How to run AC on 30 amp 2021 Anthem

[FLYING BUTCH]

Sorry guys for dumb question but I have never run my Acs on 30 amp. Couldn't find 50 amp campground for Labor Day so need to make 30 amp work. Thanks in advance for all imput.

safe travels all

[TXiceman]

On 30 amp you can run one A/C unit and maybe two units if you are lucky and run nothing else...like microwave, electric water heater, electric fridge, coffee make, etc.

On your electric panel, watch the amp draw.

Ken

[wolfe10]

Agree, but (OK LARGE BUT) monitor voltage.


In older CG's with only 30 amp power, the electrical grid is often totally overwhelmed by the power consumption of modern RV's.


If voltage falls below 108 VAC, do NOT use it. Start the generator-- a lot less $$ than buying new appliances.

[Bobby Dowdle]

I would run only ac in the day time. Close your window shades and possibly setup a curtain between driver and passenger seats. This will cut down on a lot of heat. In the evening when the sun gone down completely, you can possibly run 2 a/c's. But nothing else except for tvs. No coffee, no blow dryer, maybe a fan. No microwave. Must turn one unit off to run these other components. I would run the genset during the day to try to cut down on the heat. That will also allow the units to run better and at a lower amp draw in the evening.

[mike625]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

On 30 amp you can run one A/C unit and maybe two units if you are lucky and run nothing else...like microwave, electric water heater, electric fridge, coffee make, etc.

On your electric panel, watch the amp draw.

Ken

You hopefully will be able to run the front and rear "leave the middle off & everything else not needed" - It will also work better if you set the shore power setting down from 50 to 30 amps.

[Gary.Jones]

Everyone is giving you good advice on two ACs max....nothing else.

Also, Bobby is giving you good advice.... watch your voltages coming into the coach with just 2 ACs on. Many 30 amp RV parks have a serious low voltage problem when the loads across all sites/units is really pulling the park electrical system heavily (mid afternoon, summer, with everyone pulling AC loads).

I carry an Hughes autoformer which can raise voltage but does so by pulling additional amperage, but often that is the problem.... too much amperage being pulled and then dragging down the voltage. Be careful of low voltage ... it will really distress your AC units if it is too low.

Gary

[voltdoc]

Two AC's can theoretically run fine on 30A, each will draw 10 amps or so while running. The problem is when they start up - the locked rotor current is a huge (but very fast) power spike and if one AC (or some other large load) is already running, that big spike will usually trip the 30A shore breaker.

One way around this is to install an EasyStart device on each AC unit. These "modulate" the start up spike so it is essentially reduced in intensity and the shore breaker won't trip. They are fairly expensive ($300 each?) and require some electrical knowhow to install.

A relatively new version is a plug in model that you simply plug into the 30A shore power pole and it manages start up spikes for the entire coach. Best of all there is no installation. It's also pricey, but at the intro price equals the cost of two EasyStart units, so if you have a 3 AC coach it could represent a 30% savings.

Also, if you are thinking about installing Lithium house batteries and running your AC off them, an easy start device is probably mandatory to keep the inverter from freaking out.

I have no affiliation with the vendors mentioned, nor have I used either of the products. I am thinking tho that it would be nice to have one of those plug-in units on hand for certain situations we occasionally encounter.

[voltdoc]

Originally Posted by mike625

You hopefully will be able to run the front and rear "leave the middle off & everything else not needed" - It will also work better if you set the shore power setting down from 50 to 30 amps.

Actually, you want to set the charger draw down to the lowest it will go which I think is 5 Amps.

[mike625]

Originally Posted by voltdoc

Actually, you want to set the charger draw down to the lowest it will go which I think is 5 Amps.

Just to understand - why, because I will try this the next time????

[voltdoc]

Originally Posted by mike625

Just to understand - why, because I will try this the next time????

Because then the charger will be limited to drawing 5 amps from your available 30A of shore power leaving you with up to 25 amps for other stuff. There is really no difference between the 30A and 50A shore power limits, the charger should never draw 50A from the AC side and I doubt even 30A. But setting it to 5A limit will ensure you give your batteries a charge (at a somewhat slower rate) and still help ensure enough capacity for other AC loads.

The charger will pull the most from shore power after you first plug in for at least an hour or two, then diminish gradually as the batteries reach full charge.

[twinboat]

Originally Posted by voltdoc

Two AC's can theoretically run fine on 30A, each will draw 10 amps or so while running. The problem is when they start up - the locked rotor current is a huge (but very fast) power spike and if one AC (or some other large load) is already running, that big spike will usually trip the 30A shore breaker.



One way around this is to install an EasyStart device on each AC unit. These "modulate" the start up spike so it is essentially reduced in intensity and the shore breaker won't trip. They are fairly expensive ($300 each?) and require some electrical knowhow to install.



A relatively new version is a plug in model that you simply plug into the 30A shore power pole and it manages start up spikes for the entire coach. Best of all there is no installation. It's also pricey, but at the intro price equals the cost of two EasyStart units, so if you have a 3 AC coach it could represent a 30% savings.



Also, if you are thinking about installing Lithium house batteries and running your AC off them, an easy start device is probably mandatory to keep the inverter from freaking out.



I have no affiliation with the vendors mentioned, nor have I used either of the products. I am thinking tho that it would be nice to have one of those plug-in units on hand for certain situations we occasionally encounter.

I have read that the whole RV Soft Start will trip out some built in surge guards.

It seems that when it attempts to ramp up the power, the voltage drops below the surge protectors threshold and it shuts down the power. Then everything resets as it trys again and again.

[RVFunlovers]

I just spent 6 days on 30 amp. 2 air conditioners running with no issues. When we need anything other than lights or tv we turned one air off first.

Outdoor temp was low 90’s. Coach stayed comfortable. We much prefer 50 amp which is really 50 amp x 2. When you compare that to 30 amp x 1 it is a big reduction. 30 vs 100.

One air with microwave or stove was no problem.

We used diesel hot water only. We never tripped any breaker but had to remember to turn air off first when doing anything in the kitchen. No issues with two air and tv or lights.

I also turned off the outdoor cooler and wine fridge for the week.. First we moved beer into the main fridge of course.

Our volts were fine at about 118.

It was hot out and even with window shades down and magna shade one air would not keep up in the afternoons.

[Douglee25]

Don't these rigs do load shed management?

Ie two ACs are on, you start up the microwave and the one AC compressor is shed temporarily while the microwave is used. Once completed the AC restarts?

[RVFunlovers]

Originally Posted by Douglee25

Don't these rigs do load shed management?

Ie two ACs are on, you start up the microwave and the one AC compressor is shed temporarily while the microwave is used. Once completed the AC restarts?

I was wondering if the power management system would do just that.

I decided to just use the Hal shed management system and not push my luck.

I was surprised how well we ran on 2 air’s. But of course 50 amp service is the way to go unless not available.