Court DeLorme
Azle, Texas USA
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The 1997 33ft Airstream that I just bought has two roof A/C's. The generator is a 5000kw Onan unit. Also, the coach is set up for 30amp service. My past MH's both had 50amp service and 7500kw gen sets. I've been told that I can't run both A/C's at the same time either with the gen set or hooked up to RV park power. Is this true? Am I going to only be able to run one at a time. When it's 105 degrees in Texas I'm pretty sure I'll need them both. Is there anything I can do to be able to run both units? Do I even dare trying. What could happen if I turn them both on, just a tripped breaker or something dangerous and unsafe? Thanks in advance for anyone's help. Court.
Court
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2oldman
Wilson Creek WA
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You can possibly do this, but you must only start one at a time. Let it run for a few minutes, then start the other.
And nothing else can be running: converter, hot water, refridge.. nothing save a few lights.
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dgcarver
Bartlesville, Oklahoma
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Are you sure someone didn't add the other AC and it has a seperate power cord to plug into the 15/20 outlet on the power pedestal?
If not, that is an option. If there are seperate breakers for each AC, you can have an electrican seperate the wiring for one and attach a seperate power cord. Make sure the cord is large enough wire to avoid voltage drop. Most pedestals that have 50/30/20/15 outlets will handle it. 30 only with 15/20 may or may not depending on how the facility is wired.
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USARMYCW
TEXAS or somewhere in between
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I have a '97 Bounder with the same set up and "Zoldman" has it correct.
Just today I exercised the generator by running both air conditioners (starting one, and then the other).
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shawnw
Desoto, TX
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Each A/C will use approximately 1500 watts of power. So together they should be 3000w. With that said you may have the converter plugged in too so that will take some of the power.
You may be able to run 1 A/C on high power, and 1 on low power because the high power will be about 1500 watts, and low power running at 900 watts. That may allow you to run other things along with the A/C systems.
Of course, this all depends on if your generator is in TOP performance to get the full 5000 watts.
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jamstoyz
Chesterfield MI
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30 amps @ 120 volts is 3600 watts. Your 5000 watt gen should have no problem running both ac's. What is the surge watts of your gen? That would be your only concern is start up with both ac's. I would also look into installing hard start capacitors on your ac units. The inrush current will drop to about half. I installed one on my ac at home and the original inrush current went from 90 amps down to 45 amps on start up.
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mena661
Southern California
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Should be able to run both on generator and possibly both on shore power if you have an EMS.
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2bzy2c
California
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I had a Generac 5000 watt. No problem as long as you have an EMS system. It turns on one AC unit at a time, pausing about 3-4 minutes between start ups to avoid
overload. I guess the AC use a ton of juice when they first start running.
My advice is worth exactly what you paid for it.
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MrWizard
Traveling
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you should be able to run both on the generator
just be careful to have the fridge on propane (not automatic) and the water heater off or propane
30amps shore power, is only going to allow one A/C unless one is wired for and extra external shore input
my 15k btu a/c draws 15.5 amps per the data plate
my 13k btu draws about 14 amps
the only a/c that uses only 900watts is a 7k btu polar cub
Options, always have options, and the journey goes much smoother
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kaydeejay
SE Michigan, USA
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Court DeLorme wrote:The 1997 33ft Airstream that I just bought has two roof A/C's. The generator is a 5000kw Onan unit. You could run a small village with a 5000kw generator! I suspect you mean 5000 WATTS or 5KW.
Depending on how everything is hooked up, then yes, you should be able to run both A/Cs.
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