Not in a park where we can test, but will the rear fire on 30 amps without the front on?
Rear AC on 30 amps? July 07, 2016, 02:36:33 pm Not in a park where we can test, but will the rear fire on 30 amps without the front on? Quote Selected
Re: Rear AC on 30 amps? Reply #3 – July 07, 2016, 02:56:52 pm Will answer sat,only 30 amp spot left. Quote Selected 1 Likes
Re: Rear AC on 30 amps? Reply #4 – July 07, 2016, 03:24:18 pm Yes, but... (Mike I'm sure you would know this) one needs good cordage to the power pole.When I walk around a campground one of my habits is to look at the cordage used to get to the power pole. Big rigs are usually pretty good. I chuckle when I see the main cord adapted down to a 1/4" diameter orange extension cord with about 40 extra feet wound on a reel, and then adapted back up to 30 amps at the pole... Quote Selected
Re: Rear AC on 30 amps? Reply #5 – July 07, 2016, 03:24:48 pm Just make sure the AC is the only device on your coach using AC power. Switch off the AC water heater and switch the refrigerator to propane only. And turn off the battery charging function. Then hope the 30A pedestal is in good condition, with full voltage, an not too badly corroded receptacle, and most important, an healthy 30A breaker. And watch the voltage, don't let it sag too much. Quote Selected 3 Likes
Re: Rear AC on 30 amps? Reply #6 – July 07, 2016, 03:27:52 pm Yes, you can run ONE air (either one) ASSUMING reasonable voltage. If under 110 VAC with A/C on, be sure all other loads are OFF.To allow you more power for other things, put inverter/charger to its lowest "power share/power save" setting which is usually 5 amps (that is 5 amps of 120 VAC, which limits charging amps to just under 50.Also, if you have an electric water heater element, have it OFF.Refrigerator on 120 VAC should be OK, but if voltage marginal, switch it to propane. Quote Selected
Re: Rear AC on 30 amps? Reply #7 – July 07, 2016, 04:07:20 pm Quote from: wolfe10 – July 07, 2016, 03:27:52 pm Yes, you can run ONE air (either one) ASSUMING reasonable voltage. Given your gauges, and not watching a lot of t.v. (Can't get Roy and Dale Rogers here), good to know, thanks. I've always been leery (pun intended) about firing the gen set next to folks that have none. Quote Selected
Re: Rear AC on 30 amps? Reply #8 – July 07, 2016, 08:57:16 pm How soon we forget, up until just recently most gas coaches only had 30 amp service and they ran their whole coach and 1 air with that. As most of us have experienced at one time or another a lot of RV parks only had 30 amp service with just a few 50 amp's for the big guys. Quote Selected 2 Likes
Re: Rear AC on 30 amps? Reply #9 – July 07, 2016, 09:35:30 pm I just ran one A/C (pulling between 14 and 17 amps) and our marine fridge (about 2amps @ 110VAC) on 20 amp circuit. I used to do this routinely at my house when I had it as well. Have to be careful, but battery was being charged by solar, so that wasn't an issue (charger off). Voltage stayed above 112, usually between 114 and 116 (according to the Progressive Industries EMS remote). I did use a 50 foot 10 gage cord, though it also worked with a 12 gage cord (showing about 2 volts less).FWIW...Don Quote Selected 1 Likes
Re: Rear AC on 30 amps? Reply #10 – July 17, 2016, 12:46:25 am Quote from: Tom Lang – July 07, 2016, 03:24:48 pmJust make sure the AC is the only device on your coach using AC power. Switch off the AC water heater and switch the refrigerator to propane only. And turn off the battery charging function. Then hope the 30A pedestal is in good condition, with full voltage, an not too badly corroded receptacle, and most important, an healthy 30A breaker. And watch the voltage, don't let it sag too much.Tom - you are spot on. When on 30 amp an effective power management system would sure be nice. Quote Selected
Re: Rear AC on 30 amps? Reply #11 – July 17, 2016, 08:02:51 am I've been told the new Atwood units use so much less juice that both can run on 30 amps. Quote Selected
Re: Rear AC on 30 amps? Reply #12 – July 17, 2016, 09:20:26 am We have stayed in several parks in the last few weeks which had only 30 amp sites available. A properly maintained 30 amp pedestal will safely handle 30 amps at intermittent duty cycles and 24 amps (80%) continuous load. We installed a new Atwood Air command unit and was able to use it OR the rear Penguin II (manually selecting one or the other) while using the microwave. I didn't change any settings on the inverter/charger, left it "on" the whole trip. Other than running just one AC at the time ...... we noticed no difference between the 30 amp and 50 amp hook ups. Disclaimer: (this was on our coach......... yours may be different) Quote Selected
Re: Rear AC on 30 amps? Reply #13 – July 17, 2016, 09:34:16 am Checked the atwood site,looks like 12 amps on hi cooling. Quote Selected 1 Likes
Re: Rear AC on 30 amps? Reply #14 – July 17, 2016, 10:48:32 am Yes, but the culprit is inrush also known as LRAwhich stands for locked rotor amps. With one already running at 12 A (unless you have a soft starter installed), the second AC starting inrush will take you over 30 A and trip you're 30 amp circuit. Quote Selected 1 Likes
Re: Rear AC on 30 amps? Reply #15 – July 17, 2016, 01:27:16 pm A 30 amp breaker will handle huge inrushes before it magnetically trips. Thermal tripping after a long period of just a few amps over can occur too. I have run two 13.5k roof ACs (a carrier and a coleman) off a 30 amp hookup for hours to cool down a hot trailer. I was at 28 amps combined but it did it, although the plug got quite warm nothing went wrong. Helps to keep plugs clear of oxidation and recepticals tight for a good connection, but one AC and most other systems should be fine. Quote Selected
Re: Rear AC on 30 amps? Reply #16 – July 17, 2016, 01:29:54 pm There used to be a device that kept the compressors from cycling at the same time and claimed you could run 2 roof airs on 30 amp. I can't find it when I do a search so it must be discontinued. Quote Selected
Re: Rear AC on 30 amps? Reply #17 – July 17, 2016, 01:47:37 pm To anyone using a 30 amp adapter to plug in a 50 amp RV, I'd really recommend keeping an eye on the adapter itself. I had one fail after using it for awhile under conditions that never tripped the 30 amp circuit breaker it was connected to on the shore side. It was still functioning when I noticed it but had developed enough heat in it to cause the plastic to melt. Just a heads up. Quote Selected 1 Likes
Re: Rear AC on 30 amps? Reply #18 – July 17, 2016, 02:06:48 pm Quote from: Tim Fiedler – July 17, 2016, 10:48:32 am Yes, but the culprit is inrush also known as LRAwhich stands for locked rotor amps. Boy howdy, are you right! Even at 50 amps, when the DW fired-up the stern air just now, I happened to be looking at our "Powerwatch" meter and did it ever take a hit! Quote Selected
Re: Rear AC on 30 amps? Reply #19 – July 17, 2016, 09:46:43 pm We routinely run our 13.5K Atwood AC on 30 amp service with no issues including plug heating.We have run it on 15 amp service a couple of times and it works as long as you are using a 12 gauge cord to avoid voltage drop. Of course, you can't run anything else if on 15 amp service, just the AC. Quote Selected 2 Likes
Topic: Rear AC on 30 amps?