My wife recently purchased a new to her Sooner gooseneck slant load with a dressing room. The previous owner had a rooftop A/C unit installed that pulls almost 20 amps. She wants me to convert the dressing room to living quarters which is no problem for me due to my profession. I've purchased an RV breaker panel and am ready to start wiring the 120v circuits but don't know what amperage service to wire it for. She claims that the campgrounds all use the typical 15-20 plug. This seems like a problem with kicking breakers is likely to be a common problem if wire for this. My thought is it should be wired for a 30 amp service or even better a 50 amp which would allow more items to be operated at the same time.So my question is, how are your trailer living quarters wired? I really don't know what is offered at the campgrounds but I know adapters are cheap for the plug-in cords which would allow use of a 20 amp if that is all that is available.
Posted 2012-01-27 3:40 PM (#140342 - in reply to #140341) Subject: RE: 120 volts ampreage
Elite Veteran
Posts: 801 Location: Tenn/Ala.
You are correct- the trailer industry standard is the 30 amp RV plug. It utilizes 3 conducters, and is the standard in campgrounds also. Yes, she'll want to carry a 30-15 adapter with her to plug in to a regular duplex recep, but that will usually be at home.
The only time we generally see a 50 amp is when there are 2 roof ACs installed.
Posted 2012-01-27 11:18 PM (#140356 - in reply to #140341) Subject: RE: 120 volts ampreage
Expert
Posts: 5870 Location: western PA
Many of the moderate sized trailers have a 30 amp entrance, and most of the camping grounds and shows we frequent, are set up for the 20 amp adapters and service. We have learned not to use more than one heavy drawing appliance at a time, when plugged into these services. If the AC is on, a hair dryer or microwave isn't used until the air is deselected.
Some of the receptacles have breakers at the pole which are easy to reset. Others have to involve the managers and are sometime located in another area. Learning what works in your LQ within the varying sources, will lessen the chances of you being inadvertently without power.
Once our family was able to learn how much power it takes to run the different appliances, and which can work concurrently, things began to run much more smoothly without interruptions. This is best practised at home.
Posted 2012-01-28 9:35 AM (#140360 - in reply to #140341) Subject: RE: 120 volts ampreage
Regular
Posts: 55
Welcome to the forum Shopteach. It would be helpful if you could post pictures as you go as I am converting my 4 1/2' dressing room also. Though I have no skills am taking it slow, getting much appreciated advice and looking at lots of pictures. Thank you.
120 volts ampreage
