I know this has been discussed somewhere, but I can't seem to find it. I have a 50 amp rig we just picked up, our usual spot at our favorite park is only 30 amp. This area in the park is supposed to be all 30 amp.
Somehow I need to be able to run both A/C's if possible, I know they will not be able to start at the same time, but I may need them and want the ability to run them If it gets too hot for my wife and I.
If the park is only 30 amp, and from what I'm reading 50 amp rigs use two 110v circuits, are some things in the rig not going to work, things on the missing leg?
Can someone please explain to me the best way to plug into the park into what they call a 30 amp spot, to have the ability to run everything??
Being aware that I need to pay attention to what is running and how much power I'm using, and making sure my wife knows as well.
I'm good with power, just haven't done any 50 amp Motorhomes.
Thanks very much!
Roy
May the roads and skies always be clear, and the firewood nice and dry!!
I'm sure you have a short 30 amp male to 50 amp female adapter.
Assuming you don't have an automatic management system that sheds loads to keep your total consumption at or below 30 amps. You have to do it yourself. Pay particular attention to the large loads (air conditioner, water heater, washer/dryer, coffee pot, vacuum cleaner, etc., and make sure you aren't trying to run more than two at once and you should be OK. You need to practice with your rig at your park to see what works. You can probably run both Acs if you don't start them at exactly the same time, and keep the other big loads turned off.
Practice and you will learn how to manage your loads unless your park power post has a weak breaker (which the park should replace if so).
If you pop the park breaker, take your time resetting it to let it cool down a little.
You don't say what year/model moptorhome you have and that would help us answer your question. Some have EMS (Energy Management Systems) that will shed loads in excess of 30 amps and allow two air conditioners to share power. You can accomplish the same thing manually by careful use of power (refrigerator switched to gas, other heavy loads restricted to one at a time, turning off electric hot water heaters, etc.
Roy; You need to purchase an power cord adapter to go from 50 amp to 30 amp. Then run your refer and hot water off gas. If your batteries are being charged at a high amp load turn off your charger if possible and charge them later when you don't need both AC's. The electrical system on your MH will take care of the rest. Be conscious of other loads as well, no hair dryers, electric fry pans, coffee pot or toaster maybe even entertainment center keeping every thing to a minimum. There is still the possibility that you still will not be able to run both AC's at the same time because the breaker on the pole won't allow it and may trip especially if both units try to start the same time or the park has low voltage which you may want to check after you get both units running.
Blessings KDK
ON edit; another thing you can do is close off the bed room area when not in there and run on just one AC. Then before going to bed turn off the main unit and run the one in the bedroom.
With only 30 amp service you will be limited. There is no way you can exceed that.
It is possible to add a circuit to the motorhome which will allow the second ac to run independently if there is a seperate 20 amp breaker on the power pedestal,but many of them are GFCI and can not handle the start up on an ac compressor.
Harold and Linda
2009 CT Coachworks siena 35V
W-22 Workhorse 8.1L
Explorer toad
Ahhh, yes, this subject does come up in various forms, quite often. I had this issue once recently as well.
You have a couple of choices, that go something like this:
1. Manage your power use effectively enough to allow using two air conditioners at once with just 30 amps. You can sometimes get away with running two air conditioners on just 30 amps, provided almost NOTHING else is using AC power, and you insure they both don't try to start at the same time. Switch refrigerator and water heater over to run on gas instead of AC power, switch off converter, and don't even THINK of using the microwave, blow dryer, or anything like that when air conditioners are running.
2. Live with just one air conditioner running at a time. Thats what we did, and it worked out OK. We use the front unit during the day when everyone is mostly at front living area of the MH, then at night, we turn off front unit, and turn on the back unit. That kept us plenty cool, even down here in the South where it got extremely hot.
3. In *some* parks that have a 2nd 20 amp outlet on the pedestal that is NOT GFCI protected, you can get away with using an adapter like THIS, which will give you 30 amps on one 'leg' of the MH electrical system, and 20 amps on the other from a 2nd 20 amp outlet on the power pedestal. This in most cases will be enough to allow you to run both air conditioners, but you still have to be cautious of power use since one leg will only be getting 20 amps maximum. You basically still have to do some of what I mentioned in #1 above. That, and you may be putting too much load on the power pedestal and trip its breakers (see below). It also only works if the 20 amp outlet is not GFCI protected, which is not going to be the case at a lot of places. That is why many people don't recommend this approach.
4. Wire your MH so that you have a 2nd power outlet that goes diectly to the 2nd air conditioner unit, that you will plug into the extra 20 amp outlet at the park pedestal. Have read of several folks on here who have done this, and that it works great. My only concern with this (and #3 above) is that I'm not convinced parks are wired to allow both the 30 amp receptacle AND the extra 20 amp outlet to be used at the same time. If not, you're going to trip a breaker or two, or possibly damage some wiring.
There are also some power management systems and other devices you can get, that will allow this to work. Some are pretty expensive, though.
Personally, my suggestion is #1 or #2 - Either live with just one air conditioner running at one time, or manage your power use enough to allow both to run at once. Its a much simpler approach, and we're supposed to 'rough it' just a little when camping anyway, right?
Will & Angela
2 children that love camping, Stephen & Allison
2012 FR Georgetown 351DS on F53 (V10) Chassis Our Rig
I was concerned about a 50 amp cord having two 110v lines, so if a 30 amp has only 1 line of 110v than things on one of the legs are going to be without power.
Now I know that the adapters put both the legs together, which I should have figured out myself, and that everything is still going to have power.
I might make up a dual 30 amp adapter like link posted above, that way if there is a 30amp and a 20 amp on the post, I could try that as well.
You all are very helpful and I understand better now what I need to do.
Where are you staying that you need two air conditioners in the PNW in the summer?
Also, maybe time to look for some new parks that have 50 amp available.
Barb
Barb & Dave O'Keeffe - full-timing since 2006 Traveling catpanion Shadow (age 15) Figment II (2002 Alpine 36 MDDS) Mischief (2004 Subaru Forester Toad) FMCA - F337834, SKP #90761 Our Blog
There are basically 2 ways to do this, one works, the other works very well indeed but not at all parks.
The first method (Works at all parks) is if your coach has an EMS (energy management system) this will do all the work for you. What it does is monitor the power usage and turn on one or the other A/C as needed, it will switch back and forth.. NOTE: this works best if you minimize other 120vac loads (lock fridge on gas, do not use water heater and so on)
I do not have an EMS
I identified the wire that ran to the rear A/C, and removed it from the breaker box (power distribution center) ran it to a junction box where I spliced on 1/2 of a 12ga extension cord, (The half with the plug on the end)
The other half I hooked into the main breaker box in place of the original Air Conditioner lead.
The plug and socket are in a compartment on the outside of the coach.
50 amp site I plug the two cord halves in together
30 amp I split them and use another 12ga cord to the 20 amp outlet in the box,, if such exists.
Side advantage, This gives me a "Service side" outlet for my air compressor should I ever need to use it on the road. (or other power tools).
NOTE: leave extra cord, you will need to replace the ends every half decade or so.
Nothin adds excitment like something that is none of your business
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