How should I plug in my vacuum cleaner? Newbie ???

[dayakster]

I would have asked this in the newbie forum but it pertains to a MH.

I brought my 97 Allegro Bus home last Thursday and plugged it into the house 110. It's still so cold here in Wisconsin that I haven't really done anything else. I set the clock on the convection oven and that's it.

I'd like to get out there tomorrow and give it a good once over with my Dyson upright vac but I'm not sure how I should plug it in. Should I just unplug the bus and use that extension cord or can I plug it into one of the sockets at the front passenger seat which I imagine is 12v as long as nothing else is running on them? If i use 12v do I run a risk of blowing a fuse in the house?

I've got a cordless vac on my shopping list. Thanks.

[mtrumpet]

dayakster wrote:

..That makes sense except for if I had it my way as an almost 50 year old woman the air conditioner would be life support! 😉

I'll second that! Gotta have my A/C when it's hot out!

[turbojimmy]

dayakster wrote:
Thank you...I was turning the battery switch OFF to be safe but I guess I don't need everytime.

Ah. That would do it.

[dayakster]

Dale.Traveling wrote:
I'd bring the generator on line for the event. A vacuum isn't the biggest load for the generator on the Bus but it's still around 12 amps/1400 watts of so. Team the vacuum up with an electric heater and you're getting closer to at least 1/3 load.

Easy way to keep the 12VDC and 120VAC stuff straight in you mind is think in terms of life support and nice to have. Water pump - life support (12VDC), furnace - life support (12VDC), air conditioning - nice to have (120VAC), TV - nice to have (120VAC).

That makes sense except for if I had it my way as an almost 50 year old woman the air conditioner would be life support! 😉

You guys are great. I learned a lot this afternoon from my dumb newbie question.

Thanks, Kay

[dayakster]

mtrumpet wrote:

turbojimmy wrote:

dayakster wrote:
Even when I'm plugged into the house I still have to switch my 12v on to get the interior lights to work

This doesn't seem right. The lights should work whether you're plugged in or not (assuming your batteries are in good shape). When you plug into the house (or run the generator), the 120V AC outlets and accessories (microwave, a/c, etc) should also work.

I'm assuming that she is referring to turning her batteries "on" from the battery disconnect switch. Which BTW dayakster, is not necessary to keep turning on and off unless you for example, would be going to put the coach in storage for awhile.

Thank you...I was turning the battery switch OFF to be safe but I guess I don't need everytime.

[Dale_Traveling]

I'd bring the generator on line for the event. A vacuum isn't the biggest load for the generator on the Bus but it's still around 12 amps/1400 watts of so. Team the vacuum up with an electric heater and you're getting closer to at least 1/3 load.

Easy way to keep the 12VDC and 120VAC stuff straight in you mind is think in terms of life support and nice to have. Water pump - life support (12VDC), furnace - life support (12VDC), air conditioning - nice to have (120VAC), TV - nice to have (120VAC).

[mtrumpet]

turbojimmy wrote:

dayakster wrote:
Even when I'm plugged into the house I still have to switch my 12v on to get the interior lights to work

This doesn't seem right. The lights should work whether you're plugged in or not (assuming your batteries are in good shape). When you plug into the house (or run the generator), the 120V AC outlets and accessories (microwave, a/c, etc) should also work.

I'm assuming that she is referring to turning her batteries "on" from the battery disconnect switch. Which BTW dayakster, is not necessary to keep turning on and off unless you for example, would be going to put the coach in storage for awhile.

[turbojimmy]

dayakster wrote:
Even when I'm plugged into the house I still have to switch my 12v on to get the interior lights to work

This doesn't seem right. The lights should work whether you're plugged in or not (assuming your batteries are in good shape). When you plug into the house (or run the generator), the 120V AC outlets and accessories (microwave, a/c, etc) should also work.

[dayakster]

Ok...I think I got it. Thanks Jim.

[JimM68]

Kay,

You'll get used to this, but your coach has 2 mostly separate electrical system.
12 volts for the lighting, water pump, and refrigerator and furnace electronics. (basically everything that you "have to have" is 12v and will run off your coach batteries)

The 110v system runs "extra stuff", air condition. Microwave. Entertainment.
You may have an inverter but that's another subject.

The 110 also runs your battery charge when you are plugged in. The draw of the battery charger may be an issue when you go to vacuum if you are plugged into a 15 amp circuit.

[dayakster]

Thank you. Even when I'm plugged into the house I still have to switch my 12v on to get the interior lights to work so I was assuming the power outlets ran off of the battery (like my Black & Decker battery charger/air compressor unit has 110 plug ins)as the outlets do sit at the foot of the front passenger seat right where the batteries are.

I'll be sure there is nothing else running except the microwave clock when I vacuum. Thanks again.
Kay

[mtrumpet]

Just plug it into any of the standard plugs inside the MH. As long you have your MH plugged into shore power, all your plugs should be live 110v AC. None of your standard household type plugs will have 12V to them. The only 12V outlets will be the round, cigarette lighter/accessory type of plugs.

Depending on what is sharing the circuit that you have your MH plugged into, you should pay attention to what all you have on in the MH at any given time so that you won't trip the breaker on that particular circuit. This is important when running the vacuum cleaner, microwave, TV etc. in the MH while plugged in at home. Chances are, you're plugged into a 15 amp or possibly 20 amp circuit at best, so you'll only be able to draw only so much power at one time.