Electric Heater Question

bhh wrote:
Let's say you have shore power, how do you determine which outlets are on which circuit if you don't have a wiring diagram? I'm assuming there are separate ones for microwave, refrigerator, water heater, convertor, a/c, and ??? Since you wouldn't be using the A/C when you need a heater, is there a feasible way to tap into that unused circuit?

A "30A" RV shore connection has a lot of limitations, one of them is the max amount of "branch circuits" allowed. If I remember correctly something like 4 circuits (4 breakers not including the master breaker) I am sure someone will come along to clarify that.

This creates a issue of not many circuits to do things with.. So what tends to happen is most circuits will do multi-tasking.. You will often find several circuits powering all the outlets, one for A/C. The converter often "shares" with another circuit..

In a nutshell there is often not any "unused" circuits to be had and what is in use will be totaling near the 30A mark when in full use.

Even if there is a spare breaker position it isn't of much help if all other items running add up to the 30A rating of your shore cord connection.

That is why some folks will throw a extra power cord out to the park power box in order to run one or several electric heaters.

Conservation and shedding loads when needed can often be done to keep your level below 30A.

They do make automatic load shedding devices which can make it a bit easier on you.

The easiest way to determine what is on each circuit is to simply switch a breaker off and test each outlet, fridge, converter, A/C unit and so on.

You will repeat that for all breakers until you discover what exactly is on each breaker..

Write down what you find then label the breakers.

Pretty simple.