Please advise....going from TX to PA, only option to park in family's driveway. Not thrilled about using generator on 2012 Nimbus for four days9noise). Going to step down from 50 amps to 15 to simply plug into the side of the house. Anyone can comment what we will be able to run? Any other ideas?
Lights, tv, and aquahot. No microwave, a/c, or electric heat. Just a start.
Gee,
A standard house outlet can supply 15 OR 20 amps, which is determined by the rating of the circuit breaker, which likely will be 20 amps, in their main panel that protects that outside outlet. After determining breaker size, the next thing that is going to control how much power will be available is what other circuits family has on that breaker. Turn off breaker and look around in garage, house for devices that were turned off with that breaker.
The current things they have already plugged in to that breaker will likely be a problem, so if they turn everything off you may be ok.
You will keep your batteries charged, but likely not run any appliances, like air conditioners, microwave, heaters or any high wattage devices.
In any event, you will quickly learn your limitation, when your coach trips the breaker. Note what was turned on, so you can manage your coach loads.
At this time of year (no A/C or heat pumps) you should be able to run about anything. Switch to inverter on high load appliances like the microwave. Check the polarity of the outlet first prior to plugging in.
I plug ours in the winter to 20 amp outlet all the time and run Aqua hot/heat, no problem.
One consideration is if you have to use a standard 15 amp extension cord to reach the nearest outlet. The longer the small cord, the greater the resistance and therefore the lower the voltage at the coach. It is easy to overheat a small extension cord. The overheat will usually show up at the plug, either the wall plug end or where the large coach plug is plugged into the small cord. Therefore, if your coach 50 amp cord (and any 50 amp extension cords you may have) can plug directly into the 15/20 amp house outlet, you will be in good shape to use onboard systems the above responses have mentioned. If you have to use standard 15 amp extension cords to reach the house, pay attention to the voltage at the coach and the heat generated at the 15 amp plugs.
I spent a week at the in-laws house using 45 feet of 50 amp cord plugged into a 25 foot of 15 amp extension cord. I ran the inverter/battery charger, the aqua-hot (on diesel) for hot water and heat, the fridge (on propane) and LED lights at night. The 15 amp extension cord never got especially warm and I never got below 108 volts, usually ran about 115 volts.
use the 50 Amp cord from our nimbus as much as possible - then your 30 amp extension if you have one and then your 115V 15 amp adapter with no extension if possible
IF you start with full batteries you should be able to run
Aquahot, water pump lights, battery charger and residential refrigerator - really you are just running the battery charger and the residential off the 115V, and if the batteries are up to start the amps will not be too high
Run your generator to use your AC (if needed), electric cooktop (if you have one), toaster and microwave
you may get away with a hair dryer (usually max 1500 watts, 115V @ 15 Amps is 1800 watts....or maybe coffee maker.
if you start tripping the breaker stop doing what tripped the breaker
Good luck and let us know how it goes
Tim Fiedler
Sure Start Soft Start (http://www.gen-pro.biz)
TCER Direct (http://www.tcerdirect.com) generator-gas-prod (http://www.generatorgasproducts.com) 630 240-9139
Gen-Pro
We have two Ridgid pro grade extension cords. One 12 gsuge fine wire the other a more expensive 100' 10 gauge one. Little voltage drop
We use a short HD extension cord from HF to bring juice from a 20 amp plug. One AC works fine but nothing else with it running. Without the AC, we can use the OEM microwave, 50 inch tv, etc and keep the batteries charged at the same time with no problem. The size and length of the extension make a BIG difference. A small cord won't start the AC. Not likely to need to cool down the coach in PA for a while.
Pierce
Minimum size for 30 amp is 10 guage wire
For 50 amp I think it is 6 guage and depending on length of cord these may not be large enough
At home my panel is at the opposite corner of the long ranch style house + 100 foot 12 gauge cord so I am limited to about 750 watts at 105 volts.
I am plugged into a 20 amp circuit and have been for almost a year. I am very careful of what appliances I use at the same time. The house refrigerator is always running along with the 30 amp converter (new) and the hot rod for hot water. With above running I use the microwave/convection oven everyday, yep even to bake. In the morning I use the coffee maker and on hot days I use the roof air condition. No tv stuff all small charger are 12 volts. I use the 25' 50 amp cord to a 25' 30 amp cord to a 30/15 amp plug. I am tired of the setup so I have the makings of a 50 amp setup. Just need to get off my lazy butt.