30 amp / 50 amp

tomman58 wrote:
No problem in our world, oh yeah we don't do Az,Nv, NM, Tx in the summer, period!

Reminds me of our 1st 5th wheel - a 1996 Jayco Designer 3030RKSS we bought new in Columbus, Ohio when we lived up there. It had a single 13.5K BTU A/C and 30 amp service. We were transferred to Texas the next year. I'll just say that 5th wheel didn't stay around very long before it was replaced by a 50 amp RV with 2 A/Cs.

Rusty

We many times use a 20 amp cord while on the road in spring and fall and winter as we aren't in need of a lot of power. On road when it is hot we use our 30 amp cord w/ 50 adapter to TT. When we camp for a week or longer, say 4 months, we go with the 50 amp.
2 things I'll say about the 50 amp and 2nd ac. 1st I hate to roll up the 50 amp cord especially when it is on a cool or cold am. 30 amp cord rolls up nicer and if someone takes it it is a lot less to replace. Now on the 2nd a/c it goes above your head in the bedroom most often, if you do it have a blanket handy and ear plugs. I use a Hepa unit fan that cleans the air and moves to air at night. No problem in our world, oh yeah we don't do Az,Nv, NM, Tx in the summer, period!

Its hot in most of Arizona,its a no brainer,2 ac's and 50 amps.

john&bet wrote:
Our rig has 50 amp service and 1 ac. We also have an electric element in the water heater. When we have been on 30amp in the summer time with water heater on gas and ac going and a crock pot we have tripped a 30amp pedestal. At these times the pedestal is in the hot sun without shade and the ambient temp adds to the heat the c/b sees and trips. I will not own a 30amp trailer again after having this 50 amp rig. Just some of my reasons.

Noted, John. Thanks.

Lyle

Our rig has 50 amp service and 1 ac. We also have an electric element in the water heater. When we have been on 30amp in the summer time with water heater on gas and ac going and a crock pot we have tripped a 30amp pedestal. At these times the pedestal is in the hot sun without shade and the ambient temp adds to the heat the c/b sees and trips. I will not own a 30amp trailer again after having this 50 amp rig. Just some of my reasons.

Thanks, again, y'all. FWIW, I'm considering a Jayco Eagle HT 27.5 RLTS.

Lyle

An electric power cord reel greatly simplifies the handling of a 50 amp shore power cord. It's one of the features I most enjoy on the new 5th wheel. Personally, I would never live with the limitations of a 30 amp rig simply because I was concerned about dealing with a 50 amp power cord for a few minutes during setup and teardown.

Rusty

From experience, if your travels are in the south get the 50 amp and go ahead and get the second AC. Ours came with 50 amp but only one 15k AC. Did not take us long to add the second 13.5k AC. After traveling all day on 95-100 degree days it takes two ACs to cool the trailer down before bedtime. After it cools, then one will keep it cool.

On 30 amp and running a single 15k AC you can still easily trip the park breaker if you operate too much other high current devices such as microwave, water heater, hair dryer, etc. at the same time.

I bought a 25' 30 amp cord with a 50 amp connector on the trailer end that I use when I only need, or only have access to, 30 amp hookups. A standard 50-30 adapter works, but much easier to handle a lighter more flexible 30 amp cable than that 50 amp monster, especially on cold mornings in the mountains.

Lyle, if I was ordering, and had the option, I'd get the 50 amp.

I do have a Dometic 15,000 AC, that cools really well!

I just have 30 amp service, but I've never had a problem tripping a breaker. I have heard that some of the newer 15K ACs, use less power than some of the older 13,500.

I run my WH on electric, plus the fridge, and have never been careful, using the microwave, AC, coffee pot, etc. I have a volt meter plugged in, but never have seen it in the danger zone.

I'm anxious to hear more about your new FW. It is always exciting, even when it is someone else getting a new trailer.

Jerry

laknox wrote:

ford truck guy wrote:

laknox wrote:
We're considering a new FW and a couple of the options are upgrading the single AC to 15k with 2nd AC prep (I believe the prep is standard). There is also a 30 to 50 amp option. First question; if I upgrade to the 15k AC will I =need= 50 amp or is that just "belt and suspenders" for a single AC. Second question; if I have the 15k AC and get the 50 amp service, can I use a 30 amp cord until such time as I add a 2nd AC and would be required to use the heavier cord? Third question; would I simply just be better off using 50 amp from the get-go, even with only 1 AC?

Lyle

IF you have any thoughts of ADDING the second AC.. you must go with 50 amp if you want to run them together.. My thoughts are that its kind of senseless to have 2 AC's and not be able to run them together.
When I run my FW off my 2 generators (in parallel) , I use the smaller 30 amp cord..

Understood about 50 amp for 2 ACs. My concern was, like you, being able to use a 30 amp cord when I don't need it, and it it would handle the whole coach with a single 15k AC =and= the MW, coffee pot, water heater, etc. Lighting would be LED throughout, so minimal load, there.

Lyle

Lyle , , No worries running the coach on 30 amp cord .. They sell an adapter that goes into the trailer and is about 12" in length... I plug that into my 50 amp socket.. it reduces the plug to 30 amp , then I run the much more manageable 30 amp cord when I do not need 50 amp...-- this is like it - 50 amp reducer