15k AC Question

[the_e-man]

Hi All,

I am considering trading for a newer travel trailer. I’m looking at the Open Range UT2410RL. The dealer highlighted that this comes with a 15k rather than 13.5 AC unit. How would an upgrade like that impact our power usage? Would we need to have 50 Amp power or would it work with the 20 or 30 Amp service we normally find at the campgrounds we stay in?

I am also open to any feedback on that camper. I llike the overall feel of this unit and I like that the heating ducts are not in the floor, the enclosed underbody for colder weather camping, and the PVC roof that doesn’t require an annual treatment. Anything I might be missing or should consider?

Thanks,
the e-man

[Fordlover]

Both our campers have been the 15K unit. I've once or twice tripped a 15amp outlet over the many years on our old camper, never a problem with the new unit. I've now installed a 20 amp outlet on a 20 amp breaker and have had no issues.

[deltabravo]

Atlee wrote:
50 amp service is needed only if you have 2 A/C's.

Ditto. That's generally the only reason a rig will have a 50amp service. Common on big fifth wheels, rare on bumper pull travel trailers.

[Snomas]

On my DP I replaced two 13500 w/ 15K and it made a world of difference. We couldn't use the 13500 A/C's in 100 degree temps. They would never cool down the 40' MH below 85-90 inside.

[ken56]

Go with the 15k. My Laredo is set up for a 2nd air conditioner and is 50 amp even though that A/C is not installed. It will run on a 30 amp plug in and if nothing else is running a 20 will do it too. As for Open Range, friends of ours have a 5th wheel and I think its better than usual quality. He tells me the Open Range factory customer service is very responsive and helpful.


Pick up one of the Hughes voltage meters you plug into an outlet to be sure you have enough voltage to run it. Never run it below 105 volts.

[the_e-man]

Thanks everyone. Really appreciate the helpful information. Sounds like the AC is a good upgrade but we just have to watch our power usage if plugged in to a 15 or 20 amp power supply.

[TomG2]

It "Seems" like my electric bills are a lot higher with the 15k unit. Probably only about twenty percent.

[RSD559]

Having just spent a week in a warm Northern California, 50 miles north of the Redding fire, on 20 amp service, in my Open Range Ultralite, It worked great. As others have said, no microwave and A/C together, and you'll be fine. Glad we have the 15k. It would have been toasty with anything less. We love our Open Range (Highland Ridge). We're re-doing the master bed and bathroom and are sleeping in ours right now, in 100+ temps in Fresno, on a 20 amp circuit. No problems until the wife plugged the iron into a plug on the same circuit. Popped the breaker. No regrets with our purchase. The two year warranty is good too!

[Ivylog]

I run a 15K on a 15A circuit all the time BUT not much else. Have to wait for the battery charger to do it's thing (30-45 minutes) before starting the AC if unit has been sitting for awhile.

[Second_Chance]

wildtoad wrote:
We upgraded from 13.5 to 15 when we bought our mh and everything works fine on 30.

X2^^. We have both a 15K (main living area) and 13.5K (bedroom) in our rig. When we're at a campground with only 30 amp service we have no problems running the 15K - even with water heater and frig on electric... usually. Some parks have stronger electrical systems than others. We have had instances, though, where my wife will forget and run the microwave or her hair dryer while the 15K AC is running and the breaker at the pedestal will trip. We don't try to use both ACs under these circumstances and only stay places with 50 amp electric (which is really 100 amp service with two 50 amp legs) during the summer in the south and southwest.

Rob

[Atlee]

50 amp service is needed only if you have 2 A/C's. A single 13.5 or 15 works equally well with 30 amp service.

If you have a choice, get the 15K BTU A/C. That was an option for my Jay Flight 23RB. If I had ordered mine, I would have gotten the 15k unit. But it's rare (except for maybe Texas/AZ/FL, for example) that a dealer will order a TT with a 15k unit to put on his lot for sale.

[ScottG]

The new 15K in our trailer is drawing the same current the 13.5 did in out 13 y/o trailer - 12 amps. Any 15A outlet that is burdened with other things should be able to run it just fine.
Given the option, I would always get the 15K.

[pianotuna]

Hi,

A 13500 may reliably run from a 15 amp shore power supply.

A 15000 may NOT do the same.

It amounts to an 11% increase in capacity. Most folks won't notice a difference.

If a 13500 takes one hour to cool an RV down, the 15000 would take 54 minutes.

[lenr]

Our 15k pulls 13 amps. OP will be happy to have 15k in 90 degree weather.

[ScottG]

Not that big a difference. A 15K will run just as easily off a 30A supply as the smaller AC.