can I power trailer from my house?

[chroniekon]

Wife and I lived in our FW for 2 years plugged into the 20 amp garage receptacle while we did a major remodel on our house. Used an adapter for 30amp to 20 amp. You just have to be careful and only run the major electrical things by themselves.

[Retiredtwo]

I used a 110 to 30amp converter plug to do our 1st test run in my driveway. Of coarse the 10ft camper line was too short so I had to break out a 30amp service extension cord and it was cool so we didn't use the AC, but the 900W microwave was a non issue. When it gets warm I'll check it again with more draw with AC Microwave and a few other items. I like to test to see how much it will take before uncle butts in.

[wmtire]

Originally Posted by 5picker

Show them this...

Or even more, show them this, that we keep in the FAQ and library here on FRF:

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...let-27223.html

[RETIREDATLAST]

Plug unto your washer receptacle. It will be 20 amp. Enough to run A/C

[Jakieboy]

Agree with nearly all responses to the original question. For years, we powered our small travel trailer from a 15-amp outlet with extension cord. No problem. We finally graduated to a 35-foot 5th wheel with dual A/C units that we intended to use as a "Guest house" when family members came to call. Had a local electrical contractor re-do our entire electrical distribution system a few years ago, including a 50-amp outlet for the RV. Can run both A/C units in the trailer without worry, so.....we have lots of visitors in the summer!! We enjoy their company........mostly!!

[Oaklevel]

Originally Posted by RETIREDATLAST

Plug unto your washer receptacle. It will be 20 amp. Enough to run A/C

Just not the dryer............ its 220V

[brian372lok]

Still dealing with an issue. I told electrician to give me a 30amp outlet. He wired 240v not knowing. MAKE sure is is 120v. Diagram on first page is helpful!

[JR Smith]

Most people forget that drop cord if used must be 12 ga wire min..

[DouglasReid]

Originally Posted by mac.dblues

We used ours for a guest house over the Easter weekend. We have a 20A circuit in our well house that we plug into. Lights and A/C will run no problem on 20A, we just have to make sure the water heater is turned off.

I used to run my older camper (30A) from a 20A circuit and never had problems, but my water heater was not on. In the campgrounds I used electric for the WH and A/C with no problems. It was the microwave and/or a hair dryer that tripped the breaker when the A/C was running. If you have problems with the WH A/C combo you can always run WH on propane.

You could also install a 50A service at your home and use a dogbone adapter just as you would if you were in a camping space with only a 50A service. This would actually supply 50A and allow the use of the water heater without tripping the breaker. The problem with this setup would be possibly overloading the 30A extension cable from the outlet to the camper.

[edstacy]

Hi Frank, I'll try to keep this short. I had an electrician install an RV plug for which he got a permit. The zoning folks picked up on it and sent me a letter prohibiting the trailer for any sleeping on my property at any time. You might be ok if you don't live in Montgomery County VA. Watch out for government assistance.

[W5CI]

That depends on what you mean by powering your RV, short answer is Yes, but only for running the Fridge and keeping the battery charged, maybe the Microwave. But no AC

[DouglasReid]

Originally Posted by edstacy

Hi Frank, I'll try to keep this short. I had an electrician install an RV plug for which he got a permit. The zoning folks picked up on it and sent me a letter prohibiting the trailer for any sleeping on my property at any time. You might be ok if you don't live in Montgomery County VA. Watch out for government assistance.

So, if company or kids want to useit occasionally, who is to ever know unless you tell them.

BUREAUCRATS, GOTTA HATE EM!

[Chunk6649]

I'm going to be upgrading my electrical service this summer. I have a new to me 2013 Roo 233S. Only reason I'd be running AC in my driveway was to cool the camper down while loading it up. Debating with myself if I should add a 30 AMP plug, see if it will run the AC on a 20 AMP plug, or just install a start capacitor and stay on 20 AMP. I guess if the price is a marginal increase, might as well get the 30 AMP.

[ben31]

You could also get a 50A instead of the 30A, just in case you want to upgrade later. The price should be about the same for that as the 30A. You'd just need an adapter to go from that to your 30A RV plug. That adapter is something you should keep anyway, for when you camp and the 30A socket is having issues, you can run off the 50A (if available).

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Chunk6649

I'm going to be upgrading my electrical service this summer. I have a new to me 2013 Roo 233S. Only reason I'd be running AC in my driveway was to cool the camper down while loading it up. Debating with myself if I should add a 30 AMP plug, see if it will run the AC on a 20 AMP plug, or just install a start capacitor and stay on 20 AMP. I guess if the price is a marginal increase, might as well get the 30 AMP.

If you are already doing an electrical upgrade anyway, adding a R/V outlet (30 or 50) would be a drop in the bucket to the overall cost.

Add it, you will never regret the small amount of money spent.

[Chunk6649]

Originally Posted by 5picker

If you are already doing an electrical upgrade anyway, adding a R/V outlet (30 or 50) would be a drop in the bucket to the overall cost.

Add it, you will never regret the small amount of money spent.

If I went from a trailer with a 30 to 50 AMP, I don't think it would fit in my driveway. I think I should just forget the service upgrade, buy a new house with a larger driveway, so I can get a bigger trailer.

In all seriousness, it's a good point. We decided on a hybrid because it could fit in our driveway over the summer. I didn't want to her to keep it at a storage facility during the summer.

[formerFR]

Originally Posted by W5CI

...but only for running the Fridge and keeping the battery charged, maybe the Microwave. But no AC

I'll politely disagree - a residential 15a outlet can certainly power most AC units, IF it's the only thing on the circuit. I've done this before in our driveway, on hot days when getting ready for a trip - I turn off everything else, though, especially the battery Charger.

My 50a to 30a adapter, in conjunction with a 30a to 15a adapter, works fine for this.

most folks might quickly assume not, but the AC unit typically has it's largest power draw only when the compressor first kicks on, after the fan is already on... if your AC unit is a 13.5s to 15a size, then a 15a circuit can power it(again, as long as it's about the only thing powered on the circuit).

it doesn't hurt to try...

[5picker]

Originally Posted by Chunk6649

If I went from a trailer with a 30 to 50 AMP, I don't think it would fit in my driveway. I think I should just forget the service upgrade, buy a new house with a larger driveway, so I can get a bigger trailer.

In all seriousness, it's a good point. We decided on a hybrid because it could fit in our driveway over the summer. I didn't want to her to keep it at a storage facility during the summer.

Well the saying goes... bigger is better!

Don't cut yourself short on upgrading to the 50 amp service.
There are plenty of shorter, smaller trailers that have a 50 amp service.

[Jakieboy]

Chunk6649 - if all you're going to do is cool down your RV in the driveway before packing for a trip, a 20-amp circuit may suffice. However, if you really want to make sure you don't trip a 20-amp circuit breaker, I would recommend upgrading to at least a 30-amp circuit. Some day in the future, you may need to use the RV as a "guest house", as we have done for many years. We now have a 50-amp circuit installed when we upgraded our own electrical distribution system a couple of years ago. Our fifth-wheel now serves as a guest house for friends and family behind a secure driveway gate. We have lots of family and friends come to visit so we can enjoy playing board games or watching the NFL, depending on the season!! It's always cool in the trailer.