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06-26-2018, 02:24 PM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2018
Location: Fort Wayne
Posts: 8
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Using air conditioner for first time
We are camping with our travel trailer for the first time at an electric 30 amp site. Can I leave my air conditioner on all the time? Am I safe to run other things with this on all the time?
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06-26-2018, 02:28 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Sparwood, BC
Posts: 2,800
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wouldn't run a high power user together with an A/C (startup of an A/C is about 25 Amps, running amps is around 7 to 11 amps on a 13.5K)
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06-26-2018, 02:56 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,216
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Most likely yes.
Like ALJO says, be careful with other high draw appliances like the microwave, the WH (on electric) and things like coffee makers and hair driers. If one of those things is drawing a lot of power, and the AC tries to start up, it could trip a breaker.
We never had a problem running our trailer on 30A service. I would turn the water heater and fridge to gas just to get a few more free amps, and I would refrain from making coffee or using the microwave while the AC was cycled on if I could. Otherwise, I just wouldn't do it when the AC was trying to cycle on; it draws a lot of amps on startup, but when it's running, you should have enough to run your other stuff, just not all at the same time.
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06-26-2018, 03:06 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: Mapleton
Posts: 4,367
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You don't mention your RV model, always good to start there.
If you have a smaller trailer it may have a window AC which draws much less than the 13,500 btu rooftop.
My old one had a rooftop and I never experienced any problems with running my fridge or microwave with it on.
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06-26-2018, 03:42 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: South Texas
Posts: 7,216
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Just to be clear, you likely won't run into a problem if the AC is running and you try to start up the microwave (or other high draw appliance). However, if you're running the high draw device, and the thermostat calls for the AC to kick on, you could throw a breaker. AC units use A LOT of amps at startup. If your water heater is on electric drawing 11 amps, and your microwave is on drawing 11 amps (we're at 22 amps now), and your thermostat calls for the AC to start up drawing 20 amps (conservatively), you're now at 42 Amps, and the breaker will trip.
Alternatively, if your AC is running already, drawing a constant 10A, and your water heater is on electric drawing 11A, and you go to fire your microwave up and it draws more than about 9A, you'll likely trip the breaker.
A sudden surge just over 30A will sometimes not throw a breaker, but if it lasts more than about a second, it will trip, or at least it SHOULD trip; I HOPE it trips.
In all likelihood, you'll be fine and can run as you normally would. But if you go to fire up your coffee maker and everything shuts down suddenly, you probably tripped a breaker; don't be surprised. It can and does happen, you just have to be aware and manage the use of devices that draw a lot of amps.
ETA, that's why I mentioned that I would run anything that I could on propane when hooked up to 30A service. I was trying to eek out every amp I could get so as not to throw a breaker.
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-2014 Jay Flight 28BHBE & Ram 2500 6.4L CC 4x4 (sold)
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06-26-2018, 04:01 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Posts: 1,643
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When the air conditioner is running (all the time during the day in Texas) we just have to remember to turn off the electric water heater if we want to use the microwave. Occasionally in a campground with borderline low power pedestal voltage we have to run the refrigerator and water heater on propane to avoid the breaker flipping off.
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There's lots of advice and information in forums... sometimes it is correct. For example, all of my posts are made by a political appointee who got the job as a reward for contributions to my diesel bill.
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06-26-2018, 04:22 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Dallas
Posts: 4,281
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We tripped a breaker on our 2017 Jayflight SLX when we used microwave while a/c was on. Only other items on were lights and radio. Only happened once so far
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06-26-2018, 04:54 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: AL Gulf Coast
Posts: 122
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I run 15k btu AC + coffee maker OR microwave without an issue on 30a in a 267bhsw. And this is on the gulf coast in Alabama in the middle of June.
Edit: gas only water heater
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06-26-2018, 05:32 PM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Connellsville
Posts: 22,719
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I can run both refrigerators, the 13500 BTU Colman Mach AC, and the water heater on AC or the Microwave, but not both at the same time on a 30 amp service unless I am really lucky.
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06-26-2018, 05:49 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Sparwood, BC
Posts: 2,800
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C'mon guys speak the truth now, nobody gains by bragging. The amps speaks for itself. You pass it, it trips.
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2014 Ram 1500 CrewCab 4x4 5.7 Hemi 3.92 Rear and Air Lift 1000
2005 Jayco Jay Feather LGT - 29Y GVWR-7000 lbs.
Dexter Axle Lift 4-9/16" - installed with sub-frame.
Pro Series 1200 lbs. WDH with Double Sway Bar.
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06-26-2018, 06:02 PM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: McKean, PA
Posts: 1,073
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ALJO
wouldn't run a high power user together with an A/C (startup of an A/C is about 25 Amps, running amps is around 7 to 11 amps on a 13.5K)
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If your A/C is on a 15 amp breaker like mine is you have no worries. We have never tripped the 30 amp pedistal breaker even running the A/C, convection/microwave, lights, fridge and TV.
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2011 Skylark 21FKV
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06-26-2018, 06:05 PM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Connellsville
Posts: 22,719
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ALJO
C'mon guys speak the truth now, nobody gains by bragging. The amps speaks for itself. You pass it, it trips.
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Who is bragging or misleading? If you are referring to my 22BHM, it actually runs the air conditioner and both refrigerators on AC off of a 20 amp plug from our garage without issue. It's plugged in that way on a dogbone as we speak. Now the water heater must be on gas in this setup and you have to turn off the air conditioner to run the microwave. On 30 amp, no issue with the air conditioner and both refrigerators and the water heater or the microwave (not both) at the same time.
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06-26-2018, 06:07 PM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: AL Gulf Coast
Posts: 122
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ALJO
C'mon guys speak the truth now, nobody gains by bragging. The amps speaks for itself. You pass it, it trips.
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Ok ok.. I'll cave. My hardwire EMS display showed 26 amps last trip out while running AC, TV, radio (for TV audio), microwave, fridge, and lights.
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06-26-2018, 06:10 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Sparwood, BC
Posts: 2,800
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We are talking here running the A/C and other high amp users. Running for example and A/C at running Amps of 11 and a Fridge at 3 amp, will not trip a 30 Amp breaker.
But A/C at startup and while a Microwave is running that's 25 + 13 amp = 38 Amp.
Maybe some other electricians on this forum might want to pitch in.
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2014 Ram 1500 CrewCab 4x4 5.7 Hemi 3.92 Rear and Air Lift 1000
2005 Jayco Jay Feather LGT - 29Y GVWR-7000 lbs.
Dexter Axle Lift 4-9/16" - installed with sub-frame.
Pro Series 1200 lbs. WDH with Double Sway Bar.
Champion 3100/2800 watt Inverter/Generator-Onboard Solar Power
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06-27-2018, 10:58 AM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: McKean, PA
Posts: 1,073
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A 25 amp start up draw should be almost instantaneous and should not trip your internal breaker nor the 30 Amp pedestal breaker. Our A/C and microwave run at the same time on many occasions with no tripping. Both are on 15 amp breakers in the trailer. What size breaker is in your trailer panel for that A/C?
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06-27-2018, 11:19 AM
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#16
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 9,773
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In general, yes we turn on the AC and leave it on! We have tripped the main 30 amp circuit breaker from time to time. Usually the breaker on the shore power post, and not the internal main 30 amp breaker. This tells me the post breaker is getting old and week.
It is the 30 amp breaker we usually trip , it is always when using the microwave at the same time. I have learned to flip the AC to fan only mode, use the microwave, and then flip it back to cool mode.
Using our water heater at the same time has never tripped the main breaker.
I have been told hair driers will trip the 30 amp breaker if used in conjunction with the AC, along with other devices such as the water heater. Personally, I have not used a hair drier in 30 years, so I have no experience. Once you trip the breaker a few times you will learn what can and cannot be run simultaneously.
Happy camping.
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06-27-2018, 12:00 PM
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#17
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Arizona
Posts: 2,324
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If the electric is in the daily flat rate of the park, we leave the AC on.If we try and run two 15000's on 30 amps don't run for long!
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06-27-2018, 01:55 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Long Island, NY
Posts: 1,402
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As others have said you might trip a circuit breaker if the A/C is running and you try using multiple high current appliances (microwave, coffee maker, hair dryer, etc.) all at the same time. A little power management may be required.
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06-27-2018, 09:47 PM
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#19
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Tucson
Posts: 661
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Simple answer. If your AC is running and trying to cool your camper, don’t run the microwave. If the AC is off because it has satisfied the temperature in your RV and you need to run the microwave, turn the AC off until you are done with the microwave, then set the AC back to Auto. Basically on 30A don’t run both at the same time. EASY and simple.
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06-27-2018, 10:06 PM
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#20
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Surprise
Posts: 2,623
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The startup amp draw is miliseconds and breakers are designed for momentary spikes without tripping. We run our 15,000 AC with electric water heater always on and use the MW as needed and never had an issue. Guess it could be luck in timing, but after three years of living in our RV for 6 months I would think we would of had bad timing once...we have never tripped a breaker inside the RV or on pedestal. I would not worry about using your appliances, worse case you have to reset a breaker not the end of the world. Breakers actually trip by heat not by measuring amperage, higher amperage created heat which causes the breaker to trip...it doesn't happen immediately.
Good luck and Happy Camping !
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