Outside outlet

[Cola ny]

This will be the first time I use my outside outlet and I want to use it for my Porter cable air compressor which requires a minimum of a 15 amp outlet. Question is will my outside outlet support it and do I need to run the generator while doing this

[trackman]

The outlet will handle the compressor but it will have a lot of drain on the battery. Suggest the gen be running

[docj]

Originally Posted by trackman

The outlet will handle the compressor but it will have a lot of drain on the battery. Suggest the gen be running

With all due respect, the outside outlet is 110 AC and has nothing to do with the battery which provides 12 V DC to some devices and lights within the RV. The outlet only works when the RV is plugged into shore power or when the generator is in operation. The only way an AC outlet can drain the battery is if an inverter is being used and the OP said nothing about having an inverter.

As for whether or not the outlet will work with the air compressor, the answer is it should but I would plug the compressor directly into the outlet and not use an extension cord. I plug my compressor into a similar outlet and the biggest issue is dealing with the motor's starting surge. Using an extension cord results in voltage drop and this can keep the motor from starting.

[mel s]

Originally Posted by Cola ny

This will be the first time I use my outside outlet and I want to use it for my Porter cable air compressor which requires a minimum of a 15 amp outlet. Question is will my outside outlet support it and do I need to run the generator while doing this

Cola ny
Run your generator or use shore power.
The outlet will handle the compressor but if you use inverter power it will have a lot of drain on the battery, (if it works at all?).
Mel
'96 Safari

[Cola ny]

I do have an inverter I think it's 600 W so what is the best way to do this? So the outside outlet only works with the generator running or shore power right. So if I run the generator does my inverter need to be on

[4x4dually]

If you have a 600W inverter, that will only provide 5 amps of 120 VAC. P=VI So, 600/120 = 5amps.

[Cola ny]

Not sure what that means but will I be able to run the generator and use that outside outlet for the compressor?

[4x4dually]

Originally Posted by Cola ny

Not sure what that means but will I be able to run the generator and use that outside outlet for the compressor?

If your outside AC outlet is powered from your generator, directly, meaning AC from the generator feeds AC in your outlet....yes.

When you say the word "inverter," that leads us to believe you are using the inverter to provide AC power from a DC power source (your battery.) If that is the case....no.

If you want to figure out load on an inverter, just use Power = Voltage * Amperage. If you have a 600 W (power) inverter, it can only provide 5 amps of 120 VAC power.

Does that help?

[Crippsfl]

Personal opinion, if it were my rig, I would plug into the shore power plug directly (most posts I have seen have a 15-20amp plug.) Depending on how your rig is wired, the starting amps on your compressor may trip the breaker. I always care a heavy extension cord and use it when I am using appliances like griddle, pressure cookers, and power tools. Sometimes I will be using several at the same time. This way, I don't have to worry about tripping breakers in the rig.

Boondocking? That is a different issue and you will have to hope the starting amps are lower than the breaker's rated capacity while on generator.

Good Luck

[stik]

Originally Posted by Cola ny

This will be the first time I use my outside outlet and I want to use it for my Porter cable air compressor which requires a minimum of a 15 amp outlet. Question is will my outside outlet support it and do I need to run the generator while doing this

Good grief, folks, quit with all the assumptions and guessing . . . plug it in and see if it works! The outlet will be protected and pop a circuit breaker if it can't handle the load . . . this ain't rocket surgery or brain science

[Cola ny]

Okay thanks guys

[Fred1609]

Originally Posted by stik

Good grief, folks, quit with all the assumptions and guessing . . . plug it in and see if it works! The outlet will be protected and pop a circuit breaker if it can't handle the load . . . this ain't rocket surgery or brain science

Wondered how long before someone said the obvious.

[joemcgin]

We use our generator to power up our outside outlet to run our Craftsman air compressor & air up the tires every time we come off the beach we stay at. It beats waiting in line for one of the 6 air hoses provided and can air up our 6 tires very quickly.

[trackman]

Originally Posted by docj

With all due respect, the outside outlet is 110 AC and has nothing to do with the battery which provides 12 V DC to some devices and lights within the RV. The outlet only works when the RV is plugged into shore power or when the generator is in operation. The only way an AC outlet can drain the battery is if an inverter is being used and the OP said nothing about having an inverter.

As for whether or not the outlet will work with the air compressor, the answer is it should but I would plug the compressor directly into the outlet and not use an extension cord. I plug my compressor into a similar outlet and the biggest issue is dealing with the motor's starting surge. Using an extension cord results in voltage drop and this can keep the motor from starting.

If you read on if he has the right setup he could run off the battery and he did mention inverter