AC on 20amp Site...

[Rauch0812]

On our next camping trip we've planned a white water rafting expedition (yeah, can't wait!).  My only concern is the campsite we were able to book only has 20 amp sites.  We have 2 small dogs that will be in the camper during our 4 hour rafting trip, so if temperatures are supposed to get hot, it will be necessary for them to have AC.  No, my pups are not over the top spoiled - it can very hot in camper in 80+ degrees - and I would not want to create a dangerous situation for them.  Anyway... does anybody know if I can run an AC on a 20 amp site if I turn off everything else in the camper?

Des
'00 Coachman 1280ST

[wavery]

No problem....:sombraro:...your PU is probably set up with a 20A circuit breaker for the AC anyway....

The only issue that you may have is the connector. You may have to find a 30A to 20A adapter. You can probably get away with a 30A to 15A adapter though.

[Rauch0812]

That's a relief, it's been the only thing making me consider not going.  Now, I have a 30amp to 15amp for when I plug into my house.  I actually thought that was the same as a 30amp to 20amp.  Should I get one of those to be safe or am I good?

[wavery]

That's a relief, it's been the only thing making me consider not going.  Now, I have a 30amp to 15amp for when I plug into my house.  I actually thought that was the same as a 30amp to 20amp.  Should I get one of those to be safe or am I good?

If you can find a 30A to 20A...get it....in [COLOR="Red"]MOST[/COLOR] cases, a 15 plug will work in a 20A outlet. You just can't plug a 20A plug into a 15A outlet.

[He Ruide]

Des,

You will be OK with your 15 male to 30 female adapter. One side of the 20 amp outlet will be "T" shaped but your 15 amp plug will fit right in.

Hope this helps.

Ruide

[Tim5055]

Now, for me to feel safe I would do the following for the 4 hour trip away...

Bring a heavy duty extension cord and run it under the tent side.  Plug the AC into this and plug this into the site 20a receptacle.

It would be my luck that at the exact moment the AC compressor was starting the charger in the converter would switch on and some other small load would push it just over the top to trip the site breaker.  I would rather be safe when I was away that long in the heat.

[wavery]

Bring a heavy duty extension cord and run it under the tent side.  Plug the AC into this and plug this into the site 20a receptacle.

The only problem with that is, the 20A plug on the AC won't plug into the 15A outlet on the extension cord.

I actually changed the plug on my AC and installed a HD 15A plug on it so that I could plug the AC unit directly into my generator.

[Rauch0812]

So when you guys says something else may kick on... if I turn everything else off, the converter & the LP detector should be the only things on right?  Oh, and the fridge - should I just keep that off?  I didn't even know the AC had a cord, where would that be?  And I'm gathering it wouldn't work anyway because I don't have a 20 amp extension cord?
Des

[He Ruide]

Tim raises a good point. You could, as Wavery did, replace the 20 amp plug on the AC cord with a 15 one and plug that into a extension cord.

Alternatively, you could disconnect the battery or turn it off if if you have a battery cut off switch.  That way there would not be any drain from the converter trying to charge the battery.  This would allow you to use you PUP cord and the 30 to 15 amp adapter.

I don't know if you can check and see if the CG post will have two 20 amp breakers.  If so then you could have the converter on circuit and the AC on the other.

If you use an separate extension cord please make sure that you have a 20 amp cord.  

Most likely you will find the AC cord rolled up some where on the roof.  Just follow the cord from the AC probably through the roof brace.

Regarding the fridge just switch it to propane while you are gone.  

Hope this helps.

Ruide

[coach]

I think you'll be safer using the PU 30A cord versus heavy duty extension cord.

Hook up just like you do at home.
Leave the hair dryer at home and don't use the coffee maker and the AC at the same time.
Fridge on LPG.

[wavery]

I think you'll be safer using the PU 30A cord versus heavy duty extension cord.

Hook up just like you do at home.
Leave the hair dryer at home and don't use the coffee maker and the AC at the same time.
Fridge on LPG.

I 2nd this motion.......:sombraro:

Your main concern seems to be that the AC will operate while you are not there......I don't think that the dogs will be turning things on so you should be OK.......

If, for some reason, you decide to use an extension cord, be sure that the cord is stamped "12G" and is a max of 25' long. Don't think that these orange "HD" extension cords that you get from the hardware store will do the job. Most of those are 16G and not up to the task. The plug could melt off and the cord would be useless. a 14G x 25' would be better but a 12G x 25' would be better yet. Your 30A cord on the PU would be best IMO.

[cjpoppin]

May I add one more thing being a dog person myself.....Will there be anyone else in camp?  Just in case the power fails to check up on your dogs?  I have had this happen to us thank goodness we were in camp so our dog didn't get over heated.....(this happened when we had our pop-up)  Four hours is a long time.......

[He Ruide]

I agree the PUP cord would be better although a 20 amp rated cord should be OK.  Since I always suggest that one should carry an extra 30 amp cord for those instances when the PUP cord is not long enough, this may be the time to invest in a 30 AMP cord.  They are available at Wal-Mart or RV dealers.

Ruide

[tlhdoc]

May I add one more thing being a dog person myself.....Will there be anyone else in camp?  Just in case the power fails to check up on your dogs?  I have had this happen to us thank goodness we were in camp so our dog didn't get over heated.....(this happened when we had our pop-up)  Four hours is a long time.......

At every campground I have ever been to, you are not allowed to leave pets alone on your site.  If people follow the rules there won't be any problems with the pets.

I have a HD home made 20 amp extension cord.  I use it inside the camper so that I can have the table folded down (20 amp outlet is in the dinette seat) and still have the AC plugged in, and be able to unplug it.  I can also use my home made cord to plug the camper into the power box, if it isn't too far from the camper.