Will A/C run on 20 amps?

OP here...

Thanks for the replies! So, it looks like it will work OK as long as the breaker doesn't trip and the only thing that would be bad for the A/C itself is low voltage.

I did do a search of archived threads and there was one that said my Roadtrek A/C is essentially a window A/C and that would normally run on a 15 or 20 amp circuit... So - I think it's all good.

As far as price difference - it is a whole 7 dollars between the 20 amp and the 30 amp rates. ;)

Inside the RV, the air conditioner is hooked up to a 20A circuit from the RV distribution panel. It certainly should be able to run from a 20A circuit.

As others have said, you might not be able to run much if anything else simultaneously. Make sure the fridge is on propane, and preferably have little load on the converter. If the charge line from your tow vehicle is somewhat decent the batteries ought to not be discharged when you arrive (assuming they were fairly well charged when you set out) and so the converter shouldn't be under too much of a load.

I can run our 15k air conditioner on a 20 amp circuit with very little else on without tripping it. It will trip a 15 amp circuit, so there is not much wiggle room.

malexander wrote:
20 amps will run the a/c just fine, along with some low amp drawing appliances.

You can't really say that without knowing exactly what A/C unit he has and whether or not it is operating at peak efficiency (most don't as they age). The single unit in my RV certainly will NOT run on a 20 amp feed.....with the other required loads like the converter.

dougrainer wrote:
What is the COST difference between 20 and 30 amps.

For one night ?
It can't be THAT much, can it ??

At home, I could run our 24-ft Class C on a dedicated 20A outlet. I put a 30A RV Receptacle on it (and removed it when we moved!) because steady running melted the adapter. Fridge, Converter, sparingly used A/C.

That was with a 13500 Coleman Mach A/C, which was not a high efficiency unit. If your RoadTrek has that size or less, you'll have no problem so long as the connections are good and you don't try the microwave or many small appliances.

What is the COST difference between 20 and 30 amps. Usually, 20 amps is for RV's that do NOT have a AC system, hence they do not need the 30 amp pole. Your RV is designed for 30 amp, due to the AC system. Doug

20 amps will run the a/c just fine, along with some low amp drawing appliances. Worst thing that can happen is the breaker will trip. Then you know to turn something off.

If it is a 13,500 BTU air conditioner it will take about 23 amps to start it, once running it will take about 15 amps. It's likely your converter and a few other loads will be running at the same time. I could run my 13.5K AC on my old unit at home on a 20 amp breaker, but it was a stretch on startup. But I only did that with no other loads and for short periods of time. And if you plan on running the microwave at the same time it definitely won't work. In my opinion, for long term use (more than a couple of hours), 20 amps just isn't enough. If it's a 15K Air conditioner, you'll definitely need the 30 amps.

Probably yes, and with no problem, as long as you are not running anything else, like electric on your water heater, microwave, hair dryer, televisions, toaster oven, electric frying pan ... all at the same time.

Simple test? Plug your camper into your home wall outlet. Homes are usually 15 or 20 amp circuit breakers. Make sure nothing else in the house is turned on with that circuit. Now power up your RV. Flip on the air conditioner. It will run, no problem, as the amp draw is far less than 15 or 20 amps. Now flip on your water heater. Now flip on that hair dryer. When you reach the 15 amps, the breaker in the house will trip. There you have it. You know where the limitations are. But yes, the air conditioner by itself will run with no problem on 15 - 20 amp circuits, but everything else might not. Try it... see what happens at home. Then you'll know.

it should but don,t turn anything else on.