Testing shore power

[nbka1bm]

I have a 66 GT and was wondering if I can simply plug it into my garage to make sure everything is working ok. My garage is on a 20 amp breaker and the book or the AS said it has a 30 amp shore power. Can I just hook it up and see or will I blow a breaker.

[CanoeStream]

You'll be fine. The largest load is always the air conditioner -- you'd need a dedicated 30A outlet for that. Use a 30A-15A adapter for the shore power line. Just don't run the A/C.

[azflycaster]

You can test everything exept the Air Conditioning. Get a 30 amp to 15 amp adapter for the plug and you are set.

[CanoeStream]

Richard, my kids would always say "Jinx, you owe me a pop!" when two people said the same thing at the same time. [pop = soda. so that both "civilized halves of the world unnastan' here]

[nbka1bm]

Now I notice my cord is not long enough to reach can you hook a drop cord w/o any problems

[richinny]

you need a cord rated for the load and distance. too light a wire size can do damage.

[lewster]

Originally Posted by nbka1bm

Now I notice my cord is not long enough to reach can you hook a drop cord w/o any problems

12AWG minimum and preferrably, 10AWG for over 30 feet.

[Smokin Camel]

When I first got my tradewind (72), it had a 30 amp plug and a single 20 amp circuit. I did test run the Air Conditioner on a garage 20 amp circuit when I bought the unit and it seemed to run fine. The same unit seems touchy on an industrial type (generac 5500) generator.

I later separated out the charger and the rear outlets into a second 20 amp circuit. I have only run the Air Conditioner for a short while twice each of the last two summers, just to turn it over more than to cool down.

My question is...do some of the older models run safely on 20 amps? I really do not feel like crawling up there to replace a starter capacitor (and what ever else would fry!).

The original manual came with the trailer and indicates only a 20 amp circuit.

[thecatsandi]

Originally Posted by nbka1bm

Now I notice my cord is not long enough to reach can you hook a drop cord w/o any problems

That would be a problem. A better solution would be to get a 30 RV extension cord. Wal-Mart cheap and everywhere.
Otherwise the voltage drop will be too high and the smallest cord will heat up.

[Lumatic]

My experience is you can run the fan on the AC on 20 amps. If you run the cooling cycle it may even seem to run OK but you can damage the AC, or so I have been told. I have pretty regularly run lights, charged the battery and run the fridge (not at the same time) with a 100' extension cord typical of hardware store gauge, not a RV 30amp, with absolutely no problems

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Hi, I have had several different portable and window airconditioners [not at the same time] in my house plugged into my 20 amp wall sockets with no problems; So why can't I run my Airstream airconditioner off of my 20 amp house circuits? [I have already done this] What is going to get damaged and why? I just read that a 15,000 BTU A/C is rated at 15.4 amps and my unit is a 11,000 BTU unit. Note: I use the 30 amp cord with a 15/20 amp adapter; No extention cords. Has anyone out there burned up their RV airconditioner because it was plugged into their house receptical?

[azflycaster]

One of the issues in my opinion is the adapter. I have seen plenty of 15 amp adapters, but never a 20 amp adapter. You also need to consider that when you plug in you will also be putting a few amps into your power converter plus what ever you pull with the air conditioner. The numbers for me were just too close for comfort. I have a 30 amp RV plug wired at my power panel. Plenty of power, no adapter and no worries.

[LHall]

Originally Posted by ROBERTSUNRUS

Hi, I have had several different portable and window airconditioners [not at the same time] in my house plugged into my 20 amp wall sockets with no problems; So why can't I run my Airstream airconditioner off of my 20 amp house circuits? [I have already done this] What is going to get damaged and why? I just read that a 15,000 BTU A/C is rated at 15.4 amps and my unit is a 11,000 BTU unit. Note: I use the 30 amp cord with a 15/20 amp adapter; No extention cords. Has anyone out there burned up their RV airconditioner because it was plugged into their house receptical?

My fairly new Carrier AirV is toast because of two situations in my opinion. The first is that my trailer had a short in the main power cord causing a hot skin on the trailer. The short was in the umbilical cable and the main power box on the trailer. The wiring was shot and the insulation was riddled with cracks causing a voltage leak to the skin of the trailer. Secondlly I had my rig plugged into the house on a 20 amp circuit with a long extension cord. I believe that due to both issues, I fried the AC unit. I have since installed a 30amp dedicated circuit on the house and am awaiting the arrival of my new Carrier Low Profile AC unit. I learned an expensive lesson.

[jkcru]

Don't confuse running amperage with starting amps which can be 50% higher

[crowldawg]

I've had my '66 G T plug into the garage since I aquired it in sept. 20 amp breaker .I even used the ac onc or twice in sept,I have a 10 ga extention cord

[ve3czn]

With the air on you will be stressing the circuit to it's possible limit. Play on the safe side and you will not regret it. How often I have seen and heard of "Well I or he did it and got away with it. so you go for the cheap , and risk the loss of the unit and possible fire.
Maybe you have an extra AC unit or the money to experiment.

As the load increases , so does the heat and deterioration.

Rae