Forum Discussion

supercub's avatar
supercub
Explorer
Jul 13, 2016

50 amp motor home, plugged into 30 amp ??

For the first time since owning a motor home with 50 amp, I'm plugged into 30 amp service. How will I know if I exceed 30amps? also, what will happen? such as if I turn both air conditioner units on? Is their built in protection or can you damage equipment?
Thanks
Brian

17 Replies

  • My energy management system prioritizes demand when it senses that more energy is needed then available. I almost always use 30 amp at the CGs and try to go to places that are cool in the summer so the A/C is not needed :)
  • We've spent months while volunteering on 30 amp, we do have a 50 amp coach. Power management is how you handle it. If AC is needed run fridge and water heater on gas. Also if AC is needed there's no need to run the water heater all day and night, it will keep hot for a long time and for showers turn it on 15 minutes before and you'll have plenty of hot water.
    Don't try to run the electric drip coffee pot, the toaster and the DW's hair dryer at the same time.
  • You will find out in the morning when the hot water tank is on, the coffee pot is on and your wife turns on the hair dryer.
  • Effy's avatar
    Effy
    Explorer II
    No worries from a safety perspective. Just be mindful of using things that may trip a breaker, like AC and the microwave at the same time.
  • You may even pop a breaker on your inverter before the pedestal breaker goes.
  • We have done it a number of times. And have tripped the park breaker several times. Just take into account what all you were running at the time and don't do that again. Turn some things off, reset the breaker, and you are good. Until you forget and do it again. But no damage.
  • Hi supercub,

    All that will happen is that you might trip the 30A breaker at the power pedestal. Depending upon if you have an EMS (energy management system) on your rig, you might not even notice a difference. Of course, in high heat (running both ACs), or if you try operating several high current appliances simultaneously (microwave, ACs, water heater, hair dryer), something will have to give as the available power on 30A connection is only about one third of the power available on a true 50A circuit.

    ~Rick