20 or 30 amp breaker box

[Redwood]

Hello Apache People,
          I need a little advice. In my Mesa the only 12vc I use is the ceiling fan and ceiling light. My stock converter seems to work fine for that and the 120 works fine too. But now I'm starting to use hook ups more and I have been using a drip coffee maker and toaster oven and soon plan on installing a dorm refrigerator so I think I need to install a 20 or 30 amp breaker box. I thought I would use the old converter for now on a separate breaker and a separate one for the dorm fridge and one more for about 3 wall plugs.
 I have never hooked up a breaker box before
but think I can handle it with the right information. Not sure whether to go 20 or 30 amp breaker box. Also at some time I might want to use a microwave. I know some of you have done this already. Any thoughts or advice would be very welcome.
                                                                                                                                        Greg

[cleat22]

i just hooked up 30 amp and it is much easier than i thought it would be. go to lowes and they'll tell you all you need to know. i love the 30 amp service. my wife can run a toaster oven,coffee maker and radio all at the same time. that is with the a/c and fridge going as well. we also run the outside plug with patio lights at night.

[Redwood]

i just hooked up 30 amp and it is much easier than i thought it would be. go to lowes and they'll tell you all you need to know. i love the 30 amp service. my wife can run a toaster oven,coffee maker and radio all at the same time. that is with the a/c and fridge going as well. we also run the outside plug with patio lights at night.

What did you do about your converter? How many breakers did you install and what size? I read that you have to replace your shore power cord for a heavier gauge one for 30 amp did you do that too? Does the shore power cord go directly to the breaker box? Sorry I have so many questions.

[Redwood]

Any pictures or diagrams?

[cleat22]

1. i did away with my converter, i never use it anyway.
2. i bought 30' of 10/3 cord from lowes. i also bought my ends and they have directions on the box as to hooking them up. i put a new 30 amp female plug on the outside of the camper also. you plug a male into the camper and the other male end into the 30 amp service at the campsite.
3. i bought a small main box it was a 60 amp with three spots for breakers. i bought two 15 amp breakers. one for my a/c and fridge and outside plug. the other for my lights,fan and another plug inside for the coffee maker ect.... you run your hot and ground from the back of the plug you mount to the side of the camper. you only need the white and black. just cut the green and tape it up. run the black to the main bus that feeds the 15 amp breakers. run the white to the ground bus. tie in your blacks to your 15 amp breakers and run the whites to the ground bar. plug in your 15 amp breakers and you got it.
 i can get you some pics and i will put them on my floder tonight. i am no electrican and i am sure i will be told so ,but i have used this three times already and no blown fuses or fires. everone i have talked to said i did it right, even a few electricans.

[Redwood]

I don't understand. On the 30 amp shore power there are 3 wires and from what I've read the breaker box has a place for all three wires. Black is hot / white is neutral / and green is the ground. why did you not use the third wire?
   

[Redwood]

Cleat,
     Does your breaker box look similar to this one? It is the breaker box part of 79 Ramada's set up.

[cleat22]

you are right the white is neutral... my bad. yo only need the white and black. my camper only had white and black in it i never had 3-way wire in it. i was told you didn't have to hook green up if you didn't want to. it is safe. it worked fine for me. when the green came into the camper from my shore power plug, just befor it goes into the main breaker box i cut the green and taped it up. from the main on i just used white and black...

[cleat22]

yes it does, i just don't have the 30 amp breaker in there i only have two 15 amp breakers. the pole at the campgrounds have  a 30 amp breaker alredy so you really don't have to have one.

[Redwood]

I like that plug you mounted on the outside of your trailer. I hate dealing with the power cord all stuffed in the cabinet. So now you can just roll it up and put it away. Where did you say you got that plug and I assume it is weather proof ?

[cleat22]

everything came from lowes
it is waterproof.

[79Ramada]

Here is a diagram to accompany the picture about. It is a 3 circuit 30A panel, Circuit#1 at left most is being used as incoming 30A shutoff breaker. Circuit#2 is a tandem 15A/15A, and Circuit#3 is a tandem 15A/20A. This is one way to make 3 circuit into 5. Some load center will specify how many tandem breakers you can use.

[Redwood]

This is a great diagram. Exactly what I need. Thank you for drawing that up. So the ground bar needs to be grounded to the frame. Each outlet box will have the hot to the corresponding  breaker, the white to the neutral and the green to the ground bar. Is that correct?
   The shore power will have the black(hot) to the 30 amp breaker white to the neutral bar and green to ground bar.
   Is there any reason why I shouldn't use Romex for the wall plugs?  I read earlier that there is a 30 amp breaker just for RVs.
RV30   http://www.myrv.us/electric/ Any thoughts on this?

[79Ramada]

This is a great diagram. Exactly what I need. Thank you for drawing that up. So the ground bar needs to be grounded to the frame. Each outlet box will have the hot to the corresponding  breaker, the white to the neutral and the green to the ground bar. Is that correct?

That is correct, I just did not draw it up in the diagram.

[Redwood]

I've been searching for this breaker box but no luck yet.