50 amp to 30 amp

[rvnutts]

This is our first fiver with 50 amp. We will be staying in a 30 amp site. We have an adapter. I know we can only run one air conditioner at a time. Is there anything else I need to know?

[pianotuna]

Monitor the voltage. If it drops below 107, shed some of the loads.

Turn on the water heater in the morning before the air conditioning is needed. Switch to propane once both roof air units are needed.

The fridge draws about 325 watts. I'd keep it on electric--until you need to load shed.

[Big_Katuna]

I added a receptical on the bed frame box and sacrificed an extension cord and routed I it out bay the power cord is in.

When we are in a 30a site I plug it in the 15-20A recep for her hairdryer and our electric water boiler.

[BB_TX]

Worst that will happen is you will trip the park breaker. If that happens, just reset the breaker, remember what you were doing at the time, and don’t repeat that.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

Water heater running on electric power is the most common reason for a 30 amp breaker to trip in my experience. The water heater draws a lot of amps, and you have no control of when it kicks on.

Otherwise you will learn quickly not to run two high power appliances at the same time.

Most folks can actually run two ACs at the same time. The high power draw is only when the AC compressor starts. Once the AC is running the amps being used drop down. But as with the water heater you must manually control when the compressor starts. You cannot run the AC on a thermostat.

I routinely fire up both ACs on 30 amp power when we arrive on a hot day and the inside the rig is like an oven. But EVERYTHING else is turned off. I power up the bigger AC and let it run a couple minutes to stabilize the power draw, then turn on the smaller AC. If the breaker holds the load, fine.

But I only run them in the ON mode, not automatic. And usually only a hour or so. And I can’t use any other 120v appliance.

[rvnutts]

Thanks for the quick replies. Never thought about the microwave. Also running fridge and water heater on propane is good idea. We also purchased the progressive EMS surge protector. That will help give me a little peace+

[DownTheAvenue]

No different than your other rigs with 30 amp! What worked then will work now with a 50 amp rig on a 30 amp circuit. You may be able to run both A/C's on a 30 amp circuit, but absolutely nothing else. Put refrigerator and water heater on gas, turn off converter, turn off high humidity switch (if equipped) on refrigerator, etc. It just may work. Give it a try!

[jplante4]

The dogbone should supply 30 amp to both legs on the 50 amp circuit

[Second_Chance]

Boomerweps wrote:
50 amp connectors actually supply TWO 50 amp hot lines. Normally each leg gets split between to two busses (buss bar) that each supply their own circuits.
So you may have some outlets and items that won't have power. I expect that each of your ACs is on separate busses.

However, the dogbone adapters split the available 30 amps between the two legs in the RV. You shouldn't have any problems with outlets or appliances not working.

Rob

[Second_Chance]

Depending on how good or bad the campground 30 amp is (some will drop the voltage with any kind of current draw), we'll put the frig and water heater on propane. We also don't run the microwave and any other high-draw appliance (such as hair dryers, the coffee maker, etc.) at the same time. I have a hard-wired Progressive Industries EMS (electrical management system) installed that will take the rig off-line before the voltage drops to a point that it will damage appliances (which it has done several times in older, out-of-the-way parks).

Rob

[Boomerweps]

50 amp connectors actually supply TWO 50 amp hot lines. Normally each leg gets split between to two busses (buss bar) that each supply their own circuits.
So you may have some outlets and items that won't have power when using a single hot leg 30 amp adapter. I expect that each of your ACs is on separate busses.

[jplante4]

Don't run the microwave and the A/C at the same time.

If your inverter/converter has a setting for incoming amperage, set it to 30. My Xantrex sheds the charger load to keep the draw under that setting.