30 Amp hookup with heatpumps

[rek]

This is our first rig with heatpumps. Can you run both heat pumps if you only have a 30Amp hookup. I have noticed that at some Campgrounds the difference between 50A and 30A is $75.00 monthly. I guess if you only used your furnace and one heat pump you could get away with only 30amp hookup.

[Herbdb]

On our MH, we have a power management system that turns things off when you exceed the power available. I have a 30 amp service at the house that I use when getting ready for a trip or unloading. With 30 amps, I can use both heat pumps, but the system turns the electric hot water heater off if both are operating.

It load sheds in this order: hot water heater, rear heat pump, fwd heat pump, electric refrigeration, microwave. This is pretty handy if power is limited at a camp site. My guess is that both will operate as long as you are not running other high load appliances.

[brucemcdou]

Rek - We also have a Monarch with two heat pumps. As Herb says, the EMS system is designed to manage the electrical loads when you're hooked up to 30 amp (or 20 amp) so that they don't exceed the maximum available. If you don't have the EMS then it would seem safer to only run one so you don't accidentally exceed the max. You should be protected by a fuse/circuit breaker on the campground pedestal but I wouldn't rely on that.

If you're setting at a campground for an extended period, even $75 extra per month that seems reasonable compared with using your propane furnace ($$) and needing to unhook and go get filled up occasionally!

An alternative is a small electric space heater - we have a small ceramic heater; others use the oil-filled heaters. Those use either 1000w or 1500w and are much quieter than the heat pump, at least for us.

[Nonno]

rek,

I'm not a full timer but for a short stay, we'll live with "managing" what you use or don't use to stay within the 30A. At 30A if heatpumps or A/C are needed I keep the fridge on propane.
However, even with some type of power management system, for an extended stay we opt for the 50A as we find it to be very inconvenient otherwise. You need to keep in mind what you'll be using. In addition to the items Herbdb mentioned there's also the hairdryer, toaster, coffee maker, TV, lights, computer and other items that may draw a litle or a lot. It can be done but you have to decide how you want to handle it.

[wa8yxm]

Read any thread on air conditioners on 30 amps

A heat pump is nothing more than an air conditioner with a "Reverse" switch.. So what applies, power wise. to an A/C applies to a Heat Pump as well

[rek]

Thanks for the good info. We do have the EMS but the screen was blank when we bought th MH and now that it is fixed we are not camping, at least not until late next month. We had a 5th wheel before so I am used to heating with LP. I do have an extra 30# LP tank and may take it along if I can find storage space for it. Thanks again.

[TXiceman]

Basically a heat pump will pull the same amount of amps as will the A/C unit. The heat pump is just an A/C unit running with the coils reversed.

Ken

[Denali]

Our heat pumps draw about 12.5 amps each. If we tried to run both on 30 amps, we would almost certainly blow the circuit breaker on the pedestal.

If it didn't blow the breaker, our 50-to-30 amp dogbone would absolutely melt after a fairly short time. Those things don't seem capable of carrying a full 30 amps for long.

[Diplomat Don]

REK....Here is a secret for running the heat pumps. Monaco ducted most of their units so that the heat pumps (either one) are capable of supplying heat the length of the coach to all the ducts. The farther away the ducting is from the heat pump, the less air flow. When we're spending time in the front of the coach, we turn on the rear unit, closing down some of the rear ducts forcing air to the front. This cuts the noise down substantially. At night when we go to bed we reverse the procedure. This also helps when sleeping because it's quieter and not blowing hot air right on you.

If you haven't used heat pumps before, they only warm until the outside air drops to about 35-40 degrees and then become ineffective. They can't transfer heat past that point. Be aware that your thermostat, again on most units, has the furnace tied into the front A/C unit only. If you are running only the rear heat pump, as I suggested above, on a really cold day the propane heater will not turn on. It will only turn on when the front heat pump is on and the temp drops below the heat pumps ability to heat.

Hope this helps.

[Nonno]

Quote:

If you are running only the rear heat pump, as I suggested above, on a really cold day the propane heater will not turn on. It will only turn on when the front heat pump is on and the temp drops below the heat pumps ability to heat.

Wouldn't that be true only when you have one furnace? I have two furnaces and thought each operated independently so that the rear heat pump would switch over to the rear furnace and the front heat pump would switch over to the front furnace

[Diplomat Don]

Nonno.....You may be absolutely right, but his 35' Monarch has only one furnace.

[Nonno]

Thanks Don, I was thinking he had two.

[Ed_G]

Regarding the need to run two heat pumps while parked at a 30A pedestal, here is one option that might also work.
Cheater Box .

.

[rek]

Ed,
The cheater box may work but it states that it will not work on GFCI's and I believe most campgrounds now have a GFCI for 20amp receptacles. If I was going to spend all winter camping in one spot I would most likely buy an adapter for LP gas and rent a large cylinder. I still like heating with gas.