What size wire for 50 amp Rv service? Full Guide

30 amp rv plug VS 50 amp rv plug

A 30 Amp Rv Plug is different from a 50 Amp Rv Plug. Below you will see the difference between both. The on the left is a 30 amp plug as it only has 3 prongs, the one on the right is a 50 amp plug as it has 4 prongs.

You can read all about a 50 amp rv plug in this post.

Want to know the wire sizes of other amperages? Visit some of our other pages below.

• 15 amp wire size?
• What size wire for 20 amps?
• Wire size for 60 amps?
• 100 amp wire
• Wire size for 200 amps?
• Wire size for 400 amp service?

Is 6 AWG necessary for 50 amps?

This is the best size wire for 50 amp Rv service. This is the wire you want to use for many reasons. The main reason is that a 6 AWG wire will be able to carry 50 amps safely without getting overheated.

Here are 6 reasons why 6 AWG wire is usually chosen over other wire sizes

• It's more affordable than a 4 AWG wire.
• It's easier to work with, especially if you're not a professional.
• It's common for people to use 6 AWG for 50 amps.
• It's a lot easier to get your hands on a 6 AWG wire than a 4 AWG wire.
• The wire is thicker and can withstand more heat than a smaller gauge wire.
• It's able to withstand an excessive amount of power that the majority of RVs won't ever require.

50 amp Aluminum Wire

Aluminum wires are ranked in a different way than copper wires are. For a 50 amp aluminum wire, you should use the No. 4 AWG. The smaller sized the number on the wire is, the larger the wire size. For instance No. 4 is larger in size than the No. 6. Aluminum wires are available in various types. Types RHW and THWN are the most typically utilized ones. No. 6 is only usefully good up to 40-amp.

50 amp Copper Wire

For copper wire, No. 8 or No. 6 THWN should be used. No. 6 copper wire can support approximately 55-amp at a temperature level of around 60 degree Celsius. No. 6 wire is highly suggested.

What does a 50 amp rv cord look like?

Here is a look at 3 different views of the 50 amp rv cord. You can distinguish this cord from a 30 amp rv cord by counting the amount of prongs it leads to. A 50 amp cord will have much thicker wires that lead to 4 prongs. A 30 amp cord has 3 wires that lead to prongs and a thinner wire.

WIRE SIZE AMPACITY CHART

Is a 50 amp RV plug 220 or 110?

If your 50 amp plug has four prongs then it is 220 volts. The prongs will be: one neutral, one ground, and the other two will each be 110 volts each.