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08-06-2015, 01:29 AM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: rochester Hills
Posts: 5
M.O.C. #17487
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Camping with 30amp hookup
We are new to the camping game and we are wondering if anyone has created a list of what can be run on a 30 amp hookup vs 50 amp hookup.
It appears that many campsites have primarily 30amp so we want to be prepared.
Appreciate any information you can share.
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08-06-2015, 01:52 AM
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#2
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Maryville
Posts: 178
M.O.C. #10812
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We've found out that the only items you can't run in conjunction with each other are the A/C, microwave, more than 2 ceramic heaters, and the wife's jet-propelled hair dryer. I also recommend a good surge protector and a Hughes autoformer. So far we've not experienced low voltage on a 50 amp service, but seems all too common on a 30 amp.
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08-06-2015, 02:19 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
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Biggest item is ability to run two ACs at the same time.
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Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
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08-06-2015, 02:20 AM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: silver creek
Posts: 1,507
M.O.C. #7770
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If you run your air, we would shut it off for a few minutes if you turn on the coffee,run the hair dryer, microwave. I use a plug in volt meter at 30 amp sites to check how the park voltage is also. Some parks during heavy use times,voltage could drop to 100-105 volts. That also has an effect on equipment. We haven't tripped anything, but a quick look at that meter tells me to be careful. You will learn thru time what you can and cannot do. I know the meter does not give you amps, but it does show when there is heavy use
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08-06-2015, 04:26 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,133
M.O.C. #6433
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A little trial and error will tell you. Worse case you will trip the park breaker and have to reset it. No harm done. And you have learned what not to run simultaneously.
And it will depend a lot on where and when you travel. In the south in the summer of course A/C is critical. You MIGHT be able to run both A/Cs if you do not have anything else running at the time. But best to limit it to only one A/C. If you are in cooler temps, then running one A/C, or none, would of course free up a lot of power. Also I would run the water heater on propane if running the A/C. And just be aware of how many different high current AC devices you are running at any given time, such as microwave, toaster/oven, coffee pot, hair dryer, clothes dryer, etc.
__________________
Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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08-06-2015, 04:41 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Stafford Springs
Posts: 524
M.O.C. #17256
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At home on 30amp I can run both AC units and watch a movie on the dvd player and 46in led tv. I have not tried at a campground. My power at home is alot more reliable than most campgrounds I would suspect. At home I have a dedicated 30amp breaker connected to less than 50ft. of 10 guage wire with an RV30 plug at the power pole I put in. then a 30 to 50 dogbone adapter to a TRC 50amp surge protector w/ overvoltage, undervoltage and thermal protection. Then finally the trailer is pluged into that.
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Jason & Wendy
2014 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7L PSD
2015 Keystone Montana 3711FL
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08-06-2015, 07:14 AM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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We learned by trial and error. You need to remember that the hot water heater and the refrigerator are running in the background so sometimes you can get away with something and other times they come on at the same time and something else will cause an issue. For us it was basically cooking. Running one AC we would shut off the water heater if the convection oven and or fry pan were in use especially if the coffee pot was on.
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Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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08-06-2015, 08:24 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: Pensacola (mail forward service)
Posts: 3,198
M.O.C. #13740
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There are enough parks with 50 amp service that we don't do the 30 game. Okay, did it twice and was constantly popping breaker at one park and ac at another park made some real vocal protests and lights got dim... john
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2012 F350 6.7 L dually, 2013 3800RE with 6 pt leveling, Sumitomo 17.5" load range h tires, Samsung 18 cu ft residential fridge, 8k Morryde I.S. with disc brakes. Full timing since 2012.
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08-06-2015, 08:48 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Haysville
Posts: 4,261
M.O.C. #3085
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We go to the lakes alot ... 30 amp is the norm ... occasionally we get spoiled on 50 amp. Corps Parks and many State Parks here in the midwest have drastically cut back on funding, so utility updating is way out of budget. Like mentioned earlier ... you just adjust what you have going on. Most RVs today have so much stuff drawing power ... why I can remember when lotsa campsites had a 20 amp household outlet proudly hanging ... and I can also remember hunting buffalo ... and then maybe arguing with Chris Columbus about whether the worls was flat or round.
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08-06-2015, 09:29 AM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Olympia
Posts: 1,056
M.O.C. #9441
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We run only on 30 amp if using service. Our trailer is wired for 50 amp but I only carry a 30 amp cable and only use that if running AC most of the time. We have our trailer wired so all of our outlets ect. run off the inverter and the AC will only run when on shore power. So we get along fine without using 50 amp service.
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2020 Ram 3500, 2022 Luxe 38GFB,2500w Solar with Victron equipment, Gen Y Pinbox
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08-06-2015, 09:47 AM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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You must stay out of the parts of the country we stay in. As Diesel Guy mentioned, there are a lot of wonderful lakes here in Kansas, but most don't offer 50amps. Mother nature on the other hand is a 50amp kind of girl, particularly this year.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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08-06-2015, 10:16 AM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: McKinney
Posts: 7,133
M.O.C. #6433
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We often stay at an older RV park near South Fork, CO at over 8,500'. At most they have 30 amps with many sites with only 20 amps. But with temps of 40's in the morning and 70's to maybe low 80's even in July and August even 20 amps works ok. Have even run one A/C on 20 amps on the rare day temp got a little warm.
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Bill & Patricia
Riley, our Golden
2007 3075RL (recently sold, currently without)
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08-06-2015, 12:24 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: Sioux Falls
Posts: 505
M.O.C. #14162
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That is the nice thing about the Progressive surge protector. You can be outside and direct the DW to start up various items (1 air, then 2 air, fire up the microwave, then go in and fire off the hair dryer). You'll get an idea of what you are using. And you can, by firing off all of the above, along with the water heater and fridge, trip a 50 amp pedestal.
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Steve & Sheryl Engels
2018 Montana 3790RD
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08-07-2015, 07:29 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2015
Location: Stafford Springs
Posts: 524
M.O.C. #17256
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by RonD
On the reply at home I can run 2 ac units, please remember at home is not in your RV, 30 am at home is a pair of 30 amp breakers, thats twice what you get in the RV
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I meant I run both my RV air conditioners when pluged into the 30amp receptical I installed at my house. I also stated my wireing is probably much better than your average campground
__________________
Jason & Wendy
2014 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7L PSD
2015 Keystone Montana 3711FL
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