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RV-Dreams.com Home -> RV-Dreams Community Forum -> RV Maintenance and Technical Tips -> How much is too much? (Electrical question)
Post Info TOPIC: How much is too much? (Electrical question)
SplusH


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How much is too much? (Electrical question)
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Hello All~

I have a question. I searched but didn't find quite what I was looking for. We just acquired a 1992 Winnebago Adventurer motor home. I am planning on taking it to an RV dealership the beginning of September to have a full inspection. Until then, everything seems to be working great, and the previous owner said everything worked great last year when her & her husband took it out on their last voyage before he died.

For now, I have it parked in my driveway. I'm working on cleaning it and fixing things up. I have a friend that is coming to spend a week and I was going to have her stay in the RV. 

I have the electrical cord from the RV hooked to an orange heavy duty extension cord and plugged into the outlet in my garage. The outlet is three prong, as is the extension cord. I am running lights, TV, DVD player, computer, water pump and refrigerator on that. It seems to be working fine. The only time the lights dim at all is when I am making coffee in the coffee maker and the water pump kicks on briefly.

Any input would be awesome. I'm such a paranoid and nervous novice.

Thanks,

Stacy



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Lucky Mike


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Stacy.....first off check the markings on the cord if your running 50' of cord make sure the writing on the cord says 10/3 grounded.........if you are running shorter cord it should say 10/3 or 12/3 grounded......if you are plugging into a normal 110 wall outlet you only have 15 amps or roughly 1500 watts

1500 watts equals

coffee maker 1200 to 1500 watts
blow dryer 1200 to 1500 watts
Micro wave...900 to 1250watts

when you take into account that just the fridge and converter/battery charger is pulling 12 amps by themselves you dont have alot left....

most of the 12 volt lighting will not pull the system down but the microwave and coffee is a big draw and the breaker from the garage wall outlet might trip.....(NO A/C operation)


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GENECOP


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Everything sounds fine, a few things might help, get an extension cord that does not have extra length....if the outlet is 20' away, get a 25' cord, heavy duty of coarse. Also look around the garage at a few of the outlets, sometimes you have a dedicated line where a heavy duty tool might have been hooked up, use that plug if it's there.......Also advise your guest to turn things off if not needed.

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SplusH


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What do you normally plug into to use your A/C and other appliances?

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Life is good so think good thoughts because something wonderful is about to happen.

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bjoyce


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30Amp RV service at least to run the A/C. I suspect your motorhome has a 30AMP plug that the electric cord coming out of it hooks to. 30Amp is a bigger round plug with one round prong and two slanted flat prongs. If you are hooked to a normal household plug, there is probably a 15Amp adapter somewhere to get from the 30Amp plug to 15.

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SplusH


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Thank you everyone for their advice. I drove through an RV park today, which I've done many, MANY times, but this time I paid special attention to the electrical hook-ups. I see the difference. Currently, I am about 24 feet from my electrical outlet. I went today and bought a heavy duty contractor extension cord that is 25 feet long. I'm not running the air conditioner, but I have been running the refrigerator. I've had the TV/DVD on a couple times to watch a movie, and have my computer plugged in and running off & on through out the day. I shut it down and unplug it when not in use. I'm going to call around tomorrow to some independent electrical contractors and get some quotes on having a 30 amp outlet installed at my house for the motorhome. All I can say is thank goodness I have two years to figure all this out before we are full timing. There is a lot to know.

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Life is good so think good thoughts because something wonderful is about to happen.

1992 Winnebago Adventurer 32'

 
bjoyce


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Be careful the electrician knows it is a 30Amp 110/120volt instead of a 30Amp 220/240volt that is used by a clothes dryer. Few electricians have dealt with 30Amp 110/120volt RV outlets.  Here is a nice PDF of what is needed - http://www.myrv.us/Imgs/PDF/30-amp%20Service.pdf .



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40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com
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SplusH


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Thank you very much bjoyce :)


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Life is good so think good thoughts because something wonderful is about to happen.

1992 Winnebago Adventurer 32'

 
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