The Outdoor Electrical Outlet Capacity for a Mobile Home

Breaker Box

• Manufactured homes are wired with a main circuit breaker box that connects to the electricity provided by the utility company. The breaker box is installed according to the National Electrical Code, which governs the wiring inside buildings. Several circuits run throughout the home from the box, somewhat like fingers from a hand. Most often these are 110v circuits, but if the home has a provision for an electric stove or dryer, 220v circuits will be used.

Outside Receptacle

• Companies vary in the way that they wire the home but many have an outside 110v electrical outlet by the back door. Some also include a front outlet. These normally fit into the normal 15 to 20 amp household circuits. This allows the use of most lightweight, electrical consumer tools such as circular power saws, drills, lawnmowers, tillers and leaf shredders. The receptacle box must be approved for outdoor use.

Smaller Circuit Box

• Older-style mobile homes often have less electrical capability compared to newer manufactured homes, with a circuit box rated at 50 amps instead of the now-used 200 amps. This means that not as many appliances can run at the same time. With the limited space in many of the older homes, that was not a problem.

Adding Capability

• Adding more outdoor capability to a mobile or manufactured home is the same as for a site-built home. An outdoor receptacle might be able to tap into a nearby circuit on the inside, and requires minimal wiring. Changing or adding to any electrical system, however small, is a job that requires knowledge and experience, and should not be tried if you have little understanding of how to wire to code.