Running the AC at Home June 20, 2022, 07:54:55 pm Can I use the AC unit while plugged into a 20 amp garage outlet and using a 75 ft. 10 gauge extension cord?
Re: Running the AC at Home Reply #1 – June 20, 2022, 08:26:05 pm Greg,I use my rigs power cord and a dog bone to run my AC every once in a while. You can also use your lithium batts and house current to supplement one another.I’m a little fuzzy on setting up the Multi-Color monitor to supplement your batteries with house current but it’s pretty easy to do. 75 feet of 10 guage should be alright I suppose. I’m a little fuzzy on that as well.Kent
Re: Running the AC at Home Reply #2 – June 20, 2022, 09:03:50 pm Thanks, Kent. You may be confusing Nocona with another rig as she has the stock two AGM battery/ one solar panel factory setup. 1 Likes
Re: Running the AC at Home Reply #3 – June 20, 2022, 09:17:24 pm Hi Greg, When we have the rig at home, in the FL heat (So A/C’s getting worked hard), here’s what we do without issue….maybe it’s close enough to answer your question….20A garage outlet —> 25 ft 10 gauge extension cord—> dog bone —> EMS —> Marinco yellow 30A cord (25 ft?) —> rig. Jason
Re: Running the AC at Home Reply #4 – June 20, 2022, 09:21:00 pm 75' #10 might make it but the 20 amp breaker might be suspect. If the A/C were to short cycle you might trip your breaker.Jon
Re: Running the AC at Home Reply #5 – June 20, 2022, 09:23:51 pm "Can I use the AC unit while..."If it doesn't trip the 20amp breaker and gets past the initial surge you should be okay!Worse case you'll have to reset a breaker.
Re: Running the AC at Home Reply #6 – June 21, 2022, 07:12:30 am Quote from: Lazy Bones - June 20, 2022, 09:23:51 pm"Can I use the AC unit while..."If it doesn't trip the 20amp breaker and gets past the initial surge you should be okay!Worse case you'll have to reset a breaker. While hooked up to power via the extension cord, you can run your generator to help get the AC through the initial surge.Or not at Ron corrected :-)
Re: Running the AC at Home Reply #7 – June 21, 2022, 07:43:40 am Hi Dave. Just to be clear here, The rig either runs off of shore power or generator power. The generator takes precedence and disconnects the shore power when the time delay (about 30 seconds to let the engine stabilize) is over. No sharing of load ever! Switching over to line (shore) power shouldn't be done while the air conditioner is running. Not good for the A/C or the switchgear. If Greg tries to run 75 feet of extension cord added to the 25 feet of Marinco cord, then #10 wire may not be good enough, and a low voltage situation may exist at the A/C, and could damage it. If you have a surge protector that checks for low campground line voltage, you should use it. (at the rig entry plug) Greg; you should use #8 cord and have a 30 Amp circuit breaker. I use a 30A breaker intended for an electric clothes dryer, just using HALF at 110VAC, [The socket has 220VAC. A MAJOR FAIL if hooked up to the Rig]. Long term use of near 20 Amps on a 20 Amp circuit breaker such as for an air conditioner, could ruin that breaker after a short while. Where heat is concerned, electrical equipment shouldn't be pushed to the limit. RonB 2 Likes
Re: Running the AC at Home Reply #8 – June 21, 2022, 11:03:05 am Ron,I gather from what you’re saying about the generator taking precedence over a shore power connection then there would be no need to disconnect from a shore connection in order to do the generator’s monthly exercise routine.Therefore running the AC is truly putting the required load on the generator as recommended. Am I correct in this? Kent 1 Likes
Re: Running the AC at Home Reply #9 – June 21, 2022, 02:45:40 pm Hi Kent; Yes you are correct. When the generator is started and the connection delay is up, the generator will connect to the load (motorhome and contents) and if you wished you could disconnect from shore power and drive away. Or when the generator had enough exercise, you could stop it and resume shore power without disconnecting/reconnecting. RonB 2 Likes
Re: Running the AC at Home Reply #10 – June 21, 2022, 04:42:16 pm Greg, Using a 20amp socket for what you are attempting is asking for trouble if your LD AC is running off of 100' (75' extension + 25' coach cable) of #10 wire. You will have a heating problem where the two cable plugs connect and with the wire (probably #12ga.) from the house panel to the 20amp house socket. You should really replace the 20amp single breaker with a 30amp single breaker in the house panel and pull #10ga wire to a new 30amp RV socket from the house panel. Yes it is more work but is better than having a house fire. MC 1 Likes
Re: Running the AC at Home Reply #11 – June 21, 2022, 05:19:44 pm Thanks for everyone's input! Based on what I'm hearing, I'll not try and use the AC while plugged into the house. The reason I was asking is that we are currently using the LD as our guest quarters since my elderly mom came to live with us. If open windows and fans aren't sufficient on a hot day, we can always run the generator if need be. I would like to put in a 30-amp outlet in the future if I can convince the "Boss" that it's a need!
Re: Running the AC at Home Reply #12 – June 21, 2022, 05:27:10 pm Greg, I would still replace the #12ga wire from your home panel to the 20A socket with #10ga. just to still be safe. Then it is 10ga all the way. M
Re: Running the AC at Home Reply #13 – June 21, 2022, 11:23:08 pm Quote from: Mike Coachman - June 21, 2022, 05:27:10 pmGreg, I would still replace the #12ga wire from your home panel to the 20A socket with #10ga. just to still be safe. Then it is 10ga all the way. The 20A breaker will protect the 12 gauge wiring, so no need to change it for safety reasons. I suggest trying out the idea, and if there is too much voltage drop at the 20A socket, that's the time to replace the 12 with 10 gauge.
Re: Running the AC at Home Reply #14 – June 22, 2022, 01:03:30 am I’ve been running a 15,000 BTU A/C on a 15 amp breaker for the last 3 days in Phoenix. I am using a 30 amp cord from the outlet to the RV. Also I have an EasyStart installed on the A/C to lessen the current surge on compressor start. Voltage in the coach is a bit low at 106 volts. It works.After three days in 100F+ heat the socket was scorched but it never gave up. A thirty amp circuit would be a better deal.
Re: Running the AC at Home Reply #15 – June 22, 2022, 09:44:12 am Quote from: hbn7hj - June 22, 2022, 01:03:30 amI’ve been running a 15,000 BTU A/C on a 15 amp breaker for the last 3 days in Phoenix. I am using a 30 amp cord from the outlet to the RV. Also I have an EasyStart installed on the A/C to lessen the current surge on compressor start. Voltage in the coach is a bit low at 106 volts. It works.I’ve read that the industry standard is +/-10% so, for a 120V circuit, anything below 108 volts could be pushing it. Just saying . . . 2 Likes
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