We are starting to do research for a new trailer for next year, I am debating getting a 50 amp service. It is an option for most TT 's and not easy to find them on the lot (seems most fivers have them, but not looking at those, yet!) so, I would have to order.. Thus more $$$Question, does the bigger service stop the breaker from tripping when using multiple larger items.. Ex:Can I count on getting nice and cool after my shower (a/c) and my wife use the blow dryer at the same time. How about a toaster, microwave and a/c?

50 amp is great. had 30 amp in our tt, tripped breakers all the time.we now have a fifth wheel with 50 amp, have not one time tripped breaker regardless what we are doing. good move to make imo.

50amp service will serve you well. I wouldn't be without it.It will supply almost 4 times the power.

Unlikely you would ever trip a park 50 amp breaker unless something was wrong. I have never tripped one.I have tripped a 30 amp park breaker several times when running one AC (I have 2), the water heater on electric, running the microwave and/or a few other high current things at the same time. I definitely feel the 50 is worth it, especially in the south in the summer.

modern family wrote:Question, does the bigger service stop the breaker from tripping when using multiple larger items.. Ex:Can I count on getting nice and cool after my shower (a/c) and my wife use the blow dryer at the same time. How about a toaster, microwave and a/c?Will make it less likely, but a lot depends on how the load in the trailer is divided on the two 'legs'. We had 50 amp service in our fifth wheel. Kitchen (including microwave) kitchen and bath outlets also on the same leg. If water heater was in use on electricity, coffeemaker operating, whichever AC (2) was running off the same leg, and DW plugged in one her hair 'implements', we could kick a breaker.That said, 50 amp service is a good thing worth having and your load management isn't as intense as it needs to be for 30 amp service. ;)

30 amp can provide a max of 3600 watts, 50 amp can provide 12,000.You do the math!

Is a 50amp service worth the upgrade? | Good Sam Community

modern_family
Explorer
Aug 05, 2014
It seems to me with the type of camping we do it may be best to only have the 1 unit. We are a young family, we don's sit in the TT for long periods of time nor are we at a CG for more than 4 days. I know there are many campgrounds that the 50 AMP service is not where we want to camp. Sometimes they are in the front and not the "woodsy" sites. Our TT now is 29' and never had an issue with poor cooling. The one we want is about 31' and has the larger 15BTU unit.

Unless I could "select" the ducts I want to use, it may be easiest to have one unit.

This forum has answered so many questions for me and helped me make the best decisions possible (That I am capable of!)

Thanks for all your help
myredracer
Explorer II
Aug 04, 2014
LarryJM wrote:

I would either be looking for another CG or would want a SERIOUS DISCOUNT because of a lack of advertised hookups ... i.e. if there is a 30 or 50 Amp receptacle I would want 30 or 50 A available.

As an alternative then the CG should shut down and not allow any more units into their facility than they can properly provide the advertised utilities for.

Larry

We're only staying here 2 days en route to our 2 week destination CG so will just put up with it. At least it's well treed here. We're from the PNW coast area and 100 is a lot for us.

I'm really surprised about their electrical system. The CG is maybe only 2/3 full too and they have a number of sites shut down for "electrical repairs". It's an older place and I can't imagine not upgrading it. Who would ever think to ask about this in advance? We're only associate TT members and maybe full members get full service?? Voltage is around 122 so it doesn't look that terrible.
Lantley
Nomad
Aug 04, 2014
modern family wrote:
Another question...

If you are on a 30 amp connection (as many state parks are) can you run both a/c's?

The TT we are looking at has 1 for the master bedroom and the other takes care of everything else. If I couldn't use both at the same time, that would create problem. Since most our camping is here in fl / Ga.,..

Either us or the kids would not be happy...

While you can get away with it sometimes in general 2-A/C's requires 50 amp service. 30 amps and dual A/C will be the luck of the draw. Ambient temperature, capacity of CG and condition/quality of electric service will be factors out of your control that will effect the ability to run both A/C's on 30 amps.
I upgraded to a 50 amp rig a couple of years ago. I now avoid the headache of 30 amp sites as much as possible.
50 amp sites require no energy management on my part. I can run whatever I want whenever I want when on 50 amps.
LarryJM
Explorer II
Aug 04, 2014
myredracer wrote:
We're at a Thousand Trails in Wa. for a couple of days and it's around 100 degrees. They have asked that no one use their AC units because their system is limited and being strained to it's limits and they've even had the main CG breaker trip. Doesn't matter if you have 30 or 50 amps, NO AC allowed!! Grrr.....

I would either be looking for another CG or would want a SERIOUS DISCOUNT because of a lack of advertised hookups ... i.e. if there is a 30 or 50 Amp receptacle I would want 30 or 50 A available.

As an alternative then the CG should shut down and not allow any more units into their facility than they can properly provide the advertised utilities for.

Larry
myredracer
Explorer II
Aug 04, 2014
We're at a Thousand Trails in Wa. for a couple of days and it's around 100 degrees. They have asked that no one use their AC units because their system is limited and being strained to it's limits and they've even had the main CG breaker trip. Doesn't matter if you have 30 or 50 amps, NO AC allowed!! Grrr.....
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Aug 04, 2014
modern family wrote:
Another question...

If you are on a 30 amp connection (as many state parks are) can you run both a/c's?

The TT we are looking at has 1 for the master bedroom and the other takes care of everything else. If I couldn't use both at the same time, that would create problem. Since most our camping is here -in fl / Ga.,..

Either us or the kids would not be happy...
Larger ACs can draw 15A, so the answer depends upon the AC size.

Two large ACs - no
Two smaller ACs - yes but little else

Even two smaller ACs can exceed the recommended quide of a maximum of 80% or 24A of continuous draw. Many posts on these boards about overheated plugs and excessive draw is one reason.
modern_family
Explorer
Aug 03, 2014
Another question...

If you are on a 30 amp connection (as many state parks are) can you run both a/c's?

The TT we are looking at has 1 for the master bedroom and the other takes care of everything else. If I couldn't use both at the same time, that would create problem. Since most our camping is here in fl / Ga.,..

Either us or the kids would not be happy...
modern_family
Explorer
Jul 19, 2014
Great comments! Thanks all...

We are going bigger! 32' 35' we would like the 2nd slide for the bunk house for the kids and we really like the newer option of the kitchen slide. Most tt's that big have the options of the 2nd a/ c and 50 amp. (Which I would not do one without the other) We do camp in Florida / Georgia often...

As far as campgrounds, we stay where ever the destination is. We only camp on holiday weekends and one longer summer vacation, so I would not choose campgrounds based on the service they offer. But, I do understand what you all are talking about, I will always be thinking about it if I did choose a 50 amp.

We just got back from our 2 week summer trip. 4 out of the 7 campgrounds had 50 amp, (I think) and I would have stayed at those CG no matter what service they had due to their proximity to our destination.

I know we have a lot to look at, BUT, sounds like getting 50 amp would be great, just may not be useful every time. We have to shrink down our brand search, then see how it all plays out at the dealership.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Jul 18, 2014
valhalla360 wrote:
NanciL wrote:
You didn't say what size trailer.
If your new trailer is large and has two AC units, then by all means you will want/need 50 amps.
If the trailer is smaller and has only one AC unit, you won't need 50 amps and if you are paying a lot more for it, I wouldn't waste my money on it.
We have a 25 foot trailer with one AC unit, and with the AC running, we can use the microwave without any problems.
We have never tripped the main breaker.
If you do find a trailer with 50 amps, and the cost for it is not much more then 30 amps. then by all means get it

For what it is worth I am a retired electrical engineer.

Jack L

X2.
X2

For a smaller trailer with a signle AC, it's likely a waste of money.
For a big trailer with dual AC, it's likely a neccessity.
Ron3rd
Explorer III
Jul 18, 2014
I'd go for the 50 amp option if available and not a huge cost. Gives you more options down the road. Having said that, we've never popped a breaker in either of our trailers in over 10 years. We have 15K Air, Micro, and the wife has a blow dryer of course. Never ran all 3 at once however.

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