Alladin Electrical question

[jeffprupis]

On my Aladdin "Coach Electrical Status" screen there are two legs - Leg 1 & Leg 2. Under the "AMP" Column
when hooked to 50amp Svc - do I have 50amps/LEG or 50amp in TOTAL. Same question for 30amp. 30amp/LEG or in TOTAL? TIA

[David T. Richelderfer]

When on 30a there is one hot leg coming off the pedestal (3 wires - hot, ground, neutral).  That one hot leg is crossed over within the pigtail adapter so that the 30a goes to both sides of your breaker panel.  Thus, the sum of power used by both sides of the panel, i.e., sum of both legs as seen on your Alladin, will not be allowed to exceed 30a for long... that will make the pedestal breaker kick out.

When on 50a there are two hot legs coming off the pedestal or generator if it's on (4 wires - 2 hot, ground, neutral).  One hot leg goes to one side of your breaker panel.  The other hot leg goes to the other side of your breaker panel.  Thus, you have two independent legs with each leg carrying 50a.  Your Alladin will show you the amperage draw on each leg.

Summarized:  On 30a you have a total of 30a available across both legs - the sum of both Alladin leg readings should not exceed 30a.
                       On 50a you have a total of 100a available - each Alladin leg reading should not exceed 50a.

[jeffprupis]

Shouldn't I then have 2 50amp breakers?

[David T. Richelderfer]

Note that the other single toggle breakers in the panel are single width.  The 50 amp breaker on the left end is a single toggle, but a double width.  That 50 amp breaker on the left side of your panel is a 2-pole breaker (2-pole is noted by its double width), probably a QO250 - Square D Plug-On Circuit Breaker.  There are also 3-pole breakers used in other circumstances that are triple width.

https://www.superbreakers.net/qo250.html?gclid=Cj0KEQiAhZPDBRCz642XqYOCpb8BEiQANUcwT8hrY8gCMmG5_GwE-pdsFS0kVNd7tOiacYpRzOnEe9oaAsXC8P8HAQ

A single pole breaker is used with a typical 120v circuit, having one hot wire and one neutral wire. However, a double pole breaker (2-pole breaker, double width) is used with a typical 220v circuit having two hot wires. If there is a short circuit to either hot wire, then both poles are ganged together so both trip together.

https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20070828111737AAzCRDS

In summary:  That 50 amp breaker on the left end of your panel acts like two 50 amp breakers, except that if either hot leg is short circuited, then BOTH hot legs are tripped simultaneously.

[jeffprupis]

Again I thank you sir.