Wiring of AirConditioners on same input line??

[mikepekrul]

Had my 2019 HC331RL for several months and (better late than never) I bought a Hughes Power Watchdog EPO, and it brought something very quickly to my attention.

AC Line 1 pulls up to 10amps when the electric hot water is first turned on, around 1amp after it heats up or when its not on.
AC Line 2 pulls up to 30amps when the Air Conditioners are both on, about 14amps each, or around 1amp when neither is running.

Why are both air conditioners running off the same input line?
Is that correct? Is it smart?

Doesn't seem like it should be that way to me, wouldn't balanced be better?

I think it's an easy fix by moving some breakers around in the panel.
Just wondering if there's a reason for it to be the way it is and if I should leave it alone.

Mike

[DQDick]

Some folks have found that and changed it and others have left it alone. If you're going to change things you need to know what every breaker controls and how you camp. If you do winter camping, for instance, you want to make sure that the heat pump AC, water heater, fireplace and frig aren't on the same side.

[BB_TX]

It all depends on total loading on each hot leg. There is nothing wrong with both A/Cs on the same hot leg as long as most other high current devices (water heater, microwave, converter, etc) are on the other hot leg. 30 amps is only 60% of the 50 amps available on each hot leg. If your breakers are correctly labeled you can determine the approximate loading of each hot leg and decide whether to move one A/C or leave it.

[mikepekrul]

Aahhh... 50amp service is 50 amp for EACH leg and not total amps. I thought it was total.
The things you learn here. :-)

Thanks!

[BB_TX]

Yes, 50 amp RV service is one of the most misunderstood aspects of RVs. As a result, people are often giving misleading, confusing, and sometimes completely wrong information about it. It is basically the very same as your house. It is 50 amp single phase/split phase 240/120 vac. (Your house is probably 200 amp but otherwise the same.) Even though there is 240 vac present, nothing in most RVs use the 240. Some high end MHs do though. Here is a link to good information on 50 amp service.


https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-electric...p-shore-power/

[mikepekrul]

Originally Posted by BB_TX

Yes, 50 amp RV service is one of the most misunderstood aspects of RVs. As a result, people are often giving misleading, confusing, and sometimes completely wrong information about it. It is basically the very same as your house. It is 50 amp single phase/split phase 240/120 vac. (Your house is probably 200 amp but otherwise the same.) Even though there is 240 vac present, nothing in most RVs use the 240. Some high end MHs do though. Here is a link to good information on 50 amp service.


https://www.rvtravel.com/rv-electric...p-shore-power/

Yep, I knew about house wiring and the two poles, I just never connected the dots and equated that to my trailer. Duuh! Thanks!

I liked the quote in the article, "A well-designed electrical panel in your RV will try to balance these loads, so the water heater and microwave will be on different legs, and if there are two rooftop air conditioners, each one will be connected to the two different shore power legs. "

I appreciate the comments you and Dick made about knowing what's drawing off each leg, so I'll not be moving anything willy-nilly. After some homework and testing at next glampout, I'll figure out a plan.

But the answer to my base question seems to be, "No, there's no reason why the two AC's should be on the same line and not a compelling reason they shouldn't either"

Thanks!