Hi -- I'm new, though I've been lurking for a little while.

I picked up a new trailer last Friday - it is used Jamco 3HSSLGN, but it is new to me!

It already has a ceiling a/c-heat unit in the dressing room and I would like to add some wall plugs as well.  There isn't anyone in town that does conversion work, so I have an appointment to take it to the local RV place to have it done next week. 

I stayed in a friend's trailer that was set up with three plugs (ran microwave, mini fridge, cell phone charger, printer) and the a/c, all on a "regular" plug.  Getting to stay in my trailer is going to be totally new to me, but I'm very excited to be able to camp in it, even if it is going to be very primitive!

The RV place has told me over the phone that to run anything in addition to the a/c, I'm going to have to have a 30 amp plug and I don't want to do this.  I'd rather keep it on a "regular" household type plug to run the outlets and the a/c.

Any advice or thoughts?  What else do I need to know?  I don't let Mr. Bensmom do electricity anymore as he seems to always blow something up, so I will have to hire it done. :)

Thanks!

Yup, on the outside.  Many of the places that I'll go won't have anything other than "regular" 110v plugs to plug into, so if there is something that I should know or a way that I can explain to them that I *really* want them to set it up that way.

I know that in the one I stayed in last week, all that stuff could run on a 110v cord without blowing any breakers, so there has to be a way to do this!

Thanks!

Libby

Thanks so much for your help!

I know I am a real idiot when it comes to this stuff, so I apologize in advance for stupid questions!  But, I understand about a breaker box and can see why that would really help, but will the 30 to 15 amp adaptor make it to where I can plug it in to a "normal" outlet?  And, if so, why will that work and not fry things?  Is it because then a fuse will trip at the breaker box before it fries stuff?

I feel so utterly clueless when I've wandered into something I know nothing about!  I've had two people tell me that the 110v plug will be fine as long as the cord running from the tack room is heavy duty enough, but I want to make sure and do the right thing, rather than blowing stuff up.

Thanks!

Hi... Welcome to the forum.

All your stuff operates on 120 Volts.  That's the voltage an ordinary plug provides.  Think of voltage like water pressure.  Then you also need gallons.   That's Amps.  The issue is the ordinary plug can only handle 15 or 20 amps max at 120 volts.  The a/c unit will need most of that 15 or 16 amps.  So one ordinary plug will only run the a/c unit.  To stay with ordinary plugs, you'll need another cord & plug for the other appliances. (that's what I did)  I have two circuits in my trailer, fed from separate cords.  The camp sites I stay at have multiple circuits available. 

Ask your installer to provide two circuits with two inlets.  They should tie only the grounds together.  The neutrals should be isolated. 

Mr. Truck.com has an excellent article (I'm a little biased) on horse trailer wiring and GFCI's 

link here >>>  http://www.mrtruck.net/

Mr. Truck.com has an excellent article (I'm a little biased) on horse trailer wiring and GFCI's 

Where is it on his website?

Under the heading of "Horse trailer and RV Reviews"

Thank you guys so much for the help!  I ended up with a 30 amp plug, a breaker box with a sep. circuit for the a/c and three outlets, with the one closest to the box being a GFI outlet.

I ran it all weekend on a converter and was fine -- it is nice though, to know that at a place with "real" hookups that I'll be able to plug right in and not overstress it.

Unfortunately, the put the plugs in all the wrong places <sigh> but at least it got done!

Now to keep adding stuff!