It's hot in Calif, and I want to use the trailer as a lifeboat -- but the a/c won't run off garage power. Here is the setup and the problem -- I attach our 30 amp cord to a heavy construction grade extension cord (not a little thin cord), using an adapter. The two cords total about 40 feet in length. The extension cord plugs into a wall socket in the garage.The a/c starts ok, and runs for a minute or so, quits, starts again, and quits. Is this because of the length of the cords? Would an even heavier extension cord help? Is this due to some limitation on our wall socket? I run woodworking equipment on the same socket, with no problems. And the circuit breaker does not trip.Thanks in advance for your advice. (Yes, I know I should know much more about electrical power than I do, but I don't. So please forgive my pathetic ignorance.)

Shorter cord would help and larger gauge cord would help. You're running out of juice due to resistance loss.

You are going to burn up your a/c doing that. Your house outlet is either 15 amp or 20 amp no matter what size extension cord you use. Not enough to start and keep running the a/c. You'd have to have a 30 amp breaker installed in your service box and wire that to a 30 amp outlet.

Mmwtdh wrote:Shorter cord would help and larger gauge cord would help. You're running out of juice due to resistance loss.that and if you're plugging into a standard 20-amp wall socket it's likely that the amp-pull from the AC's compressor combined with whatever else is running is tripping the circuit. can you disable anything else like the battery charger side of the converter, inverter, res. fridge, etc. (if so equipped)?

Hi profdant139,Change the adapter to a Dog Bone type or even "roll your own" using #10 wire with a 30 amp female outlet (Progress brand) and a heavy duty 120 volt male plug.Better yet use #10 wire for the entire run with a 30 amp female plug on one end.I would spray the female garage outlet with deoxit and all the other connectors, too.I think the adapter is heating and causing very high resistance.profdant139 wrote: I attach our 30 amp cord to a heavy construction grade extension cord (not a little thin cord), using an adapter. The two cords total about 40 feet in length.

Do you have laundry in the garage? Use the wash machine outlet.Do you have a dryer outlet with a 14-30 outlet? Could make an adapter.Where is the breaker panel? Could pop in a temporary 30 amp breaker.Otherwise what is the voltage in the RV with air running?

Can't run A/C at home: solved -- see 8/21/16 update

wa8yxm
Explorer III
Aug 22, 2016
Well, now at least you can go play Hockey.. Man, going to a hockey game (it's going to hit close to 100 out today) sure sounds lovely.
profdant139
Explorer II
Aug 21, 2016
Update August 21 -- went to Walmart and got a 30 amp/15 amp dogbone. I used it to connect my 30 amp cable to my 15 amp extension cord. That solved the problem -- the a/c now works at home!

The culprit was the hockey puck adapter -- a bottleneck.

Thanks to everyone for your advice!
Fiddlestix
Explorer
Aug 06, 2016
OK. Went to Lowe's got 25ft 10 gauge, a 30 amp 110 breaker, a 30 amp female socket and box. Took about an hour and cost 42 bux. Will never have the breaker Poppin again.
profdant139
Explorer II
Aug 04, 2016
2112, sorry for your loss, too. We have no loss yet, thank heavens. But things are not great.
2112
Explorer II
Aug 03, 2016
Sorry for your loss. I lost my last living aunt last week.
We'll be patient.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Aug 03, 2016
Another thought (memory) you said it runs a few minutes than stopps.

As the system heats up, the pressures rise, the compressor works harder.

IF THE CONDENSER coils (outside) are dirty, as it runs it gets much much hotter than if they are clean.
wa8yxm
Explorer III
Aug 03, 2016
Cord sizes
Standard zip cord for lights and such 18GA. This is also the standard "indoor" extension cord

Most of the "outdoor" and "Shop" type cords are 16 GA
The "heavy Duty" outdoor cords 14GA

The cord needed for yoru A/C 12GA Get it at Sears or K-mart.. Get the one with the push button on the outlet you need to push to plug in or unplug.
profdant139
Explorer II
Aug 03, 2016
No, I still have not measured the voltage with the a/c on -- we are dealing with a family medical emergency (elderly relative). Will measure and post asap, but it won't be really soon.
gkainz
Explorer
Aug 03, 2016
2112 wrote:
Oh Man, 4 days, 9 pages and we still do not have a voltage reading with the AC running. The suspense is killing me :(

I suspect the hockey puck as well. I melted one while running my AC before.

I'm actually surprised nobody suggested OP buy a Kill A Watt meter. It would have been the perfect way for an intimidated troubleshooter to measure voltage.

OP, waiting on that voltage reading while the AC is running. I have $10 on <107VAC.

You missed it on the bottom of Page 6.
2112
Explorer II
Aug 03, 2016
Oh Man, 4 days, 9 pages and we still do not have a voltage reading with the AC running. The suspense is killing me :(

I suspect the hockey puck as well. I melted one while running my AC before.

I'm actually surprised nobody suggested OP buy a Kill A Watt meter. It would have been the perfect way for an intimidated troubleshooter to measure voltage.

OP, waiting on that voltage reading while the AC is running. I have $10 on <107VAC.