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04-06-2015, 01:02 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Fayetteville
Posts: 20
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Plug Camper into home outlet - help
We just purchased a 2015 Jayco 264BHW and have it sitting in the driveway at home. I bought a starter pack from the dealership and it came with a converter so I can plug the camper in a regular house outlet.
If I do this will it help charge the battery?
What all will it let me run in the camper and what should I not run in the camper. Should I even keep it plugged in?
I am new to all of this so any insight would be great! Our camper is setup for 30 amps
Thank you.
Jim
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04-06-2015, 01:07 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Bartonville
Posts: 513
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Ideally you should plug into a 30 amp receptacle on your house. But not too many homes have 30 amp service to electrical outlets in the garage or outdoors. Most are 20 amp and some may even be only 15 amp.
20 amp should be OK, as long as you don't run the A/C, in my opinion. (I've done it with no problems for many years.) If you do run the A/C on a 20 amp circuit, you run the risk of overloading the circuit, at the least, and damaging your A/C, at the worst. (It's not good on the compressor motor when it tries to draw more than it's being fed.)
And yes - even with 20 amp service your trailer's battery will be charged.
__________________
Scoutr2 (Mike)
2015 Jay Flight 32RLDS Elite
2012 Chevy 2500HD Crew Cab LTZ (6.6L Duramax/Allison)
Equalizer Hitch (1200# bars)
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04-06-2015, 01:20 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2013
Location: SE Wisconsin
Posts: 3,431
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X2! I've been doing this for many years. So long as you don't run the AC you'll be fine.
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Chuck
2013 Jayco Jayfeather X20 E (sold)
2016 Chevy Silverado LTZ 2 Z71 Crew Cab (sold, and dearly missed)
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04-06-2015, 01:35 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Chicagoland
Posts: 72
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Not only will it provide a trickle charge to your battery, but it you're plugged in before a trip you can run your frig and cool it down before packing it for a trip.
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'12 F250 Ford Super Crew
'15 Jayco Eagle 338RETS
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04-06-2015, 01:47 PM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Fayetteville
Posts: 20
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That is very good to hear, thank you for the quick replies!
How do I find out how many amps my home outlets are?
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04-06-2015, 01:56 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Bartonville
Posts: 513
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BerryJN3
That is very good to hear, thank you for the quick replies!
How do I find out how many amps my home outlets are?
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The easiest way is to check the breaker to the circuit in question. It will be marked. If that's not possible, a Volt-Ohm meter set to check amperage will do it, but you gotta know what you're doing there. And most folks don't have one.
__________________
Scoutr2 (Mike)
2015 Jay Flight 32RLDS Elite
2012 Chevy 2500HD Crew Cab LTZ (6.6L Duramax/Allison)
Equalizer Hitch (1200# bars)
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04-06-2015, 02:01 PM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Clearwater, FL area
Posts: 5,196
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Best to just trace the outlet back to the breaker box and see what the amperage is on the breaker.
Just my thoughts,
Don
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04-06-2015, 02:49 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Missouri City, The Republic of Texas
Posts: 5,063
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We were able to power our HTT from a 20A circuit with no issues. We could run the fridge on AC, any number of lights and the A/C (NO microwave). A 15A circuit would pop the breaker after a few seconds. The A/C was the big user, if we left the A/C off the 15A circuit was fine. If your starter kit came with the round adapter (30A-15A) I'd suggest going to the local WalMart or RV shop and getting a "dog bone" adapter. (short piece of extension cord with a plug at each end. The round "cheapie" adapters have history of getting hot and melting.
If your breakers aren't labeled with what they control plug something in the outlet and start flipping breakers till it goes off. My wall plugs around the house and in the garage are generally 15A but the kitchen has a 20A outlet.
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Cheers,
T_
2013 F-350 CC SB 2WD 6.7PS
2013 Eagle Premier 351 RLTS
-SOLD- 2012 X23B
-SOLD- 2003 Ford Expedition 5.4, Bilstein shocks
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04-06-2015, 04:22 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 22,856
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Plug Camper into home outlet - help
This is a standard 15a outlet. You will be fine with it, just use lights and run the fridge.
ATTACH]17467[/ATTACH]
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Moderator
2011- 351RLTS Eagle, MorRyde suspension/pin box,
2017- F350 6.7 PSD Lariat FX4,SRW, SB,CC
Hughes PWD SP-50A, TST TPMS
Gator roll-up bed cover
B&W Turnover ball, Companion Std hitch
Can't find what you're looking on JOF? Try Jayco Owners Forum Custom Google Search
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04-06-2015, 04:42 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: oneonta ny
Posts: 534
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scoutr2
The easiest way is to check the breaker to the circuit in question. It will be marked. If that's not possible, a Volt-Ohm meter set to check amperage will do it, but you gotta know what you're doing there. And most folks don't have one.
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I think an ammeter will only check what something is drawing.
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04-06-2015, 04:54 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Missoula, Montana
Posts: 704
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and heat
During the winters here in Montana I put radiating heat device, no fan, just warm panels. I leave it plugged into a timer that does date/time/temp/darkness. My fifth wheel stays just above freezing inside, helps keep things from expanding, contracting and with humidity. This lets the unit use power and charge. Seems to work well for the last four years. All just by plugging into an outlet on the garage.
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04-06-2015, 05:04 PM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: White Rock, BC. Canada
Posts: 374
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rick danger
I think an ammeter will only check what something is drawing.
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That's correct and even then you would be in line with the circuit which I wouldn't recommend. I use a clamp on amp meter for anything more then circuit boards. As others have said check the breaker panel, each breaker will have it's max current written on it.
My garage plug is only 15 amps and it will handle everything in my trailer except the AC. Running the electric hot water heater and the microwave at the same time would be pushing it but your lights, TV, radio and charger should be no problem.
I leave mine pluged in all the time.
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04-06-2015, 05:28 PM
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#13
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Site Team
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: James Island, SC
Posts: 22,856
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__________________
Moderator
2011- 351RLTS Eagle, MorRyde suspension/pin box,
2017- F350 6.7 PSD Lariat FX4,SRW, SB,CC
Hughes PWD SP-50A, TST TPMS
Gator roll-up bed cover
B&W Turnover ball, Companion Std hitch
Can't find what you're looking on JOF? Try Jayco Owners Forum Custom Google Search
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04-06-2015, 05:40 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Kalamazoo
Posts: 769
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You can also install one of these. You can buy it at lowes or Home Depot for about $50. Have an electrician install it for you. Then you will be covered.
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2019 Jayco 26BHX Eagle HTX Fifth Wheel
2018 Chevrolet Silverado Double Cab 2500HD 4X4 6.0L 4.10 axle
Reese 16K Round Tube Slider Hitch
HD Trailering Package with Integrated Brake Controller
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04-06-2015, 06:16 PM
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#15
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Junior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Fayetteville
Posts: 20
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Thank you for the help everyone. Plugged it in tonight it's doing well
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04-08-2015, 08:25 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 327
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You could also purchase a Kill-A-Watt meter to check the watt draw with each device (lights, then refrig., then W/H, then AC, etc.) on. I don't have my TT here right now but will test it this weekend and report back on this thread.
By the way, I have been running my AC on a 15 amp circuit since we bought the TT but will refrain from doing that in the future for fear of damaging the unit. Better safe than sorry.
http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&key...sl_matc4vwl2_b
Ken
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"We're all here because...we're not all here"
2015 White Hawk 25BHS w/Outdoor Kitchen
2015 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD Z71 4x4 Duramax
1985 Coleman Sequoia Tent Trailer
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04-08-2015, 09:00 AM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: Bartonville
Posts: 513
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According to my Jayco owner's manual, the air conditioner draws 18 amps and the converter draws 8 amps, max. So neither a 15 amp circuit nor a 20 amp circuit will safely handle the load if you run the A/C.
__________________
Scoutr2 (Mike)
2015 Jay Flight 32RLDS Elite
2012 Chevy 2500HD Crew Cab LTZ (6.6L Duramax/Allison)
Equalizer Hitch (1200# bars)
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04-08-2015, 09:39 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: SF Bay Area
Posts: 327
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As I said, I've done it several times and it does work but I won't be doing it again because I don't want to damage the AC. I'm not concerned about damaging the circuit because it is a 15 amp breaker wired with 12 gauge wire so the breaker should trip before the wire overheats.
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"We're all here because...we're not all here"
2015 White Hawk 25BHS w/Outdoor Kitchen
2015 GMC Sierra SLT 2500HD Z71 4x4 Duramax
1985 Coleman Sequoia Tent Trailer
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04-09-2015, 05:51 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,778
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Lights and frig is about all you can run off of a 15/20 amp breaker. I have run both the microwave and ac at times without tripping the breaker ( 20amp). But felt the plug adapter and it was mighty warm. Dealer told me they replace a lot of shore power cords due to melted plug adapters. Personally keep you loads light using a plug adapter.
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04-09-2015, 07:08 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Western NY
Posts: 228
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So if I wanted to run a line from an outside box (30amp) back to my main panel which is about 125LF what gage wire would you run? The last 40' would be in conduit after coming out of the basement and running along a garage wall outside to the place I would like to be able to plug in. Any thoughts?
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Formerly 31FK 15 Grayhawk
Toad: 2015 Jeep Cherokee "The Caboose".
Taking in the sights wherever my Trolley takes me!
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