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05-02-2014, 05:43 PM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Northern, Maryland
Trailer: 2014 E21
Posts: 273
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What size circuit at home for the Escape?
Assuming I'd want to draw juice from the house to the Escape for both refrigerator and A/C at the same time while preparing for a trip on a hot Maryland summer day (my guess at a maximum draw), what size circuit should I install -- 30A? Or would a 20A suffice? I have only 15A lines, so I assume I need to run a new line anyway. So is there any reason not to go for the 30A circuit, assuming I've got enough reserve on the house panel? Are these the right questions? Thanks.
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Vella, Glenn, and Abigail
Escape 21
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05-02-2014, 05:57 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Central, Pennsylvania
Trailer: Escape#5 2022 E19
Posts: 26,268
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I'm on a 15 amp garage circuit at home, it will keep the refer and converter going. I have run the a/c also for a short time, if need be I'd turn off the converter and just let the solar keep the battery charged and operate the a/c. Using the 30 amp wire at home is bulky and awkward, using a 15 amp extension cord is easy. If you will not operate all 3 simultaneously then go with a 20 amp, but if you are going to use it as a guest cottage, go with the 30 amp, your choice your $$$.
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Jim
Sometime life gets in the way of living.......
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05-02-2014, 06:41 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: N/A, Indiana
Trailer: Escape
Posts: 976
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Follow Doug's advise if you plan to use your AC. Low wattage will damage the AC compressor. The cost of the 30amp installation is not that much more if you are adding a circuit.
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"Never argue with an idiot. They only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience." George Carlin
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05-02-2014, 08:49 PM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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The 30-amp cable is awkward, but if you need 20-amp capacity, what would you use for an extension cord instead? Ordinary cords are only good for 15 amps, and a special 20-amp cord seems like more of a hassle than just using that big ugly 30-amp that you already have.
If you're using the 30-amp cord anyway, and running a special circuit in the house anyway, I can't see the logic in making it only a 20-amp circuit and using an adapter between the trailer plug and the outlet.
Personally, I have a larger RV as well as the small trailer, and since my garage had a 50-amp 240-volt circuit anyway, I changed over the outlet to the normal 50-amp style as used by RVs, and plug into that. For a trailer that just needs to run small stuff, I use a regular 15-amp outlet and cord, plus an adapter. There's no point in 50A/240V for the Escape, of course.
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05-02-2014, 11:58 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Olympia wa, Washington
Trailer: 5.0TA 2017
Posts: 2,255
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Ok you all lost me! can't you just run an extension cord from the house? is the problem that all those appliances would be too much ? So just the heat would be ok or just the refrigerator ? I'm just a little stupid about electricity.
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05-03-2014, 12:35 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: palo alto, California
Trailer: 2013 Escape 21 Classic #7
Posts: 314
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Hi fox hunt,
Yes you can run an extension cord from the house ... But if you plan to run the A/C I. The escape you will run the chance to trip the circuit breaker.
I speak from experience, I was testing the AC unit and it tripped the breaker
__________________
7-7-7 Our Marriage
2013 Escape 21 Classic
2014 Sequoia
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05-03-2014, 01:09 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox hunt
Ok you all lost me! can't you just run an extension cord from the house.
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Yes, as long as no more than 15 amps is needed... or less if other stuff in the house is on the same circuit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox hunt
is the problem that all those appliances would be too much ? So just the heat would be ok or just the refrigerator ?
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Yes, exactly, which is why the suggestions to just use an ordinary cord to a regular outlet, but only if the air conditioner (or a portable heater on high setting) is not used.
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05-03-2014, 05:33 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Northern, Maryland
Trailer: 2014 E21
Posts: 273
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Thanks everyone. 30A it is. And extra thanks to you, Jamman, for the attachments.
__________________
Vella, Glenn, and Abigail
Escape 21
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05-03-2014, 07:19 AM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: St. Thomas not BVI., Ontario
Trailer: 2014 Escape 5.0TA / 2016 Ram Eco Diesel 4X4
Posts: 8,038
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Quote:
Originally Posted by abby
Thanks everyone. 30A it is. And extra thanks to you, Jamman, for the attachments.
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Hi: abby... If anyone can blow a fuse it's ME!!! We use the 30 amp cable from the trailer and a step down connector for the receptacle in the garage.
I'm going to have our fuse panel changed out for a larger breaker panel with some extra spaces like one dedicated 30 amp for the trailer. This will be mega $$$$'s as the house has "Aluminium Wire" Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
__________________
Quote Bugs Bunny..."Don't take life too seriously, none of us get out of it ALIVE"!!!
'16 Ram Eco D. 4X4 Laramie Longhorn CC & '14 Escape 5.0TA
St.Thomas (Not the Virgin Islands) Ontario
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05-03-2014, 08:06 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Phoenix Metro Area, Arizona
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 767
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fox hunt
Ok you all lost me! can't you just run an extension cord from the house? is the problem that all those appliances would be too much ? So just the heat would be ok or just the refrigerator ? I'm just a little stupid about electricity.
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See this for a decent introduction to RV power.
RV Electrical Systems
Especially the section titled "Figuring AC Electrical Requirements" for some real world numbers - and the ETI installed Dometic microwave DOES draw 1000 Watts. If you have the ETI installed surge/power protection/monitor you can see the number of amps being used on the display.
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05-03-2014, 08:40 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamman
the ETI installed Dometic microwave DOES draw 1000 Watts
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Only 1000 watts? That's quite low. Is the electrical rating 1000 watts (corresponding to pehaps 800 W of electricity), or is the micrwave power 1000 watts, with a resulting larger value for electrical demand?
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05-03-2014, 10:56 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Phoenix Metro Area, Arizona
Trailer: 2014 Escape 19
Posts: 767
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P
Only 1000 watts? That's quite low. Is the electrical rating 1000 watts (corresponding to pehaps 800 W of electricity), or is the micrwave power 1000 watts, with a resulting larger value for electrical demand?
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It draws 8.3 amps per the spec sheet and has 700 watts microwave power.
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05-03-2014, 11:45 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: Edmonton, Alberta
Trailer: 1979 Boler B1700
Posts: 14,935
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Brian B-P
Only 1000 watts? That's quite low. Is the electrical rating 1000 watts (corresponding to pehaps 800 W of electricity), or is the micrwave power 1000 watts, with a resulting larger value for electrical demand?
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I was obviously not proof-reading very well when I typed that!
Trying again: Only 1000 watts? That's quite low. Is the electrical rating 1000 watts (corresponding to perhaps 800 W of microwaves), or is the microwave power 1000 watts, with a resulting larger value for electrical demand?
Quote:
Originally Posted by jamman
It draws 8.3 amps per the spec sheet and has 700 watts microwave power.
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So it is a low-power model - thanks!
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05-03-2014, 02:51 PM
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#15
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Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Northern, Maryland
Trailer: 2014 E21
Posts: 273
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Quote:
Originally Posted by escape artist
Hi: abby... If anyone can blow a fuse it's ME!!! We use the 30 amp cable from the trailer and a step down connector for the receptacle in the garage.
I'm going to have our fuse panel changed out for a larger breaker panel with some extra spaces like one dedicated 30 amp for the trailer. This will be mega $$$$'s as the house has "Aluminium Wire" Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie
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Bummer Alf. Luckily we have copper and enough room on the house panel to use two slots if need be for the 30A circuit. And with Jamman's attachments, I think I will be able to talk intelligently with my electrician (well faking it is more like it). Only down side is that it'll be over 75 feet from panel to outlet. I'm wondering if I'll need a thicker gauge wire than normal. Then another 40ft to the trailer. Good luck with your wiring job.
Glenn
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Vella, Glenn, and Abigail
Escape 21
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