Community Forums

glfprncs · 03-13-2007, 05:38 PM

So, here's the deal. My husband and I rented our house out during Master's week, and will be caddying at a golf course down the road. We have to be at work at 6:00 a.m., and will be caddying 36 holes a day, so we figure it would be easier just to park the RV in the caddie parking lot and live there for a week. However, our two dogs will be staying with us, and will stay in the camper during the day while we work.

I'm sure it'll get a little warm in early April in South Carolina, so we'll need to run one of the air conditioners for them so they don't cook. At this point, I do not believe we will have an electric hook-up, but we're working on it, as they owner said he's sure they've got 50 amp services around from when they built the golf course. If I can't get electricity, I'll need to run the generator, which is propane, for the majority of the day while the dogs are there, plus several hours in the evening to cook dinner, watch t.v., etc.

I don't have the specific specs. of the generator, and have no idea how big our propane tank is (but it looks big under the rig). In general, if we run the small a/c unit in the back of the RV, on low, about how much propane (again, in GENERAL), should I go through per day? We're probably talking about 10 hours of generator usage a day, unless we get a nice break and the weather stays in the 70s/lower 80s, and we won't need the a/c to run.

On another note, if I can't get 50 amp service, but have access to a regular outdoor house plug, can I go from 50 to 30 to 15 (is it 15) amp, and have enough amperage to run one air-conditioner on low? I know, I know, you need to know the model and how much amps it pulls, but the books are in the RV on the other side of town. I'm just fishing for ideas. I think it would be too much of a load, and would just blow the breakers where we plugged in, but I'm not sure. I just don't want to cook the dogs, nor do I want to go buy propane every day.

glfprncs · 03-13-2007, 05:38 PM

So, here's the deal. My husband and I rented our house out during Master's week, and will be caddying at a golf course down the road. We have to be at work at 6:00 a.m., and will be caddying 36 holes a day, so we figure it would be easier just to park the RV in the caddie parking lot and live there for a week. However, our two dogs will be staying with us, and will stay in the camper during the day while we work.

I'm sure it'll get a little warm in early April in South Carolina, so we'll need to run one of the air conditioners for them so they don't cook. At this point, I do not believe we will have an electric hook-up, but we're working on it, as they owner said he's sure they've got 50 amp services around from when they built the golf course. If I can't get electricity, I'll need to run the generator, which is propane, for the majority of the day while the dogs are there, plus several hours in the evening to cook dinner, watch t.v., etc.

I don't have the specific specs. of the generator, and have no idea how big our propane tank is (but it looks big under the rig). In general, if we run the small a/c unit in the back of the RV, on low, about how much propane (again, in GENERAL), should I go through per day? We're probably talking about 10 hours of generator usage a day, unless we get a nice break and the weather stays in the 70s/lower 80s, and we won't need the a/c to run.

On another note, if I can't get 50 amp service, but have access to a regular outdoor house plug, can I go from 50 to 30 to 15 (is it 15) amp, and have enough amperage to run one air-conditioner on low? I know, I know, you need to know the model and how much amps it pulls, but the books are in the RV on the other side of town. I'm just fishing for ideas. I think it would be too much of a load, and would just blow the breakers where we plugged in, but I'm not sure. I just don't want to cook the dogs, nor do I want to go buy propane every day.

RV Wizard · 03-13-2007, 11:23 PM

A propane generator is very inefficient in comparrison to gas or diesel. THe BTU's of the fuels is the difference. Without know the perameter of many, many variables a guess is as close and as far away as you can get. I would suggest you install (if you don't already have one) a Extend-A-stay kit. This will allow you to connect a DOT LP bottle to the ASME LP tank on the coach and when it is empty you can disconnect it and run off the ASME tank while you are gone to get more LP. A 30 lp bottle should last a day, but the weather, where you are parked (sun or shade) and the insullation R factor will effect the heat load. Be sure to cover the windshield as it ias a big souce of heat. Good luck and enjoy work!

NeilV · 03-15-2007, 12:04 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by glfprncs:
On another note, if I can't get 50 amp service, but have access to a regular outdoor house plug, can I go from 50 to 30 to 15 (is it 15) amp, and have enough amperage to run one air-conditioner on low? I know, I know, you need to know the model and how much amps it pulls, but the books are in the RV on the other side of town. I'm just fishing for ideas. I think it would be too much of a load, and would just blow the breakers where we plugged in, but I'm not sure. I just don't want to cook the dogs, nor do I want to go buy propane every day. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

On the 15 AMP question the answer would be maybe.

If you don't have to use too long an extension cord and it was a heavy duty outdoor cord of high quality and you have the refridgerator set to run on propane only and the battery charger is not drawing very much and you don't have anything else turned on in the coach.

I have seen people melt down the connectors/adapters used with low quality extension cords and damage their AC units trying to do this.

You may find a local rental company that will set up a quiet gas or diesel generator for reasonable cost an alternative. Have not looked into this myself as I do not have a propane generator.

If you plan on doing this more often in the future then an Automatic Start Switch that would automatically turn the generator on and off when the AC was cycling may be a consideration also.

Hitchhiker · 03-15-2007, 02:46 AM

Maybe the local propane distributer would come to your site and fill the tank periodical? If not, you might rent an auxiliary 100# tank and have them connect it to the MH.

Renegades · 03-19-2007, 05:51 AM

I have a propane generator on my coach, they burn about .5 to .8 gals/hr of propane. I carry about 30 gals of propane on the coach and that will last me about 1 1/2 days of running. I also keep the fridge on electric and the hot water heater. As mention getting a dealer out to refill is great and if your there for a long period of time, renting a 120 gal tank would keep you going for the week. I have been using mine for over 5 years and no problems, did one oil change. Currently have 600 plus hours and still runs great. I am looking for a diesel to replace it as I would like to boondock longer.
You just have to keep an eye on the amount of propane you have and as you get low either get it refilled or find power. If you run out of propane, you will also loose your fridge.

Using a 15/20 amp outlet to run an a/c unit, forget it. The starting current can and sometimes will trip a 15 or 20 amp breaker as you will not know what else is on that same circuit from were ever your parked. The best is a 30amp outlet or better yet a 50amp. I do carry a 50amp extension cord and also a 30amp cord. These do come in handy once in a while.

If you have a fantansic exhaust fan, and your only able to get a 15/20 amp outlet, crack your front windows about 3 or 4 inches and put the fan on high, this will pull cool air in and keep the warm air from building up. Hope this helps.