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Old 05-07-2012, 06:11 PM   #1
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Amperage

We blew a fuse last week camping at a state park.
We have a class c 30 amp
We had the air going and the microwave and some lights
My manual doesn't say how many amps these things draw
Anyone have that info?
Thanks.
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Old 05-07-2012, 06:16 PM   #2
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Microwave is probably 1000-1500 watts, air con is another 1500.
You have 3,600 watts available on a 30 amp circuit. Think you just overdid it by running the microwave and the air con at the same time. Wife did the same thing in Phoenix at the Good Sam rally there. Our rig is a 50 amp (12,000 watts), but only had 30 there, running both heat pumps and the DW trurned on the microwave.
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Old 05-07-2012, 06:17 PM   #3
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If I'm on a 30 amp circuit air + microwave trips my breaker. On a 50 amp I can have both ac units and the microwave running with no problem.
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Old 05-07-2012, 06:33 PM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rocknrun View Post
If I'm on a 30 amp circuit air + microwave trips my breaker. On a 50 amp I can have both ac units and the microwave running with no problem.
Yep, on 50 amps you have 12,000 watts and on 30 amps you only have 3,600 watts. That's why you can run so much more on a 50 amp setup. It's 3.3 times the amps of a 30 amp.
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Old 05-07-2012, 06:40 PM   #5
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Don't forget about your converter/ [inverter]. It's always on charging the batteries.
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Old 05-07-2012, 06:43 PM   #6
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..................a 13,500 a/c will pull around 14.5 to 15.3 amps by itself, and the microwave is close; the issue comes in because an a/c cycles on and off..........as it cycles on (in other words "loads") momentarily amps can push up to 20. In electrical terms, this is called starting amps, or in the application of electric motors it is called locked rotor amps. It always takes more power, or load to get you started than it does to keep you maintained, even though that extra load is only for a few fractions of a second.
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Old 05-07-2012, 07:10 PM   #7
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Air Conditioners, Microwave and Water heater are all over 1,000 watts (MIcrowave may be slightly less)

Fridge is around 350

Lights, Well a 1156 Lamp is around 25-30 watts,

I usually round voltage off when I divide to estimate amps, thus 120 volt stuff, is divided by 10, so a 1,000 watt device takes 10 amps.

For the lights, in your case also use 100 as the divisor. even though they are 12 volt things. This is more explanation than I care to type but use 100 as the divisor.

The rule on 30 amps is no more than 2 big ticket items (Water/Space heater, A/C, Microwave)

And do expect to trip the breakers.. that's what happens on 30 amps.
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Old 05-07-2012, 07:25 PM   #8
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A/C and microwave probably had you close tot he 30 amp. If you have a newer unit with a high efficiency A/C, you would have a bit more room...but not a lot. The converter was drawing several amps as well.

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Old 05-08-2012, 07:19 AM   #9
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Here are some general amp draws.

RV Converters and Amp Draw - RV Information (RV Maintenance)
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Old 05-08-2012, 10:08 AM   #10
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I reconsidered this thread and the quesiton you ask in the original post.. How much power does each item take...

Amprage is a function of wattage and power factor, If the ID tag lists VOLT-AMPS, then it's just VOLT-AMPS/VOLTS (makes it much easier) else it gets complex but...

Each of the big ticket (and most small ticket) items has a sticker or plate or "Embossed" (Cast) label area on it, ON Air conditioners it is often on the inside and there should be two of them (You need the label for the upper unit) you may need to remove the inside cover to see it, Microwaves it may be on the main housing behind the door, or it may be on the back side, Water heaters you will have to find it, I'm not sure where they hid it on mine.

On my single cup coffee maker and toaster, it's on the bottom (may be stamped into metal) TV's and Radios it is usually on the back or bottom.

Tells you how much power it needs.
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Old 05-08-2012, 08:41 PM   #11
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if you have a progressive industries EMS with a display you can see the current drawn by each device and make a small sticker to go on each one. or make your own list of amps drawn by each.
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Old 05-09-2012, 02:40 PM   #12
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One other thing to consider is the fridge. If in the electric mode, or auto, the heater in there uses a few amps, watts, too.
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Old 05-09-2012, 05:21 PM   #13
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Ohm's Law: Watts = Volts x Amps

Therefore a 30A 120V service = 3600 watts
A 50A 240V service = 12,000 watts

Watts is a measure of power consumption.

A microwave is about 1200 watts.
Each a/c is about 1400+ watts.

If you have the microwave and an a/c running, it's drawing 2600+ watts. Add a couple other items, such as the refrigerator and converter/charger, you're pulling in excess of the wattage available at the 30A pedistle.

Physics.
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Old 05-10-2012, 06:10 AM   #14
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I disagree in the 12,000 watts calculation for the RV. That calculated value is for a 240VAC system. Eventhough 240 VAC is available in the RV breaker panel, only 120 VAC is usable to the whole coach via two 120 VAC to Neutral circuits with their associate distribution breakers. The 240 VAC/12,000 watts is only available to a 240 VAC appliance. Just my two cents...
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