30amp camper plugged into 110 home outlet

My 100' extension runs from the back porch, up to the corner of the house, then over to the shed (keeps it out of the way---over the driveway). Typically only use it to keep the battery charged and to pre-cool the frig. I have run the A/C to cool it down, when I was planning to do some work in there, but not for long and nothing else was ON.

I have used an adapters at my brother's house to run the A/C, when in his driveway. No extension, just the 30amp cord, pluged into the adapter, then into his garage outlet. Worked fine.

At this point in my post, the dog wanted in...since I was going to be 1/2 way there, I decided to go try an experiment.

My old AMPROBE shows 120volt at the receptacle the extension is plugged into (left my eyeballs upstairs, 100 and 125 easy enough to see---looked like one hash mark below 125, hard to tell when focusing looks like this..:E

The trailer as it sits, according to PROGRESSIVE is as follows:

122v
0A
60H
E-0

Running the A/C (with compressor kicking in:

117v
4A
60H
E-0

The frig alone (again I heard the compressor kick in):

118v
2A
60H
E-0

Both frig and A/C at the same time:

114V
6A
60H
E-0

I then decided to briefly...and I mean VERY briefly...try the microwave, with everything else turned back off.

14amp

I didn't leave it run long enough to write everything else down. It sounded like it was trying to find every ounce of power it could, and it was failing.

I really need to get a life :B The church is having a function today, maybe I should go up early.

I use the same adapter at home. I'm plugged into a 50' #12 ext cord, which in turn is plugged into a 100' #10 cord, then to the 15a outside outlet. So I'm about 175' in total from outlet to camper. I keep the trailer plugged in year round to keep the batteries charged. In the summer I can run the fridge, lights, and the "fan only" part of the a/c. In the winter I can run a small electric heater but only on the "low" setting.

Would love to have a 30a outlet at the parking pad like I did at the other house, but it's just not practical here. Hopefully the next house....

If you have a 30 amp RV and use the adapter I think you have (or similar) you still have household 110/120 voltage, but now fewer available amps to power your RV appliances. HOWEVER as the distance of any extension cord increases and as the wire size is reduced VOLTAGE DROP ACROSS THE CORD INCREASES. Depending on the length and current draw and wire size, you could end up with considerably less then the household voltage you started with. When I get over 50 feet I prefer 10 Gauge RV extension cords for RV use to reduce line voltage drop. Sure 12 Gauge or even less will supply small current RV loads, but if you're talkin an AC or Microwave etc Id like 10 Gauge especially for long runs. Again this all depends on distance and wire gauge and current draw so the above is ONLY general information.

John T Retired Electrical Engineer

At least plug in to keep the battery charged. Fridge draws 3 amps big whoop no risk. Low voltage from the cord will not be an issue at this level. And even if it was the fridge does not care.

Hi All. Thanks to all that got back to me on my question....30th camper plugged into 110 voltage 15amp. Household current.... After reading the comments I plan to cool down the refridg. With propane... just to much risk in plugging into household current in my situation....

Terryallan wrote:

AllegroD wrote:

Jim2007 wrote:
Hi All: My camper has 30amp service. The dealer gave me a adapter so that I can plug the 30amp into a one side and plug a 110 extension cord into the other side and then plug the extension cord into a standard household 110 plug in the house. The extension cord needs to be about 80 feet long to reach the household plug. All cords are three prong. The extension cord is a heavy cord approved for outside use. Question; Is this safe for the camper and the household circuits.
The plan is to run the refrig. to cool it down. I was told not to run the A/C or any other appliances. Thanks. Jim2007

Something is not right here. 30 amp service is 110 volt. Your house receptacle is 15-20 amp 110 volt, also. Am I misunderstanding? Did the dealer add a separate 110 circuit? That is the only way you can plug in 2 separate 110 volt sources. The factory setup would likely have been a single 30 amp, 110 volt line in to a breaker panel with a couple of lines out of the internal electric panel to run items and receptacles.

Usually the 15 amp on the PS of the MH is to run small items outside, such as lights or bug zapper. It is not usually setup as a second input line.

Talking about the adapter, not the RV.

Yep. Got it. Thanks. Sorry for the interuption.

I did not read the other posts, I'm just jumping in.

You'll be fine! I've run my campers from a house hold 15 amp plug for years on a 100 ft orange extension cord that someone would use on a construction site to power a drill or a saw. No biggie! The cord or the plugs never overheated. We often driveway camped, watched television, and slept in all our campers.

Whatever extension cord you use, as long as you do not exceed the amp draw that cord is designated for, you'll be fine. Your refrigerator, a television, and power to keep your cell phones charged, and your on-board converter will run just fine.

If the ONLY thing you run is the air-conditioner, you probably can run it too. The worst that will happen is, you'll pop the breaker or blow the fuse in the house once you reach 15 amps usage! No biggie. Turn something off.

Remember, if you are using a 15 or a 20 amp service from the house, everything inside the house, running on that same circuit line, is taking away from the available 15 or 20 amps. So if you turn a blow dryer on inside the house and the air-conditioner on at the trailer, it's no difference than the air and the blow dryer on in the camper. 15 amps is 15 amps, no matter how it's split up. That's the REAL thing to be aware of. There again, worst that will happen, breaker will pop!

I do advise, if you are going to use your camper at home a lot (like we do), you will want to consider getting a proper 30 amp RV electric source installed. It's worth it, especially if you want to do drive way camps as much as we do!

Voltage drop over 80' is 3.2 volts using 10 Ga wire, not a big deal.
Because it it is a heavy outdoor cord does not mean it has a large enough copper conductor, it probably does not, but should have it printed on it some place. I have a dedicated 20 circuit in the garage for this.

We use a 10-gauge 100-foot extension cord. It was very expensive, but smaller gauge cords were tripping my breaker in my house.

With the 10-gauge, everything works when plugged in, including the A/C.

FIRST: You said you need to plug a 30 amp cord into a 110 outlet...

30 amps is 110-120 volt.. Same as the 15/20 amp outlet on your house..

Second: Sears and K-mart sell a 12ga Extension cord, up to 100 feet long (I have one) with a push button on the outlet end that you have to push in order to plug in that puck or dogbone adapter others have mentioned or your dealer sold you.

If you are going to run that far.. USE a 12 ga (or heavier) cord.

In fact you might consider a 30' 30 amp extension (never know when it will be needed) and go with 50' of 12ga (Again th push button ones from Sears/K-mart)