.. I don't see any "add files" below

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #15 – May 25, 2015, 10:52:41 pm

Quote from: Mark of Houston – May 25, 2015, 10:43:44 pm

I don't see any "add files" below...

Try reading this thread:

Is there a sticky that explains the various ways of image posting?

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #16 – May 26, 2015, 01:02:03 am

Quote from: cajk – May 25, 2015, 10:52:41 pm

Try reading this thread:

Is there a sticky that explains the various ways of image posting?

Thanks, I finally figured it out

I'll snap a picture of the plug tomorrow if it ever stops raining here in houston

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #17 – May 26, 2015, 07:19:37 am

Mark....you should have a 25' or a 50' 50amp plug in cord for the coach. Ours is manually rolled up and stored in with the stater battery near the rear of the coach. Maybe your s is missing from what it sounds like.

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #18 – May 26, 2015, 12:16:53 pm

Mark,

If the big power cord is missing, you can buy a twist lock adapter from 110V into your 50 amp coach and then at your leisure, find a used 220V cord on Craigslist or a wrecking yard. They are very expensive new but available for much less from dead RVs. You have to make sure they match up with the coach. Should be a lot of RV parts stores in your area to look at. With a HD 50 foot 110V extension cord, you can run one roof AC and some other appliances. I like the extension cords with a LED in the end so you can see if it has power.

We almost never take the big cord with us but you are based where AC is mandatory. Our 50 footer came from HF and is the yellow/black triple tap shown on: Search results for: 'extension cord'

Here is an eBay page showing a variety of adapters: 50 AMP TWIST LOCK PLUG ADAPTER TO 15 AMP 220 TO 110 VOLT POWER CORD RV 50A |...

Pierce

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #19 – May 27, 2015, 09:39:44 am

Is this what your 1' power cord looks like?

http://www.rvautoparts.com/product.asp?itemid=7561&gclid=CLbLsviE4sUCFQypaQodvZQAAw

Note the Hubbell 50amp connector at one end and a 110 on the other.
Use to power coach from a home circuit.

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #20 – May 27, 2015, 10:25:34 am

Elliott,

No, if you are replying to my post. Our adapter is just a different brand but the same as the one at Home Depot for about $26.

http://www.homedepot.com/catalog/productImages/400/5a/5a572de3-d293-47d9-85e3-0fd73b65f49c_400.jpg

The $8.97 RV plug they have advertised won't do the job as a plug with the proper spacing of the lugs, a straight in design and a locking ring are needed. Lots of cords for sale below. Several look the same with only the price different.

RV & Marine Cords - Extension Cords - The Home Depot

Pierce

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #21 – May 27, 2015, 02:38:24 pm

The receptacle on my '93 U225 coach is in the forward bulkhead of the bay that has my tank dump valves. It is 3-pronged but there is a 4th connector on the lip of the connector that's on the cord. It looks like a 3-prong 240vac connection but is, in fact, a 4-connector 2-leg, 50amp RV connection.

On the other end of the cord is a standard 50-amp 4-prong male RV plug.

The system is two legs of 120vac providing 50-amps per leg (or 100 amps total). Nothing in your rig is 240vac! (Unless someone, at some time made a big change; a change that would make it impossible for them to hook up at most RV parks.)

Don't confuse these with dryer or welder outlets.

Craig

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #22 – May 27, 2015, 05:10:03 pm

I still see nothing under my coach that is a 220 volt style plug up.. I am thinking about
chasing the main wire going to the breaker box at the foot of the queen bed.. I guess I could always
wire a new lead/leads directly into the breaker box itself

I'm pretty sure the loose plug at the generator is from it.. I'll start the generator when I get a chance and test the plug for power

Mark

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #23 – May 27, 2015, 06:39:13 pm

The plug on a 93 225 was in the bay with the dump valves. Here's a couple of photos showing the front and back of the plug. Access the back of the plug from the adjoining compartment. On a 95 300 it's in the same bay.
jor

Re: 220 volt shore power on my 89 GV?

Reply #24 – May 27, 2015, 06:50:57 pm

Here's a photo of the setup on a 95 without reels. Arrow points to plug.
jor

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