Forum Discussion
- RJsfishinExplorerI use my ears. If I don't hear a good positive startup, I'd shut it down.
But yeah, you do have to know what a good positive startup sounds like, first:) - myredracerExplorer IIToo much voltage drop can kill the AC, even with the 30A shore power cord plugged right into a house receptacle without an extra extension cord.
I just found out the other day that even with our TT plugged directly into a receptacle in our garage, our built-in vacuum cleaner kept tripping our EMS unit. The voltage was down to 98 volts! I was shocked to see that. The receptacle is at the end of a run of #14 ga. running up, down and all around the garage . (Good voltage using our dedicated 30A recept. in the carport tho.). So don't just assume that the voltage at the recept. in your house is perfectly fine and the issue will be just only with the extension cord and don't assume that going to a 30A extension cord will be okay either.
I would try a load test and measure the voltage inside your camper with a voltmeter. Just use an electric heater - 1500 watts would be good. Or even two of them. Keep in mind though that the current draw from a purely resistive device like a heater has an output that varies with the square of the voltage. For example, if you plugged 2x1500 watt heaters in and got 105 volts, you be getting 105/120 squared (rated output is normally at 120V) times 3,000 watts = 2340 watts and current would be 2340/105 = 22.3 amps.
Besides the full load running current of an AC unit, the momentary starting current is several times the full load current. If you do a load test and the voltage is low, but near 105V, the AC may not be able to start. If it looks questionable, you could consider a hard start capacitor. I read a Coleman manual once that said damage can occur at 105 volts and you don't want to be running near that, especially if nothing else inside is on like the MW, coffee maker, toaster, etc.
An Progressive Industries EMS unit would be a good investment to protect your camper against low voltage conditions which can happen anywhere - at home or out camping, especially during the summer with lots of people running AC units. - AllegroDNomadDo not go below 104 watts, period. That is when heat damages start to occur. Get a (digital plugin meter) Kill-A-Watt.
- DyngbldExplorer
Grumpy374 wrote:
If your going to keep your rv at your house on a permenant basis, just do it the right way one time and be done with it. Have an electrician run a dedicated 30 amp line to a new outside outlet. Your home breaker box should have several unused breaker punchouts. Just run a 30 amp breaker with a new line. Weather proof outside outlet, and now you can run anything, includung ac.
You will spend less on the materials to do it right than you will on a good quality 10 guage 50 foot extension cord.
Grumpy
This is the best solution. - BumpyroadExplorer
RoyB wrote:
Prior to hooking up o the garage receptacles or to the ends of the long extension cord laying in the yard I use one of the circuit testers (LOWES) to insure I have proper test lights showing NORMAL before using the 120VAC source.
I bought one of those at walmart. like the pictured one it had a white background but with yellow markings (dots). virtually impossible to see proper setting. returned it and got one at Lowe's, black background with yellow visible dots. that one was OK as would be the pictured one.
bumpy - popeyemthExplorerThis was my solution .
Less than $15.00,no guessing about converter output or incoming power.
Meter installation
Good Luck, Mike - Grumpy374ExplorerIf your going to keep your rv at your house on a permenant basis, just do it the right way one time and be done with it. Have an electrician run a dedicated 30 amp line to a new outside outlet. Your home breaker box should have several unused breaker punchouts. Just run a 30 amp breaker with a new line. Weather proof outside outlet, and now you can run anything, includung ac.
You will spend less on the materials to do it right than you will on a good quality 10 guage 50 foot extension cord.
Grumpy - RoyBExplorer III have two of trailers parked here at home both plugged into 120VAC receptacles in my garage that are on separate circuit breakers. My receptacles are 15AMP version but the breakers feeding them is a 20AMP circuit breaker in the mains box.
I use 50-foot 10 GAUGE (10-3) extension cords running out to the middle of the yard where the 30AMP shore power cables from the trailer get to. I have used a 12 gauge size extension cord without any issues but would not recommend going any smaller than 12-gauge.
I use a RV30A-15A long dogbone style ADAPTER (WALMART) and would not recommend using any of the small round type adapters as they have always got hot on me over time. The long dogbone adapters run cool to touch.
I would not use any of these small round type adapters
Using these small adapter will result in your shor power looking this over time and will need to be replaced and could be the source of voltage drop in the trailer when being used.
Prior to hooking up o the garage receptacles or to the ends of the long extension cord laying in the yard I use one of the circuit testers (LOWES) to insure I have proper test lights showing NORMAL before using the 120VAC source.
Inside the trailer i use one of these RV 120VAC plug-in VOLTMETERS in a location where I can get a quick glance before turning on my air conditioner.
This is how I insure all is ok to use the 120VAC power from my garage 20AMP service prior to being used. Been doing this since 2009 without any problems and run just about everything inside the trailers including the air conditioner and high wattage microwave. The only thing to watch for is not to have two many high wattage items on the same time otherwise it will trip your garage breaker.
I feel my connections on a regular basis to make sure none of them are getting hot on me.
My garage 120VAC operation
Roy Ken - Sandia_ManExplorer IIWhat is of concern when running your AC unit is the amount of voltage drop and that can be easily measured. First of all use your TT's power cord if at all possible as most extension cords will amplify any voltage drop. Turn on your AC and let run for a couple of minutes, measure voltage at any household outlet within your rig. You want to have at least 108VAC or above when running your AC unit, anything less and the risk to compressor failure significantly increases.
- OpenRangePullenExplorerYou can run one or the other but not both at the same time.
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Having RV issues? Connect with others who have been in your shoes.24,189 PostsLatest Activity: Jan 21, 2025