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Old 04-23-2017, 08:28 PM   #1
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AC & Hot water Heater

The following 2 statesments are in the info folder from the dealer where we bought our camper, but I haven't seen them in the Forest River Owner Manual. Has anybody had an issue with this?

"Never use the Air Conditioner and the Water Heater on electric at the same time if on a 30 amp Service. This will cause the AC cord to melt."

And

"Never use the electric water heater and the air conditioner at the same time unless you have 50 amp service. You will damage the appliances including the air conditioner and water heater."

Thanks for any responses.
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Old 04-23-2017, 08:30 PM   #2
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i never read that but i do it every time i camp in the summer. i havent had any issues and im always hooked to 30 amp
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Old 04-23-2017, 08:39 PM   #3
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Thanks. I've never heard it either, but wanted to be sure I ain't missing something in the owner manual.
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Old 04-23-2017, 08:41 PM   #4
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It is possible (likely) to trip a beaker on a 30A trailer if the water heater, AC and a hairdryer or microwave at the same time. If the connection at the campground pedestal is worn it is possible to melt the plug.

Personally I use gas side of the water heater in the summer.
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Old 04-23-2017, 08:45 PM   #5
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Both of those statements are incorrect. I hope they are printed on a dealer created doc and not something from FR.
If you are plugged into a 30A pedestal with operating breaker, you can not draw more than 30A. The power cable supplied can handle 30A and will not melt.
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Old 04-23-2017, 08:49 PM   #6
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This has been discussed before but

A/c uses around 12-13 amps
Water Heater uses 9 - 13 amps
Converter uses 1 - 8 amps.

See how close to 30 you can be not running anything else...........

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Old 04-23-2017, 08:53 PM   #7
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Both of those statements are incorrect. I hope they are printed on a dealer created doc and not something from FR.
If you are plugged into a 30A pedestal with operating breaker, you can not draw more than 30A. The power cable supplied can handle 30A and will not melt.
Actually yes the plug can melt if the outlet at the pedestal is worn, before a working breaker trips. Does not happen often but it can happen.

Since the water heater does not use much gas I run it that way. I went a different route for a couple reasons but our plug would get very hot often in the summer months. Going to just gas on the water heater helped but I made some other changes that really helped too.
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Old 04-23-2017, 09:03 PM   #8
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Haven't seen this posted for a while, this might help Turbs posted this several years ago. Can be a help for 30A campers:


Wattage % Volts = Amps
Amps X Volts = Wattage

One other thing to keep in mind is many RV appliances require more amps to start the appliance than they do to run the appliance. A roof air conditioner can draw 16 amps to start, but may only use 13 amps once it is running.

120 Volt AC Amp Ratings
Appliance or Electronic Equipment Estimated Amps
Air Conditioner (X number of A/C) 12-16 Amps
Blender 5-6 Amps
Coffee Maker 5-8 Amps
Compact Disc Player 1 Amp
Computer (Laptop) 2-3 Amps
Converter 1-8 Amps
Crock Pot 1-2 Amps
Curling Iron <1 Amp
Drill 2-6 Amps
Electric Blanket 0.5-1.5 Amps
Electric Fan 1 Amp
Electric Water Heater 9-13 Amps
Electric Skillet 6-12 Amps
Hair Dryer 5-12 Amps
Iron 5-10 Amps
Light (60 watt % 120V) <1 Amp
Microwave 8-13 Amps
Microwave (Convection Oven) 13 Amps
Refrigerator in AC mode 5-8 Amps
Space Heater 8-13 Amps
Television 1.5-4 Amps
Toaster 7-10 Amps
Vacuum (handheld) 2-6 Amps
VCR 1-2 Amps
Washer/Dryer 14-16Amps

12 Volt DC Amp Ratings
Appliance or Accessory Estimated Amps
Aisle Light 1 Amp
CO Detector 1 Amp
Fluorescent Light 1-2 Amps
Furnace 10-12 Amps
LP Gas Leak Detector 0.5 Amp
Overhead lights (Per Bulb) 1 Amp
Porch Light 1 Amp
Power Roof Vent 1.5 Amps
Radio/Stereo 4 Amps
Range Hood (Fan & Light) 2-3 Amps
Refrigerator (LP Gas Mode) 1.5- 2 Amps
Security System 1 Amp
Television (12 volt) 4-5 Amps
TV Antenna Booster <1 Amp
TV Antenna Booster 12 Volt outlet Up to 8 Amps
Variable Speed Ceiling / Vent Fan 4 Amps
VCR Recorder / Player 2 Amps
Water Pump 4 Amp
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Old 04-23-2017, 09:15 PM   #9
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we've been running our 13.5 a/c and WH on 30 amp hookups for nearly all of our 7 week trip.
no problems.
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Old 04-23-2017, 09:32 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Flybob View Post
Both of those statements are incorrect. I hope they are printed on a dealer created doc and not something from FR.
If you are plugged into a 30A pedestal with operating breaker, you can not draw more than 30A. The power cable supplied can handle 30A and will not melt.


Yes it was created on a dealer doc. I didn't find it anywhere in a FR manual.
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Old 04-24-2017, 01:03 AM   #11
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Quote:
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Yes it was created on a dealer doc. I didn't find it anywhere in a FR manual.
More dealer/salesman BS.
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Old 04-24-2017, 03:46 AM   #12
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We do it all the time
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Old 04-24-2017, 04:28 PM   #13
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Have not heard about the water heater, but have heard that with Microwave and 2 A/C's at the same time. I've used and not problems when I'm in 30 amp and not 50amp
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Old 04-24-2017, 04:44 PM   #14
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I can usually get away with the A/C heat pump running and the WH on electric, fridpdge on auto (usually on shore power) without a problem. But I've found a couple CG's where the breakers are worn may drop one leg on a load, and if DW forgets & fires up the micro/convection..pop....so to save DW asking why won't it work, I usually run the WH on gas...
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Old 04-25-2017, 11:07 AM   #15
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I suspect that the dealer's warning sheet comes from their experience with failed power cords. If your camper is wired for 30A service then you have two 30A breakers protecting your cord; one at the pedestal, the other the main in your rig's AC distribution box. If the plug end gets hot in use, there's some resistance, either where the cord's wires attach to the plug or where the tines of the plug go into the socket. This resistance causes heat which increases resistance causing more heat until finally something melts.

30A of electrical power is, as stated in previous responses, barely enough to run the AC and water heater's electric element. Add in a few amps for the converter and an aged breaker in the pedestal and you'll be popping the pedestal breaker. Using the 50A socket in the pedestal and a 50-30A converter cord will work but looses the 30A protection between the pedestal and your distribution box's 30A main breaker.

Phil
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Old 04-25-2017, 11:33 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by pmsherman View Post
I suspect that the dealer's warning sheet comes from their experience with failed power cords. If your camper is wired for 30A service then you have two 30A breakers protecting your cord; one at the pedestal, the other the main in your rig's AC distribution box. If the plug end gets hot in use, there's some resistance, either where the cord's wires attach to the plug or where the tines of the plug go into the socket. This resistance causes heat which increases resistance causing more heat until finally something melts.

30A of electrical power is, as stated in previous responses, barely enough to run the AC and water heater's electric element. Add in a few amps for the converter and an aged breaker in the pedestal and you'll be popping the pedestal breaker. Using the 50A socket in the pedestal and a 50-30A converter cord will work but looses the 30A protection between the pedestal and your distribution box's 30A main breaker.

Phil
seems is you use the 50 amp with a dog bone to 30 amp you'll only get 25 amps instead of 30 . i've not had any issues using my 15000btu ac with ele water heater and microwave along with all the 12 volt light etc . i'm plugged in for months at a time without issues
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Old 04-25-2017, 11:35 AM   #17
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Originally Posted by pmsherman View Post
I suspect that the dealer's warning sheet comes from their experience with failed power cords. If your camper is wired for 30A service then you have two 30A breakers protecting your cord; one at the pedestal, the other the main in your rig's AC distribution box. If the plug end gets hot in use, there's some resistance, either where the cord's wires attach to the plug or where the tines of the plug go into the socket. This resistance causes heat which increases resistance causing more heat until finally something melts.

30A of electrical power is, as stated in previous responses, barely enough to run the AC and water heater's electric element. Add in a few amps for the converter and an aged breaker in the pedestal and you'll be popping the pedestal breaker. Using the 50A socket in the pedestal and a 50-30A converter cord will work but looses the 30A protection between the pedestal and your distribution box's 30A main breaker.

Phil


Thank you!
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Old 04-25-2017, 11:50 AM   #18
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Quote:
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seems is you use the 50 amp with a dog bone to 30 amp you'll only get 25 amps instead of 30 . i've not had any issues using my 15000btu ac with ele water heater and microwave along with all the 12 volt light etc . i'm plugged in for months at a time without issues
Northstar, 120/240 volt split phase service is 50 amps X 240 volts..... OR as in how the RV's utilize it 100 amps X 120 volts with the L1 and L2 always separate

L1 is 50 amps at 120 volts and L2 is 50 amps at 120 volts...... for a total of 100 amps

What the 50 amp to 30 amp dogbone does, is takes just one of the legs (L1 or L2) and provides power to the 30 amp RV. The other leg is not connected to anything and is terminated inside the adapter. There's still going to be 50 amps capability between the power pedestal breaker and the RV breaker.

As long as you keep your stuff in the 30 amp RV to it's normal usage (under 30 amps)...most people make out fine.

This tutorial explains it better:

https://www.rvtechmag.com/electrical/chapter3.php

and here are some good schematics:



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Old 04-25-2017, 11:51 AM   #19
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seems is you use the 50 amp with a dog bone to 30 amp you'll only get 25 amps instead of 30 . i've not had any issues using my 15000btu ac with ele water heater and microwave along with all the 12 volt light etc . i'm plugged in for months at a time without issues


Using a dogbone on a 50 amp pedestal will provide 1 leg at 50 amps. The 30 amp camper however will be limited to 30 amps due to the breaker inside the camper.

Where do you get 25 amps from?
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