Plugging in at home?

[NekkidFish]

In the past when we rented RV's, we would pick it up, bring it to the house, and plug in the RV in the garage to have things running while we loaded up.

After reading a ton on here, I have a feeling we weren't supposed to be plugging into a regular plug at the house, but using some sort of converter.

Is that right? Or, are we okay plugging the 30-amp in at home?

Thanks! Jules

[Wishbone51]

DrewE wrote:
It doesn't--indeed cannot--measure temperature at the end of the extension cord.

I know that it doesn't measure temperature. I just assumed that because it was so hot, it was drawing too much current. Certainly replacing everything.

Wayne

[Samsonsworld]

Allworth wrote:
You CAN run the A/C on 20 amps if you make sure nothing else except a few lights is drawing power.

+1. Do it all the time, 15k btu.

[DrewE]

Your breaker did not trip because you weren't consuming more than 20ish amps (assuming a 20A circuit). It doesn't--indeed cannot--measure temperature at the end of the extension cord. If it could, you would have a hard time running e.g. a clothes iron.

The adapter and extension cord probably got hot because of a poor or loose connection in the plug, adapter, or cord socket--if a hockey puck style adapter, most likely the adapter. All three should be replaced since all three got quite hot. If the entire cord was hot, it may be too light of a gauge to safely use for the continuous high load of the air conditioner, but I suspect that was not the primary problem. Cords in the hot sun can get pretty warm without any electricity flowing through them, particularly if dark colored.

[Wishbone51]

Oooh. I have a recent story about this.

I have a long extension cord running from the garage that I plug the trailer into. I have been warned by this forum not to run the AC when connected to 15/20 amps. I do run it on occasion when "camping out" in the driveway with the kids on hot summer nights with no issue.

Until a couple of weekends ago. I was packing the trailer all day on a 90+ degree day and had the AC running all day. When time to leave, I unplugged it and it was VERY hot and pliable, almost melty. I made a note to myself not to ever do this again, and went camping. Also, concerned that if it was that hot, why didn't it trip the breaker?

When I got to the campsite, I pulled out my power cord and removed the 30/15 amp adapter. Or tried to. It was melted stuck. I might have been able to pry it off, but was afraid of damaging it and have no power for the weekend. Luckily at the coast it was 60*, and the AC wasn't needed, so I just plugged into the 15 amp service. I think I dodged some kind of bullet.

What makes things even more frustrating, is that my breaker box at home has a 30A circuit labelled 'travel trailer', but I don't know where the outlet is.

[dave54]

We can run our AC while plugged into a home 15 amp. Does not trip the breaker.

[robertbenita]

We used to use an adapter and plug in for the basic stuff at home. Eventually put in a 30 amp and a 50 amp dedicated line near where we parked our RV and where my dad parked his RV when visiting so he could run everything if he wanted. Works well for us and wasn't too difficult a job to do with the expertise of my neighbor electrician.

[myredracer]

If using an extension cord from shore power cord to house, use a decent heavy duty one with #14 ga. wire, unless it's a long run when #12 or better should be used.

Be mindful of the voltage inside your RV if running anything inside other than small loads like fridge and converter as a long extension cord(s) can cause or worsen voltage drop. A 120 volt power line monitor inside your RV is always a good thing to have regardless.

You should always turn the power off before plugging in your RV. If you don't, you'll get pitting on the plug blades and inside a receptacle or connector, which eventually builds up resistance from poor contact resulting in a meltdown from overheating. Turn power off at breaker in house or 30 amp main breaker in RV's panel. I've had 2 cheap extension cords go up in smoke in the driveway from being too lazy to shut the power off. (Now have a 30 amp dedicated RV recept. in carport complete with disconnect switch.)

[Allworth]

You CAN run the A/C on 20 amps if you make sure nothing else except a few lights is drawing power.

My trailer is sitting in the driveway right now (loading out for a trip to Canada's Maritimes) with the A/C running in 95 degree/95 percent weather. The Progressive power manager shows that it is drawing 11 amps (13 when it starts).

I could probably also run the fridge on shore power and certainly could on propane.

(Go online to Tweetys and search for "Power Cord Adapters".)

[SoundGuy]

Mikeborny wrote:
Just bought a new DP with 50amp service. Could you reduce this to 30amp, then again to 20amp to plug into house? I know I could not run the air conditioner, but would like to not drain the batteries from all the tv's and keep the residential fridge running.

Sure, but why not do it with just one adapter like this 50 amp F > 15 amp M that will then allow you to plug into any 15 or 20 amp receptacle?

[Mikeborny]

Just bought a new DP with 50amp service. Could you reduce this to 30amp, then again to 20amp to plug into house? I know I could not run the air conditioner, but would like to not drain the batteries from all the tv's and keep the residential fridge running.

[rjkfsm]

NekkidFish wrote:
I am looking on Amazon (I have a big credit there), but I am not seeing any male to male adapters. They are all female to male or vice versa. ???

The previous owners lived in a TT while the house was being built, and they installed a meter for the TT way out the driveway, so we could use that. But, it is far away from the house and not real convenient for loading/unloading.

If you guys could provide a link to one, I would really appreciate it. Thx!

http://www.amazon.com/Conntek-Male-Female-Connector-Adapter/dp/B001TO4WCS/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1412906483&sr=8-3&keywords=rv+plug+adapter

[rdrv831]

You might consider paying an electrician to install a plug for your RV on the side of the house. I added a plug to my garage (30 amp RV receptacle and Breaker) so we can run everything we need while getting the RV ready to go. And we don't need to use am adapter. When we used the standard 110 wall plug (15amp) it would trip if we ran the Air conditioner (a must on a hot day while cleaning/prepping to store or leave.

Just a thought. Shouldn't cost to much. the parts are about $30.

[NekkidFish]

That's where we lived ... Right up below Thoroughbred! Wish I was back there! But, then we wouldn't have been able to afford the RV. LOL

[Ron3rd]

NekkidFish wrote:

Ron3rd wrote:
We're plugged in at home 24/7/365

Ron3rd .... We moved back here from Alta Loma!! Howdy ex-neighbor!! :B

Howdy, to you too. My son lives in Alta Loma over by the Home Depot.