Electrical Supply

Does Title 25 allow electrical power supply cords for manufactured home electrical service connections? Yes/No/Maybe 

The correct answer is Yes. Park operators must provide one electrical service connection per manufactured home lot. Manufactured homes connect to the electrical supply by one of the following methods:

• Power supply cords approved for manufactured homes.
• Overhead service drops with insulated connectors.
• Under-floor feeder assembly conductors.

Are manufactured home parks only required to have a single electrical power supply shut-off switch at the park master meter (connection)? Yes/No/Maybe 

The correct answer is No. The HUD Code requires that electrical cords be either 40 ampere or 50 ampere cords specifically “for use with manufactured homes.” The attachment cord plug should be protected against the weather. The cord must be at least 21 to 36½ feet in length. Each homes must have a single switch that turns off electrical power plus branch circuit breakers.

Major appliances may share electrical circuits with other applicances in manufactured homes? Yes/No/Maybe 

The correct answer is No. Home owners should follow simple precautions. Electricians should test, repair, and upgrade electrical systems and connections. Owners should avoid using lightweight extension cords for appliances that use substantial electricity. Space heaters, room air conditioners, refrigerators, and other major appliances should not share a circuit with other appliances. Owners could label circuit breakers or fuses. Adults and older children should know how to turn off the main electrical switch.

Should aluminum wiring in manufactured homes be replaced? Yes/No/Maybe

The correct answer is Maybe. Parks and manufactured homes built before 1976 may have aluminum instead of copper wiring. Aluminum wiring can corrode as it ages. It expands and contracts, which loosens connections. If home owners plug in an appliance that requires a lot of electricity (such as a space heater), corroded aluminum wiring may heat to dangerous temperatures. Electricians should recondition or replace aluminum wiring in manufactured homes. The HUD Code does not allow aluminum wiring in new homes.

“Mobilehome Parks and Installations.” Title 25, Ibid.

    Article 3, Section 1180.
Department of Housing and Urban Development. 2001. “Manufactured Home Construction and Safety Standards. Sections 3280.801, 3280.803 & 3280.804.

Copyright - Carl Eric Leivo, Ph.D.
Images courtesy of Stuart Miles, John Kasawa, and khunaspix at freedigitalphotos.net.