Community Forums

n5pht · 10-01-2013, 04:44 PM

I have the Surge Guard 50 amp model. It alternates between showing the L1 and L2 voltages and amps on each. I am using it at home and it may have always been this way at camp grounds but I am not sure. (I have true 50 amp service at home). All seems fine but with both a/c on the amps on one leg is about 30 and the other is only a few 0 to 5 normally when I look. I assumed each a/c would use a different leg on 50 amp service but perhaps not?
I expected to see 15 or so amps on each leg instead of 30 on one and only a few amps draw on the other?

Just checking but everything seems fine. The voltage checks are correct with 240 across the 2 legs and 120 or so in the right places.

jesilvas · 10-01-2013, 04:51 PM

It SHOULD be the A/Cs on different legs.

Rob_Fla · 10-01-2013, 04:54 PM

Even with 50 Amp Service all devices are still 120 Volt and run on either the L1 and Neutral or L2 and Neutral, the A/C Units are 120 Volt units.

Manufacturers usually do a pretty good job splitting the 120 Volt load on the two power legs in the breaker panel.

For example our Rear A/C runs on one leg, the Front A/C runs on the other leg, our Washing Machine runs on one leg the Dryer runs on the other leg and so on, the loads on each leg are pretty balanced.

Dr4Film · 10-01-2013, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n5pht

All seems fine but with both a/c on the amps on one leg is about 30 and the other is only a few 0 to 5 normally when I look. I assumed each a/c would use a different leg on 50 amp service but perhaps not?

I expected to see 15 or so amps on each leg instead of 30 on one and only a few amps draw on the other?

Just checking but everything seems fine. The voltage checks are correct with 240 across the 2 legs and 120 or so in the right places.

Well, with just the A/C's running with the compressors on the voltage should be spit between L-1 & L-2 fairly evenly. So it appears that with your RV they may have wired both A/C's to the same leg and possibly wired the balance of the coach to the other leg.

That would be OK but to be safe I would try to find out for sure.

Dr4Film ----- Richard

wa8yxm · 10-01-2013, 05:29 PM

I do not know how my RV was shipped but after I had Camping world install an Inverter... They left both A/C's on the same leg... I re-balanced.

You need to know how your breakers are done.. they may be like mine

1212121212
Or they may be
11112222
Or they may be
12
21
12
21

Or some other arrangement.. Then you can play swap a breaker to balance them out.

n5pht · 10-01-2013, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

I do not know how my RV was shipped but after I had Camping world install an Inverter... They left both A/C's on the same leg... I re-balanced.

You need to know how your breakers are done.. they may be like mine

1212121212
Or they may be
11112222
Or they may be
12
21
12
21

Or some other arrangement.. Then you can play swap a breaker to balance them out.

Makes sense. See picture. I suspect both my a/c and magic fan on one leg and the rest on the other. At least it looks like that from picture attached. On the left off the mains find both a/c and fan.

Click image for larger version

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adonh · 10-01-2013, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n5pht

I have the Surge Guard 50 amp model. It alternates between showing the L1 and L2 voltages and amps on each. I am using it at home and it may have always been this way at camp grounds but I am not sure. (I have true 50 amp service at home). All seems fine but with both a/c on the amps on one leg is about 30 and the other is only a few 0 to 5 normally when I look. I assumed each a/c would use a different leg on 50 amp service but perhaps not?
I expected to see 15 or so amps on each leg instead of 30 on one and only a few amps draw on the other?

Just checking but everything seems fine. The voltage checks are correct with 240 across the 2 legs and 120 or so in the right places.

With both AC running under load check amp read out on the leg that is showing 30 amp. Then turn one AC off and see if the amps drop down. If it does I would guess that both or on the same leg.

n5pht · 10-01-2013, 05:53 PM

Yes, both are on same leg. Perhaps it was done because the other leg has washer/dryer/fireplace.

Safe?

Dr4Film · 10-01-2013, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n5pht

Yes, both are on same leg. Perhaps it was done because the other leg has washer/dryer/fireplace.

Safe?

Yes, providing that there isn't a lot of other high amp stuff running on the same leg.

A 50 amp coach actually has 100 amps to use, 50 amps per leg, 12000 watts total.

You just need to be acutely aware of your power usage and what legs they are on.

Dr4Film ----- Richard