Benefit of 50 amp over 30 amp

We use 30 most of the time. I do have an adapter to connect to the 50 if needed. I had to use it last summer when it was hot and all the other units AC's were running. Our breaker kept tripping on the pedestal. Many of the older campgrounds have not had the electrical upgrade yet. As was mentioned earlier...the 30 AMP plugins get used more and are worn out. Last camping trip I had to turn the breakers off before I made a connection.

Hi,

In my case the additional expense to have a hybrid vs a regular inverter was about $200. Well worth the price--especially as I'm often in locations where I do not have access to the shore power breaker. If I trip it, then I'm out of luck.

2112 wrote:
I said at the same time. It's hot outside, she just took a shower, my turn to take a shower while she blow dries her hair. I have to turn off the electric water element and switch to propane or the breaker will trip while I'm in the shower.

There may be some expensive technology to help prevent the breaker from tripping but all I want to do is take a shower without running to the pedestal dripping wet. So I switch the water heater to propane. Cheap enough for me.

pianotuna wrote:
There are ways to be able to operate the AC, water heater, and a hair drier on a 30 amp service. In fact I could run all those devices at the same time on a 15 amp shore power supply. It was not cheap to find the technology to allow me to do so.

I do have to rely that the duty cycle on the water heater is 15 minutes every 4 hours (if no water is being used) and the hair drier is not going to run all day long.

2112 wrote:
As an example we can not operate our AC, electric water heater and the wife's hair drier at the same time on our 30A service without tripping the breaker.
A 50A service can handle that and more.

I said at the same time. It's hot outside, she just took a shower, my turn to take a shower while she blow dries her hair. I have to turn off the electric water element and switch to propane or the breaker will trip while I'm in the shower.

There may be some expensive technology to help prevent the breaker from tripping but all I want to do is take a shower without running to the pedestal dripping wet. So I switch the water heater to propane. Cheap enough for me.

ScottG wrote:
The only real disadvantage I can see is initial cost. Unless it's standard equipment, the upgrade will cost around 1K - or at least it did on our AF.

I did my own and the total cost was less than $150.
That was a new 50 amp panel with a main breaker, a new 220 volt 20 amp breaker, and a single pole 110 volt 20 amp breaker and a new 15 foot cable. If I got a 25 foot cable the cost would have been a lot more.
I now have two entry cables. the original 30 amp 120 volt one and the new 50 amp 240 volt one

jack L

There are ways to be able to operate the AC, water heater, and a hair drier on a 30 amp service. In fact I could run all those devices at the same time on a 15 amp shore power supply. It was not cheap to find the technology to allow me to do so.

I do have to rely that the duty cycle on the water heater is 15 minutes every 4 hours (if no water is being used) and the hair drier is not going to run all day long.

2112 wrote:
As an example we can not operate our AC, electric water heater and the wife's hair drier at the same time on our 30A service without tripping the breaker.
A 50A service can handle that and more.

50amp is essentially unlimited power. Not only can I run 2 A?C units but I can run everything else too. Water heater on electric , microwave, washer dryer too.
There is no need to use power management techniques with 50 amps

30 amp = 3600 watts total

50 amp = 6000 watts per leg totaling 12000 watts.

2112 wrote:
As an example we can not operate our AC, electric water heater and the wife's hair drier at the same time on our 30A service without tripping the breaker.
A 50A service can handle that and more.

Tell her that and see what happens :)

X2 ^^^^^

So much depends on your TT, camping style and location. I spent last week in 90 degree heat and humidity so the AC was nice and I needed the 30 amps.

I spent two weeks in MN in 60 and 70 degree heat with just 15 amp service and a large fan was all we needed.

There is nothing beats AC when you need it. Fortunately we do not often need it. Other cannot live without it.

As an example we can not operate our AC, electric water heater and the wife's hair drier at the same time on our 30A service without tripping the breaker.
A 50A service can handle that and more.

Tell her that and see what happens :)