Running two A/C's on 30Amps?

[The Gritz Carlton]

I think it's great install, Jamie. For us who carry the portables around, this install will allow one A/C in the event of a power outage at a CG or anywhere else you find yourself on the hottest days of summer. Once the A/C gets going, turn the thermostat down low enough it doesn't cycle off...eliminating any surge issues.

[Chance]

Just noticed that Thor is offering two 11,000 BTU/hr A/Cs in place of a single 15,000 on some Quantum floorplans, while maintaining the 30 Amp service and 4,000-Watt Onan.

This design trend is becoming a bit more popular in midsize RVs; as it should be because it makes a lot of technical sense. It will be interesting to see if owners find any significant downsides that we haven’t thought of yet.

[Beau388]

With the Firefly system, operating two 11,000 btu A/Cs should not be a problem as the system will shed the loads as required.

[Chance]

I wasn’t thinking so much about whether electrical controls will work — that part is simple enough regardless of how it’s done. I’m more curious about whether owners will remain happy campers when one of their two 11,000 BTU/hr A/Cs shuts off while the microwave is on, or hair dryer is used for about 5 minutes, etc.

I believe and expect that the system should work great since each A/C only draws about 9.5 ~ 10 Amps, leaving plenty for other uses except large items like microwave, hair dryer, coffee maker, etc. And these should all be fairly short duration events, so RV shouldn’t get too warm over a ~ 5 minute period when only one A/C is operating.

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by Chance

I wasn’t thinking so much about whether electrical controls will work — that part is simple enough regardless of how it’s done. I’m more curious about whether owners will remain happy campers when one of their two 11,000 BTU/hr A/Cs shuts off while the microwave is on, or hair dryer is used for about 5 minutes, etc.

I believe and expect that the system should work great since each A/C only draws about 9.5 ~ 10 Amps, leaving plenty for other uses except large items like microwave, hair dryer, coffee maker, etc. And these should all be fairly short duration events, so RV shouldn’t get too warm over a ~ 5 minute period when only one A/C is operating.

In many cases, however, the microwave/convection oven is the only one in the coach. Thus it is possible that someone bakes something in it for 30+ minutes (not sure I would want to do that when its that hot outside but there are people LOL).

[The Gritz Carlton]

Originally Posted by JamieGeek

In many cases, however, the microwave/convection oven is the only one in the coach. Thus it is possible that someone bakes something in it for 30+ minutes (not sure I would want to do that when its that hot outside but there are people LOL).

Yep...interfering with the A/C's on a 100 degree day is worse than farting in church during prayer...on the front row!

[Chance]

Originally Posted by JamieGeek

In many cases, however, the microwave/convection oven is the only one in the coach. Thus it is possible that someone bakes something in it for 30+ minutes (not sure I would want to do that when its that hot outside but there are people LOL).

Yeah, great example. That’s exactly the kind of event I was thinking that “could” happen that would leave an unsuspecting owner disappointed. For us it wouldn’t be an issue we couldn’t schedule around (wouldn’t use oven in middle of day when it’s hottest outside), so I’d prefer 2 X 11,000s versus 1 X 15,000 anyway. We never use microwave for more than a few minutes at a time, and when we had gas oven, I think we used it only once to bake turnovers. Today, my wife wouldn’t think of eating turnovers or pies, or anything that unhealthy.