power cords

[ronnilu]

I'm with the 30 amp cord crowd. Our units are wired 50 amp in case we ever decide to put a 2nd A/C unit on, which I've never needed in any of my previous 6 RV's, so really only use 30 amps even when the 50 amp cord is plugged in. If you have ever been in Jackson Hole at 22 degrees and tried to coil up that 50 amp cord, it's like trying to wrestle a cold, wet and uncooperative snake into a basket. We got the 50 to 30 amp adaptor and leave the 50 amp cord home. Never been a problem.

[dsprik]

Can you use that 30 amp (instead of the 50 amp) cord if you have a electric fireplace running and 2 other space heaters - one in the basement and one in the bedroom, for instance? Just curious.

[sreigle]

Dsprik, someone else will have to speak for the fireplace since we do not have that option and I have no clue to how much it draws. Do you know the wattage? Even on high I'd bet it draws no more current than our washer or our dryer or AC or microwave, etc. My earlier comments could thus be construed to include a fireplace as a high draw appliance. Sorry no direct answer but I don't know the current usage / wattage of the fireplace.

[dsprik]

I'm not sure either, Steve. But it's a good question. I have read posts on running the fireplace on cool mornings, but I don't recall seeing anyone mention amp/watts discussion about the fireplace used in conjunction with other elect heaters in the Monty at the same time. Everything I've seen is discussion on using multiple ceramic (or other elect) heaters (in the basement and otherwise)... with no mention of the fireplace involved in the setup.

[Charlie]

Dave-
The draw on the fireplace is 5100 watts. I think if converted to amps should be about 5.

[dsprik]

Charlie, do you know if it's possible (or advisable) to run the fireplace plus other heaters witha 30 amp cord?

[Lstierw]

We have the Dimplex electric fireplace and ours is rated at 1500 watts and draws 12.5 amps. Hope this helps...

[Charlie]

Dave-
After looking at Les's post I checked my literature and apologize for posting incorrect information....the 5100 should be BTU's and not watts, mine is the same as his, a Dimplex @ 1500 watts. Do the math, two would be about 25 amps, maybe a little too much for the 30 amp cord especially you are using anything else.

[dsprik]

Thanks, guys! How much amperage does the blower motor in the furnace pull?

[Parrothead]

Dave
It runs on the 12V system.
Happy trails.................

[Lstierw]

We are presenty in a 30 amp park. We do have the autoformer hooked up, but we have the fireplace going and the washer and dryer are running at the same time and the voltage reads 117. Not bad. Could be a combination of strong voltage in the park and the help of the autoformer.

[HamRad]

dsprik,
I believe the furnace pulls about 12 to 15 amps. And as Parrothead said it is a 12 volt system.

HamRad

[c5racer]

When we have 50 amps, we can run the fireplace, extra 1500 watt heater, electric water heater, electric fry pan and TV at the same time. All we have to look out for is overloading the in rig circuits. I only use the 30 amp autoformer when we have 30 amp service, never seem to have voltage problems when we have 50 amp service.
We are in Mesa, AZ now and run the fireplace and the electric heater in the bedroom at night.

[Lstierw]

Just a question from someone who is not an electrician and i am sure that smarter minds will prevail. If your furnace runs on propane and your blower motor is DC power, Where is the amperage draw?

[dsprik]

OK... the furnace blower runs off of the 12v system - not directly from the 30/50 amp CG service? So the 12v system then, I assume, is run off the batteries, which in turn, is being charged off of the 30/50 amp service of the CG? I'm new to this stuff, so someone tell me how close, or how far off I am. That means the amps being pulled directly from the CG is the converter/charging the batteries - not the blower motor itself (or any other appliances that are 12v?)?

Hope I didn't use too many question marks.

*On Edit~ Les, looks like we were thinking the same thing at the same time. You are just a faster poster.

[Parrothead]

Dave - you've got it. It is done this way so you can boondock and still have heat. This includes all the lights except for the one with the overhead fan, the table lamp (if you have it) and the lights over the vanity. Remember this is technically a camping unit. I also agree with Pete (c5racer), since our unit is a 50amp when we are hooked up to 50 amps we can run electrical things in the bedroom and also in the kitchen or living room. The newer units that are 50 amp are not a 20/30 split. So using the full 50 amps is not just for the 2nd AC or washer/dryer. I think the reason there may not be much need for an autoformer if plugged into 50 amps is most of the 50 amps in the CG are new installs.
Happy trails........................

[dsprik]

OK, this is terrific info, Sue. Thank you very much! I am copying this off for my files. Wow, I have never seen that info before like that on the 12v/120v split on appliances. Also, did not know that Montana changed that split on the 50 amp to NOT being 20/30 now. I like that idea much better. Wealth of info... probably for several other others here, too.

[ols1932]

Let me give you some food for thought. When you are operating from a 50 amp source you really have more than 50 amps. Electricians tell me that you really have 50 amps on each leg. Don't ask me why. If there are any bonafide electricians in the group I believe they will be able to comment on this.

If your furnace motor is drawing about 12 amps, it is drawing it directly from the battery source, not the CG ac source.

[dsprik]

Alright... you knew this was coming... If you are pulling 12 amps for your furnace fan motor, is this passed straight through, and matched as a demand amp pull by the converter? Or, as I suspect, does the converter/charger have it's own rating/capacity?

If this last is true, what happens if the motor is pulling 12 amps from the batteries, and the converter is only pulling, say... 10 amps from the CG supply? The batteries will eventually run dead. So I highly doubt any thinking electrical engineer would ever design something like that. Actually, due to the lack of efficiency in an electric system, due to resistance, you will need much more than a 12 amp input (from the CG) to get much less amps to the batteries, right? I am not an electrician, as those with that knowledge are now probably getting a chuckle out of me stumbling over these thoughts, here.

Here's a more logical question - I hope. How many amps does the converter/charger draw? Is it variable, depending on load requirements on the 12v (batteries) system?

New people are generally greeted on MOC with many words of wisdom, including the statement that there is no such thing as a dumb question. Well, I feel I can push that envelope better than most. Maybe there is no such thing as a dumb question, but how about 3 or 4 dumb questions? Is there such a thing as THAT???

[JH Sechelt]

Dave

The converter draws about 14 Amps when there is a heavy draw on the 12 volt system.
If you go to Keystone's web site
under Montana
under Customer service
There is all sorts of manuals that you can down load on your computer or just look at.
They will just about answer any question.

Take care
John & Dawn