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03-05-2017, 05:05 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 7,494
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30amp motor homes with 2 air conditioners
Hi folks,
My coach is 30 amp and has 2 air conditioners. I know if on shower power I can only use one of the units, and can use both on generator.
Is this something that is common?
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2008 Phoenix Cruiser 3100
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU.
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03-05-2017, 05:26 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2000
Location: St. Joseph, MI.
Posts: 393
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1stMH
Hi folks,
My coach is 30 amp and has 2 air conditioners. I know if on shower power I can only use one of the units, and can use both on generator.
Is this something that is common?
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My 2001 Georgetown is like that. The front AC in on during the day and we switch to the rear at night in the summer. Works OK but wish we had 50 amp.
Bob
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2011 Four Winds 25C Motorhome
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03-05-2017, 05:28 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 8,055
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I'd be curious to know why it matters. 30 A is 30 A. Technically there is a bit more power with 4000 w generator but a 3600 w feed. I would expect both feed paths to run through the same 30 A main breaker.
It really depends on what else is running. I would expect both A/C's to work as long as the batteries were close to full and I was not trying to use the microwave or any other large power draw. Charging batteries can count as a high draw if the house batteries are low.
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03-05-2017, 05:33 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 7,494
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I am just wondering why they provide 2 air con units and only 1 can be used on shower power.
It's no big deal to me, like RDG we run the main one during the day and the bedroom room at night time.
On my coach there is a rocker switch with 3 settings. Front unit, back unit and both.
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2008 Phoenix Cruiser 3100
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU.
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03-05-2017, 05:37 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Jacksonville, Fl
Posts: 3,542
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Mine is a 30amp with two ACs also, I can run them both on the generator - I've got a 5500 watt generator with two breakers. I believe one of the breakers goes to the main breaker panel (same as shore power) and the other one goes directly to the rear AC unit.
When on shore power only one AC compressor will run at a time (but both blowers will run). The second AC is 'shed' by the controller. If/when temperature is reached on the AC that is 'working' then that compressor will turn off and other other compressor will turn on. Then that AC has control until temp is reached, then they'll switch again.
Which is probably the answer to 'why have two ACs if only one can run at a time'. Assuming that the ambient temp is low enough to allow thermostat temp to be reached the ACs will switch back and forth, thereby keeping the entire coach cool. Here in the Florida summer we don't even try to run both because they'll never catch up. We just turn on the one that's on the end of the coach that we want to be cool.
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2013 Winnebago Sightseer 36V
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03-05-2017, 05:54 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Mcdonough, Ga.
Posts: 5,927
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1stMH
I am just wondering why they provide 2 air con units and only 1 can be used on shower power.
It's no big deal to me, like RDG we run the main one during the day and the bedroom room at night time.
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What make is your motorhome? Many motorhomes will run both AC's if they have the Intellitec system that allows them to shed a load. On yours you can run both if there is no other heavy loads. No electric Water heater, no toasters no microwave. You will not burn anything down. All you will do is trip the breaker at the outside power receptacle or the main breaker in your motorhome, If you forget to shut something off.
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1998 Pace Arrow 35 ft. F53 Ford V10 2014 Honda CRV toad
32 years mechanic at Delta Air Lines 15 year motorhome service manager. 3 popups....2 travel trailers....5 motorhomes....loved them all.
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03-05-2017, 05:59 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: Sep 2016
Location: Manitoba, Canada
Posts: 970
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My 1996 Bounder is the same. One A/C on shore power and two if running the generator. Generator puts out 41 amps according to the faceplate. Shore power is 30 amps. Seller had pointed it out as he showed the coach, so no surprises after the fact.
My 5er has a 50 amp service but only one A/C unit so never thought of using two at once. Also only camp in Canada as I own a house in AZ. Best of both worlds
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2002 Monaco Windsor 40PKD. Marjorie 2.
2015 Equinox V6 Roadmaster tow setup
2019 ALP Adventurer 24DS for the short trips. April, 2021
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03-05-2017, 06:07 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 7,494
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ga traveler
What make is your motorhome? Many motorhomes will run both AC's if they have the Intellitec system that allows them to shed a load. On yours you can run both if there is no other heavy loads. No electric Water heater, no toasters no microwave. You will not burn anything down. All you will do is trip the breaker at the outside power receptacle or the main breaker in your motorhome, If you forget to shut something off.
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Hi GA,
It's a 2005 Damon Daybreak.
I have tried both with no other load and did not work.
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2008 Phoenix Cruiser 3100
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU.
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03-05-2017, 06:48 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Appalachian Campers Mid Atlantic Campers Coastal Campers Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,622
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If you need to run both A/C, rewire your coach to use 50a shorepower. You could probably even run on one leg of the 50amp. Upgrade your shorepower cable, your transfer switch (if it needs it), and main cable going to the circuit breaker box. You can leave the 2nd leg terminated in your electrical bay. Just check the buss in the breaker box to make sure it's rated at at least 50a, which I would think it is.
Or, you could do a more extensive upgrade, running both legs to a transfer box and up to your breaker box. Would undoubtedly have to upgrade your breaker box as well.
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DaveB, Raleigh, NC
2015 Tiffin RED 33AA, w/Honda CRV
VMSpc, Magnum BMK/ARC50
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03-05-2017, 06:54 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 7,494
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiawah
If you need to run both A/C, rewire your coach to use 50a shorepower. You could probably even run on one leg of the 50amp. Upgrade your shorepower cable, your transfer switch (if it needs it), and main cable going to the circuit breaker box.
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Thanks,
I am looking to change to a 50 amp circuit. Was just asking if my situation was common, which it seems to be in older rigs.
__________________
2008 Phoenix Cruiser 3100
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU.
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03-05-2017, 07:05 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Appalachian Campers Mid Atlantic Campers Coastal Campers Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,622
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We like prefer camping at state, county, and national parks.......where the majority have only 30amp shorepower service. 30amp service used to be pretty much the defacto standard.
So we're restricted to 1 A/C usage anyhow.
Most commercial campgrounds are 50A, and of course any newer wiring getting buried is 50A
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DaveB, Raleigh, NC
2015 Tiffin RED 33AA, w/Honda CRV
VMSpc, Magnum BMK/ARC50
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03-05-2017, 07:12 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 7,494
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Same here Kiawah, the majority of our trips are at state parks also.
__________________
2008 Phoenix Cruiser 3100
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU.
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03-05-2017, 08:01 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Wandering below the Gnat Line
Posts: 1,995
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My MH front a/c vents into the front and back, while back a/c vents to back only. So there's no real need to run both, but you could run the back a/c with the back thermostat at night rather than a thermostat up front where the air may be significantly colder or warmer. We usually shut the bedroom door (to keep the cats out) and don't care what the temperature is up front.
I prefer to need 30A only; camping is a lot easier that way.
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-jbh-
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03-05-2017, 08:04 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 7,494
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Quote:
Originally Posted by johnhicks
My MH front a/c vents into the front and back, while back a/c vents to back only. So there's no real need to run both, but you could run the back a/c with the back thermostat at night rather than a thermostat up front where the air may be significantly colder or warmer. We usually shut the bedroom door (to keep the cats out) and don't care what the temperature is up front.
I prefer to need 30A only; camping is a lot easier that way.
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Hi John,
I must check out if mine does that also.
I agree on the 30amp.
__________________
2008 Phoenix Cruiser 3100
2012 Jeep Wrangler Sahara JKU.
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