Using Adaptors for power

[MTDreams]

Greetings all,

I'm new to this world having purchased a JayFlight Swift 267BHS.

Before I ask my questions I want to say thank you to all the members. I have learned so much over the last month reading on here!

Questions:

Jayco says that you may not use adaptors with your 30a shore line? Is it me or is this 1960's thinking? Not all campgrounds are going to have a solid 30a supply. Additionally a very small percentage of owners are going to have a 30a post to plug into at home. On top of that, the most commonly used generators (Honda and Yamaha 2000) do not have 30a receptacles.

Therefore the manufacturer is limiting owners to only having power while physically at a 30a campground?

Is this legalize covering their azztubles... or is there really some threat?

Additionally I have to ask - my dealer told me that I can't run the a/c using a 20a adaptor to my home (I have 20a not 15a service nearest the TT). What is the danger to the unit? I believe it will start up just fine...

Thank you

[Crabman]

Welcome to the forum.
I keep mine plugged in at home using a 30 to 15 amp adapter. Many of us do. I have not run the AC with it yet though for more then a few minutes. If you have a short run of proper gauge wire and only the AC is running it would seem the 20 amp would run the AC OK. Perhaps others will chime in that have actually done it.

[clubhouse]

I would be interesting in where Jayco say's not to use adapters. I hadn't seen that.

I use 15/20 to 30amp adapter regularly at home and with my EU2000i. Never had an issue.

At home I plug into one on my garges 20amp circuits -- I can run the AC without issue assuming that is all I am running in the trailer and on the outlet circuit.

Jon

[Ken&Ruth]

I use an adapter all the time when parked at home. I haven't read that anywhere in the Jayco literature.

[MTDreams]

Clubhouse, thanks for the honest reply!

My Jayco Owner's manual, under ELECTRICAL SYSTEM-30A has multiple WARNINGS:
"Do not use any cheater plug, adapter or extension cord to reduce incoming AC power..."
"Do not...or adapt the 30-amp power cord plug to connect it to a receptacle for which it is not designed"
"Do not connect the receptacle to an extension cord (basically talking about overheating here...)

[33 RLDS]

My Manual also says no adapters or extension cords. I did until I installed a 30 amp box on the outside wall. Not hard to do or expensive.

[Mustang65]

Prior to the EAGLE, we had a TrailManor TT and I kept it plugged into my 20 Amp yard outlet. I usually started the TT's AC up once a month for a maintenance run, as I do with a lot of other electrical things that do not get used that often. About the 3rd month (June) the house 20Amp breaker tripped and not thinking much of it, I reset it. When I tried to restart the TT's AC, all it did was HUMMMMM. Not good. What I found was that the AC's Hard Start capacitor had died. When I inquired about it, the first question asked was what type of service you have feeding the TT. I said it was a 20Amp line. He said on some days (hot/Humid) the AC Compressor will need over 20 amps to start, and that is what probably killed the Hard Start Capacitor. After that, I ran a new line out to the TT and installed a 30 Amp Female RV receptacle (Lowes has them), and a 30 Amp breaker. Since then we have not had an issue. Would I try the AC on a 20Amp service, no!!! Then again, others may not have had any issue with 20Amp service. I just do not want to chance it.
Don

[DocBrown]

This clause was in the manual for our old '03 Kiwi and our current X20E. The reason they say this is that they are being cautious by making an assumption that you would be attempting to run the microwave, the fridge, and the A/C all at the same time.

We've been using a dog bone convertor for years at home just to charge the battery and get the fridge cold prior to a trip. I wouldn't think of trying to run the A/C. Too much amp draw, too easy to burn it out. It doesn't need to be ran monthly to test it. I fired up the A/C once or twice on our Kiwi while on 20 amp. It started slower and made a lot more noise.

[clubhouse]

Originally Posted by MTDreams

Clubhouse, thanks for the honest reply!

My Jayco Owner's manual, under ELECTRICAL SYSTEM-30A has multiple WARNINGS:
"Do not use any cheater plug, adapter or extension cord to reduce incoming AC power..."
"Do not...or adapt the 30-amp power cord plug to connect it to a receptacle for which it is not designed"
"Do not connect the receptacle to an extension cord (basically talking about overheating here...)

Thanks for the references -- I have now found it in my 2012 manual, not sure how I glossed over it before. That said, I am going to take my chances and still use adapters as necessary. Its not like I have a warranty anymore.

[MTDreams]

2012 here too. No warranty. Plus I have already bought all the dog bones. Plus my Yamaha 2400ISHC is on the way (no 30a receptacle so must use 20a dog bone).

Thanks to all for the replies everyone! I can't imagine Jayco failing for adapters. I'm thinking it's CYA language.

[Threebutchers]

I have no problem or concern using an adapter....but that's probably because my 20A receptacle is 12" from the service panel, my service consistently delivers 120V, and my electric monitoring system tells me the TT air conditioner draws 3A on fan and 4A with the compressor running.

I'm very happy to have added mods that monitor my 120V and 12V electric systems. Knowledge is power

[norty1]

Main thing to remember is not to overload the 15 or 20a feed as it will not be protected by a breaker in your rig. It is easy to overload an extension cord.

I do this often and have to limit our consumption to lights and fans. The converter draws some of what is coming in so stay away from high amp appliances like MW, heater etc.

[Bob Landry]

Originally Posted by Mustang65

Prior to the EAGLE, we had a TrailManor TT and I kept it plugged into my 20 Amp yard outlet. I usually started the TT's AC up once a month for a maintenance run, as I do with a lot of other electrical things that do not get used that often. About the 3rd month (June) the house 20Amp breaker tripped and not thinking much of it, I reset it. When I tried to restart the TT's AC, all it did was HUMMMMM. Not good. What I found was that the AC's Hard Start capacitor had died. When I inquired about it, the first question asked was what type of service you have feeding the TT. I said it was a 20Amp line. He said on some days (hot/Humid) the AC Compressor will need over 20 amps to start, and that is what probably killed the Hard Start Capacitor. After that, I ran a new line out to the TT and installed a 30 Amp Female RV receptacle (Lowes has them), and a 30 Amp breaker. Since then we have not had an issue. Would I try the AC on a 20Amp service, no!!! Then again, others may not have had any issue with 20Amp service. I just do not want to chance it.
Don

Your dealer, like many dealers, is misinformed on air conditioning. Ambient temperature, humidity, nor altitude have any effect on the starting or operation of an air conditioner. The entire refrigerant circuit is a sealed system. The compressor sees nothing but equal pressures on both suction and high side as it starts up.

[Seann45]

Originally Posted by MTDreams

Clubhouse, thanks for the honest reply!

My Jayco Owner's manual, under ELECTRICAL SYSTEM-30A has multiple WARNINGS:
"Do not use any cheater plug, adapter or extension cord to reduce incoming AC power..."
"Do not...or adapt the 30-amp power cord plug to connect it to a receptacle for which it is not designed"
"Do not connect the receptacle to an extension cord (basically talking about overheating here...)

Lawyers talking... just do not try to use the A/C if you are using an adapter.

[namusmc65]

My fifth wheel requires 50 amp service but I hook in to a 30 amp outlet at home without any problems. Even with air running I am only drawing about 14 amps on one line. I have two ac units but only run the one occasionally if I am working in the unit. If you go to a 'Good Sam Samboree, the only service usually provided at State Fair Grounds etc. is normally 30 amp service. Never had any problems.

[namusmc65]

My fifth wheel requires 50 amp service but I hook in to a 30 amp outlet at home without any problems. Even with air running I am only drawing about 14 amps on one line. I have two ac units but only run the one occasionally if I am working in the unit. If you go to a 'Good Sam Samboree, the only service usually provided at State Fair Grounds etc. is normally 30 amp service. Never had any problems.

[Jagiven]

I use a 15amp to 30 amp adaptor at home all the time, I have ran the AC for short periods of time. At our current house I do plug into a 20 amp outlet, the adaptor is only rated for 15 amps. When I bought our HTT, I spoke with the dealer for sometime on the use of the adaptor. They stated they have had more than one person bring their TT in for a cord replacement as they were running their AC and melted the cord adaptor onto the plug and ruined the cord. I have placed my hand on my adaptor from time to time and it clearly a little warm at times, and that was without running the AC.

I also have a 50 amp to 30 amp adaptor. I have never used it, and I would like to keep it that way. If you have one and this is sometimes a controversial topic. Your power cord between your internal fuse box and the electrical post is not properly protected. If you would have an issue with the cord, such as worn cable insulation, you could over heat and melt the cord inside the cable storage box long before the 50 amp breaker would trip. The internal 30 amp breaker will not protect the cord, just the items downstream of it. That is my two cents

[Jmooney]

doesn't the source have a 30 amp breaker that provides that protection?

Genset or Post?

I would not convert a 50 amp service down to a 30 amp cord. But you can convert a 30 amp service up to a 50 amp cord cant you?

[lhpelton]

My dealer gave me a dog bone adapter when I purchased my trailer......

[Iraqvet05]

I suspect some people using a 30 to 15A adapter were also using smaller gauge extension cords around the house that are not capable of carrying the load of an air conditioner. If you put too much load on an average household extension cord, the cord will get hot and could start a fire