Curious Question

[monik7]

What are the ramifications if you have a 30 amp rig and you have to plug into 20 amps because that’s all that’s available? Can A/C be run OK and still keep pups cool in hot weather? Anything else to consider? Thanks.
Sandi

[chalet05]

The quick answer is yes and I have done it. I Googled it just to make sure it is okay because I do get confused sometimes. If you have to use an extension cord (thinking that probably isn't your situation), it should be 10 gauge.

[Bethers]

I've done it. If plugging in at someone's house, see if you can find out if anything else is on that outlet... That could mean not using that one outlet. It wouldn't matter if you didn't need a.c. or anything pulling a lot of power. But you don't want to overdo when running the a.c.. If you're using the 20 amp at cg, you don't have to check if anything else is on it, but you don't want to run the a.c. and microwave together there either.

[BirdbyBird]

What Beth and Anita said. I use my house current when parked in the driveway here at the house. I also use the 20amp plugs at fairgrounds when I am parked for a dog show. Make sure that the rig is the only draw on that circuit and play nice and smart about what appliances you use. Turn the big draws off and use then one of the time. FYI: use microwave, electric heater and/or AC one at a time.

[Azusateach]

You can do it, and your AC will run. For a while. Over time, you'll end up burning up your compressor, because it just doesn't have enough power to compress.

Sandi, call Joel & Rachel Harp at Harp's RV Service in Lincoln. Tell them that I suggested you call, and either one of them will give you the definitive answer. But I've always, always been told that the damage to your AC takes time if you're under-powering it. But it will hurt it.

Laura

[monik7]

I’ve decided not to take a chance on it because this is for a summer CG reservation that’ll require running the A/C a lot. I think I’ve found a different CG that will have a 30 amp hookup. Thanks for the input. FYI for everyone planning summer camping - things are filling up fast!
Sandi

[Bethers]

You can do it, and your AC will run. For a while. Over time, you'll end up burning up your compressor, because it just doesn't have enough power to compress.

Sandi, call Joel & Rachel Harp at Harp's RV Service in Lincoln. Tell them that I suggested you call, and either one of them will give you the definitive answer. But I've always, always been told that the damage to your AC takes time if you're under-powering it. But it will hurt it.

Laura

I think if you use it wisely your compressor won't have any trouble and an rv tech I trust agrees with me. My first rig was 15 years old and the owners before me and I used the a.c. often on 20 amp. My a.c. Is on a 20 amp circuit... So it shouldn't hurt it at all. Now most 50 amp rigs have larger ac's. I definitely could see a potential problem there.

That said, Sandi, I'm all for the fact that you found a cg with 30 amp available.

[BirdbyBird]

I agree with Beth in that I am traveling in a small RV with a not so large AC. I have only recently upgraded a home heating system to have whole house AC, before that I have always lived with room air conditioners that worked off the standard house current, just not if there were other draws off those plugs. Then again depending upon where I am camping...if I am boondocking and think the dogs and I will be too hot during the day, I turn on the generator to run the AC. Mostly I try to stay out of the heat in the summer camping season. If it is too hot, it means it is too hot and sunny to walk dogs or kayak either.

[MelissaD]

Quick and dirty test is to look at what size breaker is in your breaker panel for the AC unit. It's probably a 20 amp breaker. That said, I don't think you will damage your AC unit. Looks like it will draw about 16 amps running on high. Googled your RV to get your AC unit size. Problem is there won't be much power left to power anything else. Looking for a 30 amp site is a much better option.

Good luck

[BirdbyBird]

Thanks Melissa. I prefer those 30 amp sites but depending upon how far off the beaten path or cheap you go, knowing that you can survive the heat of the day with the 20 amp is a good thing. When parking at some of the fairgrounds for dog shows the maintenance helping us park will tell us that their 20 amp plugs have 30 amp breakers. I don't even want to know how safe of unsafe that is, but it works just fine. Then again traveling be myself I am not running very much and can do without extras easily.

[Bethers]

Quick and dirty test is to look at what size breaker is in your breaker panel for the AC unit. It's probably a 20 amp breaker. That said, I don't think you will damage your AC unit. Looks like it will draw about 16 amps running on high. Googled your RV to get your AC unit size. Problem is there won't be much power left to power anything else. Looking for a 30 amp site is a much better option.

Good luck

Right... Thanks for confirming what I said where I posted mine is on a 20 amp circuit. It's nice when visiting family and in some circumstances to be able to run the a.c.... Even if it means running nothing else!

[snowball]

when parked for the summer at my DD's I have to run a very long heavy weight electrical cord and I typically have that thing that says how much you have coming in plugged in...when I try and run fan or heat it drops it drastically down to like 10 or lower so I rarely run a heavy pull item...sometimes I would like to run a fan or heat or....
sheila