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Old 12-05-2004, 05:41 AM   #1
trukdoc
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30 amp VS 50 amp.

Hey Keystone.
I have just purchased a Mountaineer 328 RLS. Absolutely love it.
There are a couple of things I can see that needs attention by Keystone.
I ordered mine with 2 AC units and the upgrade to 15K BTU. Now I can see losing the bedroom AC to use the Microwave. But the main unit?
Why is there not more emphasis on upgrading to 50 amp.
I had took the assumption that if I had 2 AC units I would have automatically had 50 Amp power. I would not have thought anything less. So was dissapointed to see the 30 Amp cord.
Can I obtain schematics or at least instructions on putting in a 50 amp cord.
Looking at the plug is it not a 220 VAC plug, in seperating out the the 2 hot legs to get two circuts of 110 VAC?

The other we did not discover till last night. Upon returning from our shakedown cruise aproximately 700 miles we found the hinges have pulled loose on the bed. It looks like it needed a bigger hinge for more support. It appears the constant pressure from the gas cylinders along with the travel had torn the hinges loose from the plywood deck the matress is on.

trukdoc55@yahoo.com
Rick
 
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Old 12-06-2004, 05:44 AM   #2
Montana_2428
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Hi Rick,

I have the 2955RL and got the 50 amp service and don't need it! The rig is wired for a second air and is even framed for later install if required. Anyway, what is the connector on your rig? Is it actually a 50amp service connector and you have a 30amp plug on the end of your service cable. As stated, I have the 50amp connector on my montana but use a 50 to 30amp pigtail for normal use. The pigtail ties the two hots together feeding the same 110V service to both legs.

I have to agree with you about Montana's thinking on the second air. I believe the only way you are going to run the second air is off a second 110v leg which you don't have with 30amp service. Their ordering process should have required you to upgrade to 50amp.
Just my $.03

Let us know how you address this issue.

Don and Michele
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Old 12-06-2004, 06:40 AM   #3
sreigle
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This is not much consolation but there is available, somewhere on the web, an adapter that allows you to run both air conditioners at the same time on 30 amp service. I think it cycles each AC rapidly so that only one is getting juice at a time but does it so fast it's not noticeable. I haven't seen it in action but have heard it works well. Might be worth checking into if you can't convert to 50 amp service. To convert you might have to change converters (?) and check to make sure the wiring can handle it.
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Old 12-06-2004, 09:01 AM   #4
foggyb
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Ours has 50 amp service with the BIG heavy ugly 50 amp cord. We have never used 50 ams thru the whole summer and are leaving it home this winter and using 50 to 30 adapter with 2 25' 30 amp cords. Thats our decision and doubt we will regrett it. Dan
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Old 12-06-2004, 01:46 PM   #5
trukdoc
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The thing is, if I had to shut off the bedroom air (second unit) to use the microwave I would not care at all. But I must shut off the main unit to use the microwave.
I think they have it backwards.
Rick
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Old 12-07-2004, 08:33 AM   #6
Montana_70
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Rick,

The need to turn off the AC to run the Micro is the nature of 30 amp service. It's the initial power surge of the micro that causes the trip. I had to do it with my first unit that had 30 amp service. In fact I do it on my second unit with 50 amp just in case along with the AC, the hot water heater is heating water, the a amount of lights on et.. I just do it because I'm tired of tripping breakers or replacing fuses. The wiring on our units leaves a lot to be desired. There is no schematic available. This has been presented to Keystone many times.

As far as the second AC and 30 amp service, I am surprised a dealer would have ordered a unit with 2 ac's without 50 amp service. I am also surprised Keystone would build one like with two ac's and 50 amp service.
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Old 12-08-2004, 05:43 PM   #7
sreigle
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We're most often on the 30 amp cord rather than the 50. We can run the AC and the microwave at the same time. But we cannot run a third high-draw appliance at the same time. But, then, the way our Montana is wired, we can't run three high-draw appliances at the same time even when on the 50amp cord and service. The extra 20 amps apparently, on ourse, is only for the second AC unit. We got the 2nd AC prep but not the second AC unit.
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Old 05-04-2018, 06:56 AM   #8
KemoLondon
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After reading these posts, what IS the need for 50amp service if you can run A/C on 30amp? Still a rookie.
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Old 05-04-2018, 07:26 AM   #9
richfaa
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Because there are other things to run in the RV. The A/C will use 10/12 amps or more which dos not leave much for other things. 30 amp service gives you 30 amps total. 50 amp service gives you 50 amps per leg for a total of 100 amps. Do some research on the difference between 30 and 50 amp service.
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Old 05-04-2018, 09:29 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by KemoLondon View Post
After reading these posts, what IS the need for 50amp service if you can run A/C on 30amp? Still a rookie.
There have been a couple of occasions at a 30 amp park when we tripped the park 30 amp breaker due to running the A/C, microwave, and water heater on electric all at the same time. Just not enough power to do that. I don’t think I could run both A/Cs on 30 amp. 30 amp gives 3,600 watts of power to the trailer. 50 amp gives you 12,000 watts of power. We do have a 50 amp trailer and use a 50/30 adapter at 30 amp parks.

Really surprised the OP had two A/Cs on a 30 amp trailer. But this thread actually originated back in 2004.
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Old 05-04-2018, 11:50 AM   #11
padredw
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And here I thought Steve Reigle had come back from . . .

Anyway, RichFAA and I are still around as is BB_TX.

Many of us in Texas really need two ACs so we really need 50 amp, but most of us can use 30 amp with an adapter for those occasions when only 30 is available or those when we prefer to use it for convenience.
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Old 05-04-2018, 05:05 PM   #12
richfaa
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We had to use 30 amp on our trip back from Florida as our EMS PT 50C indicated low voltage leg one at a campgrpund and dropped us off line We did not need the A/C and we ran the hot water tank and fridge on propane. We are long timers and travel a lot so we have every adapter there is..just in case. Check your static draw if you can. We draw 3 to 5 amps as indicated on our PT 50C at rest.
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Old 05-04-2018, 05:06 PM   #13
richfaa
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You been around a bit longer that we have.
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Old 05-05-2018, 06:45 AM   #14
Dave W
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30 amps = 3600 watts
50 amps per leg = 6000/leg x 2 = 12,000

Since most appliances are rated in watts, you can see that 3.33 times more amps with 50 amps lets you run the a/c and the DWs hair dryer and the microwave at the same time
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Old 05-05-2018, 08:14 AM   #15
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I have to totally disagree with everyone about 30 amp service being enough!!!

If you have a 42’ trailer and camp in the humid south during the summer your going to need both AC units. Add to that the move too residential fridges and nearly totally electric rigs and the last thing we want to do is discourage parks from upgrading to 50amp service.

If you boondockers want to run on solar good for you but let’s keep up the pressure to upgrade the parks please!!
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