Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 07-20-2012, 09:01 PM   #1
Columbus 302 rs
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Right now in Winchester Va.
Posts: 112
Columbus 320RS regarding amp service?

Awaiting delivery of our Columbus 320RS and wondering what amp service the trailer is wired for?
Preparing to order an autotransformer for the unit and don't want to buy the wrong capacity.

Thanks
TheEdge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2012, 09:11 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
Earth Station's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 627
ours 320RS is 50 amp.
__________________

Felicia & Jeff - Missouri
2013 Columbus - 320 RS 2012 F350 CC DRW - 6.7L PSD
2012 Camping 59 DAYS; 2013 50 DAYS; 2014 WAITING
Earth Station is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-20-2012, 09:47 PM   #3
Columbus 302 rs
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Right now in Winchester Va.
Posts: 112
Thanks for the fast response. I guess I should look at the Franks 50amp unit 70 amps max. One more ka-ching!
TheEdge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2012, 07:43 PM   #4
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 40
I have a 365RL on order. Does anyone know the length of the power cord, and is it a 30 or 50 amp cord. If it's 30 amp do you just add the 30/50 adapter to be able to use 50 amp service. I have two AC's so I understand I will need the 50 when running both, but otherwise the 30 amp is sufficient. Thank for your help, I have had park models in the past but this is my first mobile RV.
WRROST is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2012, 07:52 PM   #5
Phat Phrog Stunt Team
 
TURBS's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Iowa
Posts: 34,507
Quote:
Originally Posted by WRROST
I have a 365RL on order. Does anyone know the length of the power cord, and is it a 30 or 50 amp cord. If it's 30 amp do you just add the 30/50 adapter to be able to use 50 amp service. I have two AC's so I understand I will need the 50 when running both, but otherwise the 30 amp is sufficient. Thank for your help, I have had park models in the past but this is my first mobile RV.
All units with 2 a/c units should be 50 amp service.
Cord will likely be 25' 50 amp.
Hope this helps.

Turbs
TURBS is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2012, 07:20 AM   #6
Trailer Trash
 
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: MN
Posts: 608
Mine only has 1 AC and it is wired for 50 amp service. The 320RS came with a 25' long 50amp cord, a 50 amp to 30 amp adapter plug, and another small round plug that was in a drawer in the kitchen - that one plugs into 20 or 30 amp and has a standard 120vac appliance outlet on the other end.

I bought a 50' 30 amp cord as some sites were you park, the 25' cord may be too short. 30 amp service limits you to running the AC or the microwave, but not both at the same time. This is why you want 50 amp service and 50 amp cord.

Don't know if anyone makes a 50' long 50amp cord. I suspect too much resistance (line loss) in that long of a cord would result in overheated cord and voltage drop problems with appliances.
joelek is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2012, 08:35 AM   #7
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2012
Posts: 40
Thanks for the information. I have another electrical question regarding surge protection. What does the majority of the readers do. Use them or not? I understand that compared to the cost of a RV their cheap, but spending a couple hundred dollars on something I may not need. I'll be parked at a permanent site for now, so I won't be hooking up to a lot of different sources.
WRROST is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2012, 09:19 AM   #8
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 553
Do a search on surge protection and you'll see alot of opinions on this subject.

Many folks recommend it and there are a few tales of woe from those that didn't have it.

Most people, I think, do not have it, and few reports of getting their RV's fried.

I don't have one yet, but will probably get one.
crasher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2012, 09:20 AM   #9
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Midland, MI
Posts: 954
I too have 50 Amp service in my 5th wheel but do not expect to use it...so instead of schlepping around that heavy 50Amp cord, I ordered one of these: ( I try to avoid short adapters if possible)

RV Power Cord Adapter 25' 30 amp to 50 amp Marinco Locking Connector Detachable



It comes in 3 lengths (25', 36' & 50'). I opted for the 25' because for the most part, that is long enough and I already had a significant investment in 30 amp RV extension cords.

I also removed the 50Amp Marinco connnector that was attached to the cord supplied with my unit and added to a long heavy gauge 15 amp cord for use while parked/stored on the side of the house. (no 30 amp at home).

So for now I have a 25' 50amp "pigtail" stored under one of the beds which I could put into service if/when our power needs change.
__________________
Cathy & Jeff
Midland, Michigan
2020 Cedar Creek 34IK / 2019 Ram3500 CID
SimchaSabre is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2012, 07:11 AM   #10
Camper Less Camping
 
Cajun Po-Boy's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: NW
Posts: 3,642
Quote:
Originally Posted by WRROST
Thanks for the information. I have another electrical question regarding surge protection. What does the majority of the readers do. Use them or not? I understand that compared to the cost of a RV their cheap, but spending a couple hundred dollars on something I may not need. I'll be parked at a permanent site for now, so I won't be hooking up to a lot of different sources.
I'd highly recommend one...for $350, easy insurance to protect all your electronics and AC unit(s) and electrical wires from too high or too low voltage in the line besides any unknown electrical spikes.
I use the SurgeGuard and I'm pleased with it.



__________________
2013 Sabre 32RCTS-6 (sold)
Family of 4 whose always on the GEAUX!
Cajun Po-Boy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2012, 06:30 PM   #11
Columbus 302 rs
 
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Right now in Winchester Va.
Posts: 112
Voltage spikes can happen anywhere. A car can hit a pole and blow a transformer, lightning can hit in the area. I have to much invested in electronics not to have surge protection regardless of where i am.

For the fifth-wheel it was a no-brainer, but we went above that level of pretection and invested in a Franks autotransformer.
TheEdge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-29-2012, 06:38 PM   #12
Senior Member
 
Earth Station's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Posts: 627
We have a surge protector on ours. It is never plugged in without it!
__________________

Felicia & Jeff - Missouri
2013 Columbus - 320 RS 2012 F350 CC DRW - 6.7L PSD
2012 Camping 59 DAYS; 2013 50 DAYS; 2014 WAITING
Earth Station is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-02-2012, 08:20 AM   #13
"On the road again"
 
rjshiflet's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Parker County Texas
Posts: 1,152
Our 320RS came with 50 amp and a 25' shore power cord and our first trip out...the electric outlet was about 29' from the back of the trailer. So - fortunately, we were within 20 miles of Camping World and we now tote a 20' or 25' (can't remember) 50-amp extension cord.

And surprisingly, we have had to use it. I never bothered to measure the power cord on our previous RV (Sandpiper fiver) - but we NEVER had issues.

Oh...one other thing we bought that came in handy last week. We frequent a spot where 50-amp plugs are rare, so I had ordered from Camping World...an adapter that uses two 30-amp plugs to give you 50-amp power.

50-Amp RV Box Adapter - Intersource Enterprises D11-136 - Electrical Adapters - Camping World

Worked flawlessly and it's a good investment since we visit this spot once a month year-round for a week.

__________________


Robert & Estha Shiflet
Georgetown XL 378TS
Jeep Gladiator Willys Tow Vehicle
rjshiflet is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-19-2013, 05:30 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
tugboat369's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: MT Airy, NC
Posts: 670
See above. ? ? ? ? ? ?
__________________
Camping from 2008, Life member Good Sam / KOA / iRV2
2014 Columbus 320RS
2011 Ford, F250, 6.7D, SRW
tugboat369 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
320rs, amp, autotransformer, columbus, electrical

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:56 PM.