Dual ACs on 30amp service

[HappilyLost]

If my camper has dual acs, am I still able to run one of them on 30 amp service? Or am I basically out of luck without 50amp? Anybody done anything unique to get around this?

[SlowrideHD]

Basically, running one a/c is never a problem with 30 amp service. I have occasionally run both of my a/c on 30 amp service, but you have to insure every other appliance that draws more amps than your lights remains off. This would include microwave, electric water heater, fireplace, furnace fan, electric fridge, furnace fans, hair dryer, etc. You get the gist.
I have always been able to run the majority of my fifth wheel on 30 amp service as long as I only run one a/c. That includes my water heater and fridge both set on electric.

The big advantage to being on a true 50 anp rv service (which is really a total of 100 amps) is that you can almost always run everything at the same time. All a/c, microwave, coffee pot, etc.

[Doppleganger]

Installing soft starters on them would probably help quite a bit with the initial inrush of current.

[tomkatb]

We have a 50 amp unit and do it alll the time at state campgrounds.

You need an rv set up for minimum ac thou. Ours is. We can use gas water heater, gas oven, gas fridge.

The DW has the load shedding thing all figured out. Only two big users at a time. The ac units. the clothes dryer, coffee pot, the microwave, the convection oven.

The DW has never overloaded circuits on a 30 amp system. She blew the breaker once in Houston on a 105 degree day. But, never the 30 amp. Even washes clothes.

Our camping is mostly in the Midwest where ac is extremely important.

If we can do it, anyone can.

[G Hollingsworth]

Do you have a power management system in your rig? If so it will know what service you have and shed loads on a priority basis. My last motorhome knew if it was plugged into 50 or 30 amp automatically. If is was less than 30 amp you had to tell it. My current rig automatically know 15,20,30 or 50 and the power management system takes it from there.

[WilliamG]

A tech at Camping World told me to start one a/c and let it run for a few minutes. Then turn on the 2nd unit. He said the start up put the greatest load on the system.

[tomkatb]

Yes I have a power management system. The DW! Never fails.

I am a fan of the KISS principle.

Over the last two years the DW and i figured it out. Our EMS does display the loads on each of the two circuits to help her out at first.

When we arrive at a site i plug in the rv asap. The converter is often running drawing a lot. The highest setting never runs more than a half hour. We can hear the fan in the kitchen.

Then she turns the front ac off with the breaker. Turns on the back unit. Obviously the water heater and fridge are on gas. Cocktail time until the rv cools and the converter slows down. We have a Bluetooth voltmeter so we can watch the batteries.

Then she turns on the front ac. You do not want them to start together. As they are set at different temperatures they generally will not start together.

Then to use the dryer, convection oven or coffee pot one at a time. Often after 8:00 as it cools it is no big deal.

[Jeff from Burlington Ont]

I can run both my AC units on a 30 amp if I have the fans on low. If I switch either to high it will pop the breaker at the pole

[ceedog]

Search the various forums for the spec sheet that shows the average amp draw for each appliance. A/C's typically draw around 15a.

[Flybob]

Originally Posted by WilliamG

A tech at Camping World told me to start one a/c and let it run for a few minutes. Then turn on the 2nd unit. He said the start up put the greatest load on the system.

This should work if nothing else is using 120VAC, the problem is that after the initial start up, how do you control subsequent start-ups so they are staggered.

[Brewhedd]

Yes, you can run 1 AC on 30 amps. I have run a 15k and 13.5k on a 30 amp service without an issue with everything else off. Then once cooled down, turned the 13.5k off.