Using 30A power in an RV wired for 50A

[klenger]

The AC units are not the only high power loads in the RV. The microwave, water heater, and fireplace all draw close to 15 amps each. Also, toasters, hair dryers, etc plugged into outlets can draw close to 15 amps each.

When you are connected to 50 amp campground power, you actually have 100 amps @ 120 VAC available, and you can, for the most part, ignore any overload issues. When you are plugged into 30 amp service, you have to monitor your loads closely to stay within the 30 amp requirement. I like having an EMS with a display that shows the actual load in real time for monitoring loads. If you have a 50 amp EMS and are connected to 30 amp power, you need to add the L1 and L2 loads together to determine your total actual load and keep it under 30 amps.

In general, if you know which loads are considered high power loads (as mentioned above), you are usually in fairly good shape if you don't run more than 2 high power loads at the same time on 30 amps.

[TheBuckners]

Steve,

Thanks! Very clever ways to maximize comfort while minimizing costs since electricity is typically included at RV parks. Glad to see that 30A is very workable. Based on all this information (yours and before), I just purchased a Champion 3400W (3100W sustained) portable inverter generator with remote start. On sale with shipping and no taxes for $879. That should give me 26A sustained which should be similar to being plugged into 30A shore power. And I hope to be able to run the 15k unit or the 13.5k.

Alan

[SoccerDad]

Hi Rob - I also am considering getting 2 Champion 3400 Inverters that only offer a parallel kit with 120V 50A. I was worried about this not supporting both A/C's for my 2019 Reflection, but I find that your answers are always clear and accurate. Would you mind telling me how you found out that information, as I was not able to find it anywhere?

Alan - The 30A male to 50A female adapter provides the available 30A @ 120V to both legs of the 50A supply to the trailer. If your parallel generators are putting out 50A @120V you should be OK to run both AC units . . . as long as you don't use a 30A cord. The 50A cord could safely carry the entire output of the generator on one leg if the draw was this way. The only "at risk" part of this is the 30A male to 50A female adapter which might be rated for only 30A.

Rob

[Cate&Rob]

Hi Rob - I also am considering getting 2 Champion 3400 Inverters that only offer a parallel kit with 120V 50A. I was worried about this not supporting both A/C's for my 2019 Reflection, but I find that your answers are always clear and accurate. Would you mind telling me how you found out that information, as I was not able to find it anywhere?

Hi Gary and Judy,

This is about understanding how the electricity is generated and making sure that the wires carrying this current are properly sized and properly fused. Running the two generators together must have a connection cable that comes to a unique 50A 120V female outlet. You will need to find (or make) an adapter that connects to your 50A RV male plug so that this power can be delivered to both sides of the RV electrical supply. This would be similar to the more common 30A male to 50A female RV adapter, but with heavier wire to accommodate up to 50A.

As to how I know these things . . . I can’t really point you to a single source. I have spent over 50 years messing about with boats (including their 120V generators) and this has required learning the details of the ABYC specs governing boat construction. These regulations are far more detailed and far more carefully inspected than anything in a towable RV . . . but, the systems are very similar. Reading up on the electrical sections of ABYC, particularly the parts about built in generators, would provide more background references.

Rob

[orbsah]

Hi all - I found this thread using the search tool and although good info, it left me with a question (pardon my ignorance!). I'm looking at the Champion 3500 dual fuel generator which has a 30A outlet. I understand I can only run 1 AC at a time, but my question is can I run either one? In other words, with the generator running, can I turn ON the AC in the living area for a while, then turn that OFF and then turn ON the one in the bedroom while not changing any other settings? Thanks!

[jkwilson]

Hi all - I found this thread using the search tool and although good info, it left me with a question (pardon my ignorance!). I'm looking at the Champion 3500 dual fuel generator which has a 30A outlet. I understand I can only run 1 AC at a time, but my question is can I run either one? In other words, with the generator running, can I turn ON the AC in the living area for a while, then turn that OFF and then turn ON the one in the bedroom while not changing any other settings? Thanks!

Assuming you wire it to your 50A plug via a standard 30-50 dog one, you’ll be able to run either AC. The adapter connects both legs of the 50A service to the incoming power.

[Jerryr]

Hi all - I found this thread using the search tool and although good info, it left me with a question (pardon my ignorance!). I'm looking at the Champion 3500 dual fuel generator which has a 30A outlet. I understand I can only run 1 AC at a time, but my question is can I run either one? In other words, with the generator running, can I turn ON the AC in the living area for a while, then turn that OFF and then turn ON the one in the bedroom while not changing any other settings? Thanks!

Yes you can.

[davekatie]

I've been looking for this topic for days!!

I'm doing a solar/inverter install and it has an internal transfer switch. It can do 4800watts continuous.

Also my Imagine 2020 2800BH is pre-wired for 50a.

What I don't understand is when I bring power into the distro panel from the internal transfer switch its only 1 leg of power. How do I get it to power both sides of the pannel? Do I make a jumper where L1 & L2 were? Or does it automatically do this.

The box is WF-8930/50.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Thank you!

[gbkims]

I've been looking for this topic for days!!
I'm doing a solar/inverter install and it has an internal transfer switch. It can do 4800watts continuous.
Also my Imagine 2020 2800BH is pre-wired for 50a.

What I don't understand is when I bring power into the distro panel from the internal transfer switch its only 1 leg of power. How do I get it to power both sides of the panel? Do I make a jumper where L1 & L2 were? Or does it automatically do this.

The box is WF-8930/50.
Any help would be greatly appreciated!!
Thank you!

Sounds like one leg is feeding into the inverter and it then passes via its internal ATS the same leg over to the AC panel.
I think since the inverter only has one leg out, you'll have to add a manual switch or the AM Solar SPS to do what you want.
I guess there's only a couple of inverters that can output both legs of the 50A service over to the panel, one being the Go Power IC2000/IC3000 series.

The All About RV's video shows how a manual transfer switch could do this along with AM Solar's SPS.

Another option that has been mentioned, but I haven't seen in use is a 4 pole heavy duty contactor wired so it would tie L1+L2 together for when on 30A service.
It would require a switch to not tie the legs together when on 30A service only.

All About RVs 50A & 30A - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xKOyRyxdNk
IC2000 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A95JGgQk6aI

[davekatie]

Sounds like one leg is feeding into the inverter and it then passes via its internal ATS the same leg over to the AC panel.
I think since the inverter only has one leg out, you'll have to add a manual switch or the AM Solar SPS to do what you want.
I guess there's only a couple of inverters that can output both legs of the 50A service over to the panel, one being the Go Power IC2000/IC3000 series.

The All About RV's video shows how a manual transfer switch could do this along with AM Solar's SPS.

Another option that has been mentioned, but I haven't seen in use is a 4 pole heavy duty contactor wired so it would tie L1+L2 together for when on 30A service.
It would require a switch to not tie the legs together when on 30A service only.

All About RVs 50A & 30A - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xKOyRyxdNk
IC2000 - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A95JGgQk6aI

The specific model is a LV2424.
http://www.mppsolar.com/manual/SPLIT...l-20190717.pdf
Here is the image of how this unit handles power.



I'm trying to tie that into: