30 amp ? 50 amp - Montana Owners Club

mstreeter · 04-09-2010, 06:28 AM

I have a 15,000 BYU air unit on my Montana and will be camping at a location with only 30 amp. Question is: If I turn off all other applicances including the water heater and \Fridge ( which I can run on propane) will it be too much of an overload where I could do damage or should I just get a few exra fans and play it safe?
Thanks,
MIke

skypilot · 04-09-2010, 06:32 AM

I frequently run the AC on a 30 amp pedestal and run the refer and Television -- have even tried the AC and Microwave at the same time and it worked but I do believe I was pushing the envelope a bit on that one.

When 'dry camping' at football tailgates we often run two Honda 2000s with a homemade parallel cord giving us 20 amps and we've run the AC, TV, refer and lights without any problem; we do have to turn off the AC before using the microwave though.

HamRad · 04-09-2010, 07:16 AM

Mstreeter,
We run most everything in the trailer off of 30 amps. Depending on how strong the 30 amp circuit is we will NOT run the HWH or fridge. But you certainly should have no trouble running you AC.

Good luck,
HamRad

NCFischers · 04-09-2010, 07:24 AM

Michael,
The worst that will happen is you will trip the 30 amp circuit breaker in the pedestal. Turn something off and turn the breaker back on. No problem.

BB_TX · 04-09-2010, 07:35 AM

We have tripped a 30 amp pedestal a couple times. But it was when running the AC and the DW was running the clothes dryer and I think the microwave all at the same time.

Art-n-Marge · 04-09-2010, 07:36 AM

I have run 30 amps and all my devices, fridge, TV, DVD player, WH and including the MW while the A/C is running. What I don't know is what happens when all of them START up at the same time. I haven't done the calculation to confirm but I have not experienced a problem. I also forgot the A/C rating but I have a feeling it's a 15,000 BTU unit. I have also not run the convection mode (which typically runs for a longer time) to increase the chance of a concurrent startup condition with another high demand device (fridge or A/C). I also do not have higher-demand LCD TVs either.

If I install a 2nd A/C, I definitely will not try this without 50 amp. And a washer/dryer would cause me to turn off high demand devices if I was not running on 50 amp.

As only a part time RVer I try to use electricity for the fridge as much as possible. I have never paid extra for electricity even though 50 amp might incur an additional low fee at some campgrounds. However propane always comes directly out of my pocket so I try and use it sparingly if 110v electricity is available.

Bill-N-Donna · 04-09-2010, 07:42 AM

I don’t even carry the 50 amp cord with me now. Everything works ok on 30 amps for us. I think where you get into the heavier current is when you try and run 2 A/C units. I don’t know whether or not the 15,000BTU A/C will make any difference or not.

twindman · 04-09-2010, 02:47 PM

I hook up at home (Mesa, Az) with a 20 Amp breaker. The A/C uses 16 A for startup and runs at 13, I believe. When camping, you may blow a fuse once in awhile, as the converter can kick in at any time. It can suck up 5-7 Amp at times. So if you have a TV and a few lights on, the circuit pops.
Oh, I have a surge protector that shows the amps used on each half of the 50 Amp line, so I can check to see what I am drawing.

PapaBeav · 04-10-2010, 06:45 PM

We have never had a problem with the 30amp while using the AC, but I have told the DW to turn the AC off if she is going to use the Micro Wave. I do use the 50amp when available.

BirdingRVer · 04-11-2010, 01:55 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by PapaBeav

We have never had a problem with the 30amp while using the AC, but I have told the DW to turn the AC off if she is going to use the Micro Wave. I do use the 50amp when available.

We have been able to use the AC, the microwave and the convection oven all on 30amp but, we never run more than one of them at a time. If we are doing an overnight stop I just use the 30amp power cable. If we are staying longer or are expecting heavy AC use I drag out the 50amp cable.

ols1932 · 04-11-2010, 09:30 AM

We use 50 amp whenever available. No problem with the big cable.

Orv

exav8tr · 04-11-2010, 04:16 PM

We use 50 amp when available. When we use the 30 amp we cannot run main AC and microwave at the same time. Fortunately the thermostat is near the MW and is easily turned off while using the MW, just have to remember to do so....

mstreeter · 04-12-2010, 03:12 AM

Thank you.

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by skypilot

I frequently run the AC on a 30 amp pedestal and run the refer and Television -- have even tried the AC and Microwave at the same time and it worked but I do believe I was pushing the envelope a bit on that one.

When 'dry camping' at football tailgates we often run two Honda 2000s with a homemade parallel cord giving us 20 amps and we've run the AC, TV, refer and lights without any problem; we do have to turn off the AC before using the microwave though.

mstreeter · 04-12-2010, 03:14 AM

Thank you for all the input I feel I can make a decision based on all the replies I received!
Have a great camping season!
Mike

mstreeter · 04-12-2010, 03:16 AM

Thank you to all who replied!
What a great network of knowledge!
Have a wonderful camping season.

PowellsMonty · 04-12-2010, 06:12 AM

I pop the breaker with the AC on & start the Microwave. Will use the 50amp everytime it is there.

sreigle · 04-17-2010, 11:55 AM

Michael, we are on a 30-amp connection right now, for a month's stay. We can easily run two major appliances at once, usually three, plus the normal lights, tv, etc. We've used 30 amp connections several times before. If Vicki is doing laundry, using both the washer and the dryer and the AC is running, then we shut something off before running the microwave or we'll be resetting a breaker. We have a few times been in places where the 30 amp power is a bit weak and we may only be able to run two major appliances at a time, not three. But, since we went to using an autoformer that seems to rarely be a problem. In any case, even without the autoformer we can run two and sometimes three.

We did the same things in our 2003 3295RK as we do in this 2007 3400RL.

Delaine and Lindy · 04-17-2010, 12:01 PM

We also use 50 amp almost all the time. However with this 5th wheel we got the option of a Power Control System, which will automatically turn off what ever it needs to and still perform what ever task is being done. Then it will restore all the Appliances it had to shut down. It just don't kick off the circuit breaker. You should have a list of what each appliance pulls as for amps. GBY....

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