Community Forums

SeabLobo · 06-04-2023, 10:06 PM

We will be spending a few days with family at their cabin and parking our 2004 Pace Arrow in their yard. All they have is 20 amp service. Does that present any issues to plug our RV in with a 3-plug extension cord?

LeeB · 06-04-2023, 10:10 PM

You will need a 30amp to 20amp adapter. Just be careful not to load to much on 20amp

Old-Biscuit · 06-04-2023, 10:12 PM

Proper adapter(s) and yes you can plug into a 20A outlet
Is it a GFCI protected Outlet?
*Can have tripping issue

That will be enough power for maintaining/charging batteries and maybe ONE AC Item

Is your RV 50A or 30A?
Does it have an EMS (Energy Management System)?
Inverter?
Residential fridge or AC/Propane Fridge?

**NLOVNIT** · 06-04-2023, 10:14 PM

You need a dogbone adapter to go from whatever your coach amperage plug is (30a, 50a?) to the 20a circuit receptacle. You will be limited to what you can have on when you are on the 20a circuit - especially if they have other things already plugged into that circuit.

I plug my 30a coach into my garage 20a circuit. I've got a small chest freezer, a garden fountain &, on occasion, a pedestal fan plugged into that same circuit. I don't turn on anything else in the coach while it's plugged into that circuit.

P.S. I removed the GFCI outlet from my garage circuit because I was having tripping issues. Don't ya'll get on me for that. I know a "wet location" is supposed to have a GFCI, but I'll take the responsibility.

153stars · 06-05-2023, 07:35 AM

You'll do best on a 30 amp RV extension cord to adapter . You might manage to run an AC but not much else. Run fridge and water heater on gas. Hopefully house batts will be fully charged when you get there .....high battery charge on inverter charger can hit 10 amps from 120v but will taper off after bulk charger is done. Some you can easily chose reduced charge rate.

SeabLobo · 06-05-2023, 07:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

Proper adapter(s) and yes you can plug into a 20A outlet
Is it a GFCI protected Outlet?
*Can have tripping issue

That will be enough power for maintaining/charging batteries and maybe ONE AC Item

Is your RV 50A or 30A?
Does it have an EMS (Energy Management System)?
Inverter?
Residential fridge or AC/Propane Fridge?

My RV is 30A, has an inverter, and AC/propane fridge.
Thanks for the response

SeeTheUSA · 06-05-2023, 07:53 AM

I’ve found that running our rig on a 20 amp receptacle is better if, rather than a simple extension cord, I run a 30 amp rv-type cord as far as I can towards the receptacle. In our driveway, for example, I run out the rv 30 amp cord, add another 25 foot rv 30 amp cord and continue right up to the receptacle. A 30 amp to 20 amp adapter then is plugged right into the receptacle. Before, even with a heavy duty regular extension cord, I’d often trip the breaker when running the A/C. Plus the voltage level into the motorhome is higher with the rv cords.

Hope this helps. Good luck, have fun.

Old-Biscuit · 06-05-2023, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeabLobo

My RV is 30A, has an inverter, and AC/propane fridge.
Thanks for the response

Fridge & water heater on Propane vs AC
AC Elements ---fridge 3A/4A but water heater 11A

Battery charger.......5A-6A full charging

IF the 20A outlet if GFCI protected.....may have to Open the Individual Circuit Breakers for the Fridge AC and Water Heater AC
*They can cause GFCI circuits to trip

**NLOVNIT** · 06-05-2023, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeeTheUSA

I’ve found that running our rig on a 20 amp receptacle is better if, rather than a simple extension cord, I run a 30 amp rv-type cord as far as I can towards the receptacle...

That's exactly what I do. I run my 30a RV cord all the way into the garage receptacle, then use a 30a to 15/20a adapter to plug into the receptacle. For some reason, I have to connect upside down so I have to support the weight of the cord/connector via a hook I installed up on a stud.

153stars · 06-05-2023, 05:41 PM

Take about 5minutes to flip the outlet.
They look weird but ground up is getting to be standard install. Talk of safer if plug pulls down , the ground exposed instead of bare live prongs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NLOVNIT

That's exactly what I do. I run my 30a RV cord all the way into the garage receptacle, then use a 30a to 15/20a adapter to plug into the receptacle. For some reason, I have to connect upside down so I have to support the weight of the cord/connector via a hook I installed up on a stud.

Tha_Rooster · 06-05-2023, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SeabLobo

My RV is 30A, has an inverter, and AC/propane fridge.
Thanks for the response

Since your unit is 30 amp going down to 20 not as bad.

Running inverter uses batteries which needs charging back and takes amps.

Only run 1 AC.
You will need a heavy duty extension cord, generally the plugs will get hot and start to melt if over rated so keep a eye on them.

Old-Biscuit · 06-05-2023, 06:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 153stars

Take about 5minutes to flip the outlet.
They look weird but ground up is getting to be standard install. Talk of safer if plug pulls down , the ground exposed instead of bare live prongs.

NEC doesn't require an orientation...ground up, ground down

Some argue ground down is safer...when you go to pull plug out your index finger is around the bottom of plug and index sticks out further than thumb, Ground down keeps index away from live pins

Po'tay'toe ---Po'tah-to

Forza Bill · 06-05-2023, 08:19 PM

When I take my Forza out of Storage for use, I bring it home a day or two before we go, plug into the front of the house, 20A, and just have the battery charger/inverter and Fridge on to allow for all batt's to come up and the fridge to get cold/ice in the freezer before we go. Never a problem! yes we use a 50A-20A dogbone, from Amazon.