30 amp to 50 amp ?

[Gary RVRoamer]

11-13 amps is the usual a/c draw, with slight differences for a/c vs heat pump, 13.5k vs 15k btu rating, and age. However, each a/c has a momentary draw of 2x that each time the compressor starts, and that will typically trip the 30A supply breaker if one a/c is already running and the second one attempts to cycle on. If you could get the second one started somehow, you would have enough amps to keep it running, but usually they won't succeed in starting. Or at least not reliably. Might work 5 times and trip the breaker on the 6th.

[dabrooks]

Ray it was not hot outside. The inside temp was 82 and I set both units to 68 on high cool (fan on high). I had the cover off the electric panel and amp meter clamped on the feed wire for the front unit. I flipped the breaker on and watched the meter. I moved the meter to the feed for the rear unit and did the same thing.
I am sorry if it seemed I was being argumentative. I had run both units on a hot weekend as I had stated and your post got my curiosity up. So that's why I did the test. I would agree it is probably not the best practice. I never ran anything else that would draw any amps while both units were on. If I had tripped any breaker just once I would have never again run both units on 30 amps.

[raycyn778]

Originally Posted by dabrooks

Ray it was not hot outside. The inside temp was 82 and I set both units to 68 on high cool (fan on high). I had the cover off the electric panel and amp meter clamped on the feed wire for the front unit. I flipped the breaker on and watched the meter. I moved the meter to the feed for the rear unit and did the same thing.
I am sorry if it seemed I was being argumentative. I had run both units on a hot weekend as I had stated and your post got my curiosity up. So that's why I did the test. I would agree it is probably not the best practice. I never ran anything else that would draw any amps while both units were on. If I had tripped any breaker just once I would have never again run both units on 30 amps.

I absolutely did not take it as an argument, but as another persons view. My point was to try to show that running bith A/C's on a 30Amp service is not very wise especially for the equipment. If you used meters to measure, that is probably more accurate that the energy management screen read out on my unit. the more opinions the better!

[Gary RVRoamer]

Most people are not aware that a 30A power outlet is rated to supply 30A for only short periods. The sustained use rating is 80% of that, only 24 amps. You can expect the outlet, plug and (if used) adapter to get hot if the power draw is 24+ amps for longer than 30 minutes or so. That's why you often see melted plastic or blacked pins on plugs.