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Topic: What will not work on a 30 amp service (Read 854 times) previous topic - next topic

What will not work on a 30 amp service

Yahoo Message Number: 42596
I have a 2000 U320.  It is a 50amp coach.  What will not work if I connect to a 30amp service.  The only thing that I see is the A/C units my not run together.  Any suggestions

What will not work on a 30 amp service

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 42599
Quote from: AlanF
I have a 2000 U320.  It is a 50amp coach.  What will not work if I connect to a 30amp service.  The only thing that I see is the A/C units my not run together.  Any suggestions
  Ok you have only one electric element on the aquahot. That takes 14 amps and then you have the charger that will take somewhere in that area in the beginning. The trick is to plug in and leave your engine running so the charger does not go into bulk charge in the summer when you want the AC on.

You can run one AC but be careful when you run the miecrowave or ladies hairdryer. it may blow if you turn on the coffee put on the AH on electric and take a shower and when you turn on the blow dryer the breaker will trip.

SO mostly you can not run two ACs and you can manage everything else.
2025 Wanderbox Outpost 32 on F600 Expedition Motorhome
2015 Born Free Royal Splendor on Ford 550 nonslide version  for sale
Former Coaches  covering. 360,000 miles
1999 34 U270
2000 36 U320
2001 42' double slide U320
2018 Jeep Rubicon

What will not work on a 30 amp service

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 42602
Alan,

We lived on 30 Amp all last summer in Maine (5 months).  As a rule, we could run one of the following:

Aquahot on electric
Microwave/oven
One A/C (either A/C or heat pump operation)
Splendide W/D
My hair dryer
The espresso machine

As long as we only had 1 of the above units on, we were fine with the regular usage of computers, fridge, TV, etc.  You learn pretty quickly to "power manage" and it becomes second nature to turn one major appliance off before turning another on.

Michelle
'03 U320

Quote from: AlanF
I have a 2000 U320.  It is a 50amp coach.  What will not work if I connect to a 30amp service.  The only thing that I see is the A/C units my not run together.  Any suggestions
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

What will not work on a 30 amp service

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 42608
Alan,

As others have said you cannot run things like the microwave, toaster, etc. in addition to the AC. My AC units each pull about 18 amps during run but about 22 amps on start up. Check your AC and appliance current draws to see what can run together. Also be aware that older 30 amp breakers may trip at less than 30 amps. If the breaker trips remember that it may not cool down immediately and so you should wait a while before putting a full load on it again.

What ever else you do try to avoid campgrounds with 30 amp only sites in the hotter regions of the country in the summer time. We were unfortunate to stop in Mojave, CA, at the Space Port RV Park when it was 121 degrees and all they had was 30 amp service. One AC WILL NOT cool the coach down in that heat.

John Cooper
'91 GV 36'

Quote from: On Fri, 4/30/10, AlanF
I have a 2000 U320.  It is a 50amp coach.  What will not work if I connect to a 30amp service.  The only thing that I see is the A/C units my not run together.  Any suggestions
John Cooper
'91 GV 36'
Oshkosh chassis
Cat 3208T 300HP

What will not work on a 30 amp service

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 42611
Thanks for all your help.  That is right on track with what i was thinking.  Most the state parks in Arkansas are 30amp.

reprise: what will not work on a 30 amp service

Reply #5 –
I wanted to quote (or bump) a post of Michelle's from the Yahoo archive - but couldn't figure out how to (What will not work on a 30 amp service).

Michelle provided the following insights on May 1, 2010:

We lived on 30 Amp all last summer in Maine (5 months).  As a rule, we could run one of the following:

Aquahot on electric
Microwave/oven
One A/C (either A/C or heat pump operation)
Splendide W/D
My hair dryer
The espresso machine

As long as we only had 1 of the above units on, we were fine with the regular usage of computers, fridge, TV, etc.  You learn pretty quickly to "power manage" and it becomes second nature to turn one major appliance off before turning another on.

I found this to be a very useful reference for our current park in Nashville.  When I called the campground this morning, the only remaining sites were 30amp.  We were also on 30amp in Tupelo, MS last night.  These guidelines were very helpful, and I wanted to thank Michelle again  ^.^d - and bring up the post as a reminder for others this summer. 
The selected media item is not currently available.Pat Hatfield
2000 U295 3600 #5666 WTFE (sold 1/7/20)
2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee
previously: 2003 U295 3610 #6228 (sold 5/29/14)
previously:  2009 Honda CRV (sold 6/9/14)

Re: reprise: what will not work on a 30 amp service

Reply #6 –
Quote from: Patricia –
I wanted to quote (or bump) a post of Michelle's from the Yahoo archive - but couldn't figure out how to

Through the magic of forum moderator powers, I see Barry has pulled the old thread out of the archive board and merged it here :)  (otherwise the Yahoo archive board is read-only, I believe).

The Progressive EMS readout has helped us get a good handle on current draw of different items.  Our A/Cs seem to be around 14 amps each when running; similar for the AquaHot on electric and the Splendide when drying.  Our Norcold Tek II chest freezer (where the Hatch green chiles and Cuisinart ice cream maker bowl are) less than an amp. 

Michelle
Learn every day, but especially from the experiences of others. It's cheaper!  - John C. Bogle

2000 U320 36' non-slide / WildEBeest Rescue
2003 U320

Re: What will not work on a 30 amp service

Reply #7 –
We have run both roof air conditioners on 30-amp service with good voltage and you can too. 

Each unit draws about 12-amps after it has been running for a while.  We turned everything we could off, like fridge & hot water tank on gas. Batteries fully charged so charger is only powering 12-volt loads.  Computer, TV & DVR was on, but not much else. 

Start 2nd A/C unit and keep thermostat set low, so roof A/C's don't cycle off & on as start cycle takes more amps. 

Try it and you will be surprised.  If it trips the 30 amp campground breaker, try it again with battery charger off.  Since 12 volt loads are also minimized, batteries should not deplete.