Community Forums

yohop · 02-10-2014, 12:32 PM

Recently down sized from larger 5th wheel with 50 amp panel to TT with 30 amp panel. To help to prevent over loads on breakers at times I am thinking of a seperate power entrance source to the trailer at a small breaker box near present panel; then feeding the lines to the air conditioner from this breaker. I thought that would relieve some of the load on present panel and save the present breaker for the air conditioner to be used to seperate a couple of outlets in the kitchen so when mama is using electric skillet and toaster at same time it may not overload outlet. ANYONE EVER TRIED THIS APPROACH ORDOES IT SOUND FEASIABLE IN A TT. I have experience in normal house wiring thus this sounds doable but never in tt panel. I know you would have to have seperate outside power but most C G we go to have seperate 20 amp plug in same post as 30 or 50 amp trailer plug. Any thoughts on this?

cgswss · 02-10-2014, 05:53 PM

I'm thinking how you would do this. I'm thinking you would have to take the A/C load completely out of the box and put it in your mini box. Now put a 20 amp breaker in the mini box and run #12 into the breaker that was used by the A/C originally. now put in another breaker and run the wire to your "other" 20 source. I'm thinking you would want to bring that in to a breaker NOT to the bus. Then put in a 3rd breaker and hook up the A/C load.

When you want to use the A/C off the "normal" 30 amp feed, the breaker to "other" 20am source would be open while the other two would be closed. When using the A/C on the "other" 20a source, you would open the first breaker to the original box, and close the other 2. Personally, I think I would "open" the breaker in the original box just before I did anything with the other source, just so you don't forget which breaker is which.

If you have a dedicated breaker for the Mic, I might also put that with the A/C so you can use all you counter stuff and the mic too.

Am I confused yet???

336muffin · 02-10-2014, 06:00 PM

We were camping in single digits back in January and ran a 20amp cord from the mh to the cg power post to run another heater without going through the coach wiring. The coach is a 50amp but we needed more power, we had no probs.

jesilvas · 02-10-2014, 07:45 PM

I would just upgrade to a 50A panel and be done with it. Done it a few times, not terribly hard.

yohop · 02-10-2014, 08:13 PM

Thanks for your input on this. I like the idea of the other breakers so it could be switched from TT panel or used on the mini box as seperate line.. Havent checked yet on cost of 50 amp panel but that is definitely an option also. Would have to change the entrance cable to larger size i guess too. Thanks again.Will do some further checking.

JC and Angie · 02-10-2014, 08:30 PM

Simple answer is yes you can do it. I'm having a coach built with 3 power inputs. One 50 amp with everything on it and one ac. The other 2 ac units will be on a switches and be able to be independently powered from a 30 amp cord to either the 30 amp or the 20 amp power source or I can leave it connected to the main 50 amp input and run as normal.

stwilliamson · 02-11-2014, 10:07 PM

You could just put another breaker in the panel(if there is room) and wire in an extra plug. If you are worried about overloading the incoming service, switch the AC to fan while you are using the toaster, then flip it back to AC when you are done.