50 amp MH, 30 amp service

[Pusherman]

Originally Posted by ChileRick

Planning our summer trips and are running into a problem with some RV parks on our route that only have 30 amp service. We have a 50 amp MH. Since we travel with a dog, we need to keep utilities on. Do we have to pass on these CGs? Is there a way to manage with just 30 amps?

Energy management is a wattage calculation. Ohm's law states Watts = Volts x Amps. Power (consumption) is measured in watts.

A 30A service is at 120V and provides 3600 watts of power.

A 50A service is at 240V and provides 12,000 watts of power. Almost 4X more than a 30A service.

Next calculation to make is how much power (watts) is drawn by each device.

Each a/c unit (or each compressor on a basement air) will draw approximately 1450 watts. So 2 a/c units running will consume 2900 watts of power. You're getting close to the 3600 watts available on a 30A service, but have LOTS of headroom on a 50A service.

To keep both a/c's running, power down most everything else. As others have stated, run the refrigerator on LP, hot water heater on LP. Start with fully charged batteries so the charger/converter doesn't consume a lot of power.

A microwave or a hair dryer will pull upwards of 1500 watts. So if both a/c's are running on a 30A service, you just ran out of power when you try to run 3 devices.

Most motorhomes have an energy management power system which will preclude a breaker from being tripped when too much power is drawn, by shutting down devices in a pre-determined priority order.

Moral of story is, yes, you can run 2 a/c units on a 30A service if you wisely manage other power draws by running the 'fridge and hot water heater on LP, not electric, make sure your batteries are already charged before you need the 'big draw', and shut off all other electrical power needs.

[ChileRick]

Originally Posted by Pusherman

Energy management is a wattage calculation. Ohm's law states Watts = Volts x Amps. Power (consumption) is measured in watts.

A 30A service is at 120V and provides 3600 watts of power.

A 50A service is at 240V and provides 12,000 watts of power. Almost 4X more than a 30A service.

Next calculation to make is how much power (watts) is drawn by each device.

Each a/c unit (or each compressor on a basement air) will draw approximately 1450 watts. So 2 a/c units running will consume 2900 watts of power. You're getting close to the 3600 watts available on a 30A service, but have LOTS of headroom on a 50A service.

To keep both a/c's running, power down most everything else. As others have stated, run the refrigerator on LP, hot water heater on LP. Start with fully charged batteries so the charger/converter doesn't consume a lot of power.

A microwave or a hair dryer will pull upwards of 1500 watts. So if both a/c's are running on a 30A service, you just ran out of power when you try to run 3 devices.

Most motorhomes have an energy management power system which will preclude a breaker from being tripped when too much power is drawn, by shutting down devices in a pre-determined priority order.

Moral of story is, yes, you can run 2 a/c units on a 30A service if you wisely manage other power draws by running the 'fridge and hot water heater on LP, not electric, make sure your batteries are already charged before you need the 'big draw', and shut off all other electrical power needs.

We seem to need 2 AC's when it's warm. So, if it's 85 to 100 degrees outside, we should skip the 30 amp only park, if its cool enough to not need to cool the coach for the dog, they are doable. Perfect, thank you.

[papaw.1]

I think I would check with someone that has as been there and do that and also check with factory and see what they recommend. Good Luck and many SAFE AND Happy Travels

[PyrateSilly]

When we did our 7k trip last year in April our last real stop was in the middle of MI for a week. We stayed in his mom and dad's driveway and stepped WAY down from 50amp to an extension cord. We only ran a little portable furnace during the night, the fridge and a heated mattress pad.
Would we do that again? Ummm no but in that area at that time frame there really was nothing open yet.
In other words you deal with what you have at the time and you work with what you have.

[bjsheldon]

50-Amp RV Box Adapter - Intersource Enterprises D11-136 - Electrical Adapters - Camping World
This is what we used. it plugs into 2-30Amp receptecles and you plug your MH 50 amp plug into it. It is suppose to give you 2-30amp circuits. Every campground we stayed at had 2-30 amp outlets if they didn't have a 50 amp outlet. We never had a problem and never worried about shutting thing off or not using things. Its $85. I wouldn't leave home without it.