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Previously posted (incorrectly) to the technology forum - many apologies!!
Hello folks and thank you so much in advance for any advice you can offer!
We've been full-timing for a little over a month now, in a Winnebago Sightseer. This is our very first RV experience and, so far, we'd only been staying at 50 Amp sites. Now we've checked into a new RV park and I thought I'd save us some money by choosing a 30 Amp site. We pulled in a couple days ago and noticed right away that the 'Powerline Energy Management System' showed that we had 30 Amp service, and displayed the number of Amps we were using at any given time. Today however, I noticed that the display now indicates 50 Amp. What's up with that? We consulted with the RV park owner who confirmed (of course) that we were on a 30 Amp hookup - which we knew to be true because we were using the 30 Amp plug, and the breaker switch is listed as 30 Amps.
So how come our power management system thinks we're at 50 Amps? And are we endangering the power system?
Thank you so much for any advice! I looked through the forums but didn't see another topic that addressed this.
Melnal (so incredibly new to RV'ing that we are more than likely to ask stupid questions )
-- Edited by Melnal on Monday 25th of May 2015 05:09:50 PM
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Mel (the Mel in Melnal, and author of http://wheresphoebe.com)
First, you’re fine and nothing is going to go bad because the 30 amp breaker at the post protects the rig.
When you use a 30 to 50 amp adapter, which you must be to make the connection, the adapter “puts” voltage on both the legs going into the rig.So the power management system “thinks” you are on a 50 amp circuit if it was probably set before to 50 amps.
Depending on the brand / model of the power management system it may be necessary to manually select a 30 amp setting.Just depends on the model / brand.The important thing to remember is you only have 30 amps – so two air conditioners – for one example, are probably a “no no.”Possibly the hot water heater needs to be on gas if running an air-conditioner.There is not hard and fast rule because it depends on a number of things as to actually how much power can be pulled from a 30 amp breaker.
Also remember, a 50 amp service is actually TWO 50 amp legs.A 30 amp service is ONE 30 amp leg.That’s why a 30 amp site is less expensive.Less actual power is available – actually 70 amps less.
THANK YOU! So happy to know that we don't have to worry the whole RV will explode! This morning it was magically showing 30 Amp service again. Since we don't have to run any AC's for now, I guess we'll figure out that max 30Amp load at a different RV park ;)
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Mel (the Mel in Melnal, and author of http://wheresphoebe.com)
With our Winnebago unit I manually select 30Amp or 50AMP depending on which supply I have. Check your instructions for your Powerline
Energy Manager to ensure that you don't need to reset you supply AMPS as needed.
Regarding two ACs and 30 amps. Winnebago's usually have an EMS (energy management system) that will allow you to use both ACs while connected to 30 amps. It is usually uses the same display that shows the 50/30 amps. My 2004 Sightseer has one.
30 amps is enough to run both ACs but not enough for both to start at exactly the same time. The EMS delays the rear AC for 30 seconds or so if both try to start at the same time. If both are running and you try to run a high current appliance like a microwave it will start shedding loads - on mine the rear AC compressor then the fan then the refrigerator.
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Clay (WA5NMR), Lee (wife), Katie, Kelli (cats) Full timed for eleven years in a 2004 Sightseer 35N. Snowbirds for one winter and now settled down in CO.
Lindy, we have an EMS, but it just displays the connection info and we can't modify anything. It does show that both AC's are available with 30 Amps, so I guess that supports what the next poster said about staggering the startup. Thanks for the info all!
Mel (of Melnal and http://wheresphoebe.com)
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Mel (the Mel in Melnal, and author of http://wheresphoebe.com)
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