It is most convenient for us to plug in electric blankets, electric heater, electric frying pan, electric toothbrushes, radio, chargers for phones and also use the microwave. It seems to me that the wiring in our 2001 TC would not have been designed to anticipate this use. Whenever I wonder about a TC use issue..I just read this friendly forum and ask my "friends" for advice! Any experience or advice about electric overuse? Thanks, Ann

Don't do it all at the same time, for sure. You are likely to blow a fuse. You should carry spares. Locate the fuses and learn how to change one.But do you REALLY use all that stuff? I can't imagine that your toothbrushes and other chargers have to be plugged in all the time. And you could easily use a regular skillet on the stove instead of an electric skillet.

A 30AMP electrical setup is enough for most of us to use for these things. If you draw too much by having too many high wattage items being used at the same time the circuit breaker will trip...It all should be self protected in this manner...A 120V 30A setup should give you a total of 3600WATTS to use. Add up your appliancesGOOGLE SAYSRoy Ken

Just remember, 30 amp CB will not trip at 30 amps. I found that out when MY Progressive Industries panel said I was pulling 38 amps!! Granted, I would have tripped the CB eventually.Goodson Engineering wrote:The first (and most common) misconception is that a breaker trips when its nameplate rating is exceeded. One fire text has stated (incorrectly) that a circuit breaker will trip in several minutes with a small increase in current over its rating[1]. Actually, a 20 amp breaker must trip at a sustained current of 27 amperes (135 percent) at less than one hour, and at 40 amperes (200 percent of wire rating) in less than 120 seconds—far different from what the cited text implies. These two trip points (135 percent and 200 percent) are defined in NEMA Standard AB-1, MCCBs and Molded Case Switches[2]SOURCE: Goodson Engineering - Forensic Engineering * Fire Investigations

Constant use for a 30 amp service should be 80% of capacity or 24 amps.I chose to replace the "stab" connectors that were used in the outlets in my RV. I recommend that to anyone using high draw items (such as the electric fry pan).

pianotuna wrote:Constant use for a 30 amp service should be 80% of capacity or 24 amps.I chose to replace the "stab" connectors that were used in the outlets in my RV. I recommend that to anyone using high draw items (such as the electric fry pan).Stab connectors...meaning the plugs that's have the reset on all of them? My camper has these for every plug I think. Like the plugs in a residential bathroom? You replaced them all with these, or removed them and replaced them with something else?

Electric overuse? | Good Sam Community

coolmom42
Explorer II
Dec 01, 2015
Don't do it all at the same time, for sure. You are likely to blow a fuse. You should carry spares. Locate the fuses and learn how to change one.

But do you REALLY use all that stuff? I can't imagine that your toothbrushes and other chargers have to be plugged in all the time. And you could easily use a regular skillet on the stove instead of an electric skillet.
RoyB
Explorer II
Dec 01, 2015
A 30AMP electrical setup is enough for most of us to use for these things. If you draw too much by having too many high wattage items being used at the same time the circuit breaker will trip...

It all should be self protected in this manner...

A 120V 30A setup should give you a total of 3600WATTS to use. Add up your appliances

GOOGLE SAYS

Roy Ken
ChooChooMan74
Explorer
Dec 01, 2015
Just remember, 30 amp CB will not trip at 30 amps. I found that out when MY Progressive Industries panel said I was pulling 38 amps!! Granted, I would have tripped the CB eventually.

Goodson Engineering wrote:
The first (and most common) misconception is that a breaker trips when its nameplate rating is exceeded. One fire text has stated (incorrectly) that a circuit breaker will trip in several minutes with a small increase in current over its rating[1]. Actually, a 20 amp breaker must trip at a sustained current of 27 amperes (135 percent) at less than one hour, and at 40 amperes (200 percent of wire rating) in less than 120 seconds—far different from what the cited text implies. These two trip points (135 percent and 200 percent) are defined in NEMA Standard AB-1, MCCBs and Molded Case Switches[2]

SOURCE: Goodson Engineering - Forensic Engineering * Fire Investigations
pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 01, 2015
Constant use for a 30 amp service should be 80% of capacity or 24 amps.

I chose to replace the "stab" connectors that were used in the outlets in my RV. I recommend that to anyone using high draw items (such as the electric fry pan).
getpower1
Explorer
Dec 01, 2015
pianotuna wrote:
Constant use for a 30 amp service should be 80% of capacity or 24 amps.

I chose to replace the "stab" connectors that were used in the outlets in my RV. I recommend that to anyone using high draw items (such as the electric fry pan).

Stab connectors...meaning the plugs that's have the reset on all of them?

My camper has these for every plug I think. Like the plugs in a residential bathroom? You replaced them all with these, or removed them and replaced them with something else?
Grit_dog
Navigator
Dec 01, 2015
That's a lot of stuff in a TC!
It's about amp draw. You can't overuse the wires in terms of frequency.
You can overload the circuit or wiring in your camper same as anywhere else.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Dec 01, 2015
Learn about power use.
Phone chargers, toothbrush takes marginal power, so you don't even count those.
Electric blankets can take more power, so read the label.
Now all electric heaters take 1500W on high, microwave about 800, skillet is not going to be low neither.
Meaning you can risk using 2 of those 3 at the same time, but running all 3 will give you some trouble.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 01, 2015
The outlets should have screw terminals for the wire--not ones where the wire is poked into a hole.

Pull one out before buying a bunch of replacements.

The reset is a gfi connector.

getpower1 wrote:
Stab connectors...meaning the plugs that's have the reset on all of them?
pianotuna
Nomad III
Dec 01, 2015
One of the best tools to carry is a kill-a-watt meter. That way you can measure every appliance to truly know the load it is presenting.
Kayteg1
Explorer II
Dec 01, 2015
The plugs issue might play role as well.
Campers from the factory usually come with cheapest duplexes that are on the market.
When those last in the house for years, camper is exposed to moisture and risk of overheating plug is not acceptable.
I would replace at least the heater duplex with industrial or hospital grade one.

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