Amps For Dummies!!! (Like Me)
I think I may know the answer to this, but just want to help educate myself in case I don't quite understand. If you are plugged into a 30 amp power source - does that mean you cannot draw more tha...
Forum Discussion
Hi,
THe circuit breaker can go over it's limit for a short time if it is a small amount over the 30 amp limit. So it might hold exactly 30.2 amps all night long. Or trip at 31 amps after about 1 minute. Instant trip will happen at 45 amps or more, while it should trip within 3 seconds when between 35 and 45 amps.
Anyway if you want to make sure it will not trip, keep amperage below 25 amps, and you will not be overloading the circuit breaker or the wiring, and probably will not overheat the plug or receptacle. However I have overheated a bad receptacle at only 16 amps draw before, with a 13 volt drop across the receptacle at that point.
So basically keep track of the amperage of the items you plan to run, and you can keep it below 30 amps pretty easy.
Remember that the converter/charger will always be on unless you can turn it off. So it can use 1-2 amps most of the time, or up to 4 amps when the batteries are close to dead.
A TV set is about 1 amp, but the flat screens can be less.
Your refrigerator is only 3.5 amps - if it is a propane / electric one. Might be 3-5 amps if it is a 120 volt compressor type such as used at home, with an additional 3 amps during ice harvest.
Your electric heater can be 12.5 amps on high heat, but you can reduce that to about 8 amps on the low setting.
Electric water heaters can use between 3 and 8 amps, depending on model.
Electric blankets are about 1 amp.
What is surprising is toasters are 8-10 amps.
Hair Dryers up to 12.5 amps
Air conditioners can use 12 amps on a cooler day, and up to about 14 amps when it is over 100F outside. However their surge amperage when restarting can be 35 amps for about 3 seconds - that is why the 30 amp breakers do not trip at exactly 30 amps, but will hold at 55 amps for a couple of seconds.
Fred.
THe circuit breaker can go over it's limit for a short time if it is a small amount over the 30 amp limit. So it might hold exactly 30.2 amps all night long. Or trip at 31 amps after about 1 minute. Instant trip will happen at 45 amps or more, while it should trip within 3 seconds when between 35 and 45 amps.
Anyway if you want to make sure it will not trip, keep amperage below 25 amps, and you will not be overloading the circuit breaker or the wiring, and probably will not overheat the plug or receptacle. However I have overheated a bad receptacle at only 16 amps draw before, with a 13 volt drop across the receptacle at that point.
So basically keep track of the amperage of the items you plan to run, and you can keep it below 30 amps pretty easy.
Remember that the converter/charger will always be on unless you can turn it off. So it can use 1-2 amps most of the time, or up to 4 amps when the batteries are close to dead.
A TV set is about 1 amp, but the flat screens can be less.
Your refrigerator is only 3.5 amps - if it is a propane / electric one. Might be 3-5 amps if it is a 120 volt compressor type such as used at home, with an additional 3 amps during ice harvest.
Your electric heater can be 12.5 amps on high heat, but you can reduce that to about 8 amps on the low setting.
Electric water heaters can use between 3 and 8 amps, depending on model.
Electric blankets are about 1 amp.
What is surprising is toasters are 8-10 amps.
Hair Dryers up to 12.5 amps
Air conditioners can use 12 amps on a cooler day, and up to about 14 amps when it is over 100F outside. However their surge amperage when restarting can be 35 amps for about 3 seconds - that is why the 30 amp breakers do not trip at exactly 30 amps, but will hold at 55 amps for a couple of seconds.
Fred.
