Thor Forums

[TurnerFam]

we can run both of our roof 13.5kw units while on 30amp with no issues, but only recognizing that trying to add too much else can trip a breaker, usually the shore breaker since they can tend to be old, weak, and overly sensitive after so much usage by campers plugging and unplugging on an almost daily basis.

but, last year during the heat of the summer, and while on 30amp campground service, we ran both simultaneously, ran several small electric fans around the coach, watched satellite TV, and had the residential fridge on as well. When we wanted to use the microwave, we just cut off the front a/c unit while we needed it. We used the propane for Water Heating, and cut the 'SHORE MAX' setting on the Battery Charger/Inverter down to 5amps, for only a small trickle charge, if anything.

We later went to our local campground, which has much older 30amp receptacles and breakers, and had an issue with tripping it while using both a/c units - I called the manager over, told him the breaker needed to be replaced, and all was back to normal once the new breaker was installed.
He honestly could not believe that I could run both a/c units at the same time on 30amp service, but there they were, both running just fine. Once his jaw came up off the ground, and after working there for many years, he pronounced that I must have some special 'magical' air conditioners since he had always been 'told' that you couldn't do that, and no one should even 'try' since it might 'explode', or something.
What nonsense.

Sometimes we get confused by 'what' we are doing, versus 'what' we CAN do, if we do things correctly and in the right order, as far as electrical usage goes. The 'phantom' electrical draws, such as electrical water heaters, battery chargers, and the like, sometimes get in the way of our understanding of how 'much' we can do when 'only on 30amp service'.... a tripping breaker is not a sign that something is 'wrong', it's a sign that we are trying to use too much for that size wire, that size breaker, for those things we want to power. The tripping breaker is really our sign that we have to rethink what and how we are doing things, especially when doing many things at the same time.

Usually HOT weather, or COLD temperatures, lead to these 'great' learning experiences!