30 amps for 50 amp trailer
Hello. I am thinking of going to a campsite where the only site available is limited to 30 amps. I know I can get a converter plug and hook up, and I understand that only one of my A/Cs will work. ...
Forum Discussion
SDcampowneroperator wrote:
30a = 3600w. 50a = 12600 w potential Power mizering is a lesson we learned long ago.
Turn fridge, furnace , cold water heater to propane. You now have most wattage available except for the small drain for lights tv and such.
What this means is you can run 2 power hungry devices at a time, like 1a/c and hair dryer, Toaster and coffee pot, and so on.
Not 3 .
A/cs typically draw 12-15 a on start, run at 10-11a Thats yes you can run 2 a/cs on 30a IF you have reduced all other load.
If an a/c runs at 12a usually less, thats 1500watts. 2 is 3000watts leaving 600 w for incidentals. just fine.
You cant hurt anything just trip a breaker that reminds you you forgot to shut something off before you tirned on something else.
Learn to proactively manage your load Many years on construction sites or on a friends back yard and we have run 1 a/c on 15 amp many times.
30 amp is a nominal rating. For continuous loads like air/con, you are limited to 80% of the rating or about 2900w. If you are lucky, an extra load will trip the breaker and be annoying enough that you stop it. More likely, you hang just below the level that will trip the breaker and the cord will overheat.
Of course, this also assumes you have a real 120v. At many parks, you might be closer to 110v, which results in 2650w available for continuous loads.
Problem is you are slowly cooking your electrical system doing this. Because it's slow, you will see people claim they have done it without problems.
