Plug Camper into home outlet - help

BerryJN3 · 04-06-2015, 01:02 PM

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

Scoutr2 · 04-06-2015, 01:07 PM

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.

DocBrown · 04-06-2015, 01:20 PM

X2! I've been doing this for many years. So long as you don't run the AC you'll be fine.

thodgson · 04-06-2015, 01:35 PM

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.

BerryJN3 · 04-06-2015, 01:47 PM

That is very good to hear, thank you for the quick replies!

How do I find out how many amps my home outlets are?

Scoutr2 · 04-06-2015, 01:56 PM

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?

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.

**Mustang65** · 04-06-2015, 02:01 PM

Best to just trace the outlet back to the breaker box and see what the amperage is on the breaker.

Just my thoughts,

Don

RedHorse1 · 04-06-2015, 02:49 PM

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.

**norty1** · 04-06-2015, 04:22 PM

This is a standard 15a outlet. You will be fine with it, just use lights and run the fridge.
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rick danger · 04-06-2015, 04:42 PM

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.

I think an ammeter will only check what something is drawing.

Cosmik Debris · 04-06-2015, 04:54 PM

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.

Paulx213 · 04-06-2015, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rick danger

I think an ammeter will only check what something is drawing.

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.

**norty1** · 04-06-2015, 05:28 PM

See the difference in a 15a and 20a receptacle.

https://www.google.com/search?q=20+a...ml%3B426%3B426

Camping Couple · 04-06-2015, 05:40 PM

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.

BerryJN3 · 04-06-2015, 06:16 PM

Thank you for the help everyone. Plugged it in tonight it's doing well

AKGperson · 04-08-2015, 08:25 AM

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

Scoutr2 · 04-08-2015, 09:00 AM

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.

AKGperson · 04-08-2015, 09:39 PM

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.

Jagiven · 04-09-2015, 05:51 PM

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.

WDW · 04-09-2015, 07:08 PM

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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