30 amp is really 20amp

ken07734 wrote:
hmmm, I can say that I have to ask for a 50 amp site because the moment I turn on my AC the circuit breaker on the pedestal trips on every CG I have stayed at so far since buying my 2013 TT in April of 2013 and I have had it in for warranty work and had that checked and will again in September as with ONLY the AC on and NO other appliances it trips "Unless" I have it plugged into the 50 amp via the adaptor. I have been wanting as I do have a degree in Electronics although many moons ago to measure the actual amperage being used or drawn just before the 30 amp trips and what is powered up at the time and then run that same test connected to the 50 amp to see what the actual draw is for all items powered. It would very devious for CG owner to have only 20 amp service supplied by a 30 amp receptacle although it can be done and would save the CG owner money I am not sure if the legallities and or the customer complaints would be worth the trouble.

Don't know what money you think a campground could save having a 20 amp breaker serving a 30 amp plug. The electricity saved would be in the pennies. My guess is you have a hard starting AC unit and the startup amps are exceeding 30. Pretty easy to test with a clamp meter, which you can buy at Harbor Freight for less than $30.00. You will need to have a way to separate out the three wires so you can clamp around the hot wire. Best way is to have a short 30 amp extension cord and split the outside insulation so the three wires are exposed. They should be white, black and green. The black will be the hot wire. Turn the meter to amperage and set the side button to "hold" plug in your rig and wait till the breaker trips. The reading on the meter will be the maximum amperage drawn by your rig during that time. That will give you your answer.