Electrical Question in Campgrounds |
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Outbound
podders Helping podders - pHp Joined: 19 Nov 2009 Location: Oshawa, Ontario Online Status: Offline Posts: 767 |
Topic: Electrical Question in Campgrounds Posted: 13 Jun 2013 at 6:22pm |
As everyone else has answered the amperage question, I thought that I'd mention that the air conditioner pulls just under 12 amps running and the startup surge isn't that outrageous that it'll trip a 15 amp breaker. As long as the campground is delivering (at least) 110 volts, you can run the A/C using a 15-30 adapter. Note: that doesn't leave many amps for other loads, so if you're doing this, run the water heater on propane and don't run the micro/convection, coffee pot or hair dryer (or any other significant draws) while the A/C is turned on.
Oh, one more thing: here in Ontario in the provincial parks, a 60 or 70 foot run to the power post is common, so most of us carry at least 50' of 30 amp extension cord. |
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Craig :: 2009 RP171 towed by a 2017 F150
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TRICERA-POD
Groupie Joined: 23 May 2013 Location: VA Bch, VA Online Status: Offline Posts: 75 |
Posted: 13 Jun 2013 at 7:33pm |
Thank you all for the great information. We will use the A/C only at night when we are sleeping and cook with LP on the stove. If using the microwave/convection oven we will do so but not run the A/C at the same time.
We tend to spend most of our time outside digging for rocks, minerals, gems and/or visiting National Parks. Tricera-pod is just a place to lay our head down at night or a quick meal. This is how we have done things in the past when tent camping. |
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Carl & Sandee 2013 R 177 2012 Titan
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hogone
Senior Member Joined: 09 Apr 2013 Location: St. Louis Online Status: Offline Posts: 1049 |
Posted: 16 Jun 2013 at 9:23pm |
Very good info throughout this post. Just want to confirm that plugging into a 50 amp outlet with the 30 amp adapter is 100% safe for the pod.
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Jon & Pam
2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
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CharlieM
Senior Member Joined: 23 Nov 2012 Location: N. Colorado Online Status: Offline Posts: 1797 |
Posted: 16 Jun 2013 at 9:58pm |
With the proper commercial "dog bone" adapter (with the molded connectors) it is safe for you and the pod. These adapters are available at camping stores. One end will only fit the 50A socket on the power box. The other end will fit the 30A plug from your Pod. No home brew adapters unless you REALLY know what you're doing. |
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Charlie
Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
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rpodcamper.com
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 26 Nov 2009 Location: Reading, Pa Online Status: Offline Posts: 3990 |
Posted: 17 Jun 2013 at 3:23pm |
I have a 50 amp pigtail i carry all the time and when I do use electric I will use the 50 amp circa as I have found them to be cleaner. |
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hogone
Senior Member Joined: 09 Apr 2013 Location: St. Louis Online Status: Offline Posts: 1049 |
Posted: 17 Jun 2013 at 4:39pm |
I'm ordering one as we speak as well as an extra 25 foot cord just in case. Thanks for the info. jpp
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Jon & Pam
2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
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techntrek
Admin Group - pHp Joined: 29 Jul 2009 Location: MD Online Status: Offline Posts: 9062 |
Posted: 17 Jun 2013 at 7:34pm |
Almost. The breaker on the pole is really there to protect the wiring between the outlet on the pole and the converter. A 30 amp outlet has a 30 amp circuit breaker, a 50 amp outlet has two 50 amp breakers (one on each 120 volt leg). When you use a dogbone you tap one of those two breakers. Now you have a 50 amp circuit breaker protecting wiring that is designed to only carry 30 amps. If that wiring becomes damaged allowing an arc fault it can start a fire without drawing enough amps to trip the circuit breaker. That said, I have seen higher-quality dogbones which include a 30 amp circuit breaker built-in. |
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Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ Pod instruction manual
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hogone
Senior Member Joined: 09 Apr 2013 Location: St. Louis Online Status: Offline Posts: 1049 |
Posted: 18 Jun 2013 at 6:56am |
so not 100% safe is what I'm gathering, correct?
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Jon & Pam
2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
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Seanl
Senior Member Joined: 19 Sep 2011 Location: Fredericton NB Online Status: Offline Posts: 633 |
Posted: 18 Jun 2013 at 7:10am |
1 am with Techntrek on this. While you do have a 30amp breaker on the trailer that would not protect you from a short in the cord from the post to the trailer. So it is not 100% safe. |
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Sean, 2011 Rpod RP-173,2009 Jeep Liberty Rocky Mountain Edition
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hogone
Senior Member Joined: 09 Apr 2013 Location: St. Louis Online Status: Offline Posts: 1049 |
Posted: 18 Jun 2013 at 7:38am |
Good info. So what do you guys do? Or as techntrek stated, purchase the adapter(dogbone) that has the 30 amp breaker built in?
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Jon & Pam
2013 RP177 2010 F150 2017 HD Streetglide 2009 HD Lowrider CHEESEHEAD |
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