Plugged in at Home - able to run AC?

[Texscapees]

Hi, all - this is my first post! I know Brad loves this forum, and I certainly have been learning a lot from it as well. We made our first trip to Camping World today, and it was exciting, but also overwhelming - we have so much to learn!

Anyway, I think I understand from another thread that our 19' Escape will come with a 30/50 amp power cable as well as a connector to use with 10/15 amp power (standard 3-prong plugs we all use at home). So we should be able to plug in when we take the trailer to my mother's house, but will we be able to run the AC unit? AC is a must in Houston!

I found the link to the Carrier 13,500 BTU AC unit in another thread, and I've seen that the running load is 13.6 amps, but Carrier's web site appears to be down tonight, so I can't get to the page with the full specs to get the start-up draw. But I can see from the breaker box in our house that we have a variety of circuits, and it looks like our outside plugs (if we marked it correctly) are on a 20 amp breaker, so if the same is true at my mom's house perhaps we would be able to run lights as well as AC?

Any thoughts or tips? Many thanks!

Shay

[escape artist]

Hi: Texscapes... I'm no judge of electrickery... but a few lights& A/C on low should be ok!!! Use an extra heavy duty ext. cord of short length, and check it frequently for heat!!! Don't try the coffee maker/micro./or any other small appl.while the A/C is running. You could be in for a shock . Alf
escape artist N.S. of Lake Erie

[Hokie Escape]

Heh Tex, welcome. Alf is correct, use a heavy duty extension cord and don't run any real juice eaters (hair dryer, micro) when the AC is running or you'll flip the breaker for sure. If you need to use one of those, just turn off the AC for a few minutes while you use them. But, doing that, a 20Amp line will be fine. We keep our 5.0 hooked up all the time at home, with the AC on low to keep the humidity down. You'll love your 19'

[Bruce Wray]

At home, our stock 19' cord reaches a dedicated 20A circuit I installed. The best price I've found for a 30A extension (25') is $42 at Walmart. If you go with a 15A cord, make sure the wire is 12/3 -- 14/3 is pretty wimpy. I wouldn't go over 25" in length. You also should pick a plug that isn't in a circuit with big-draw items in the house where you're plugging in. What little I know about electricity points me in the direction of always erring on the side of caution.

Bruce

[Jim Bennett]

Like Bruce says, use as short as possible extension cord, and at least #12 AWG (which is 20A rated) and you should be ok. A 20A circuit would be great if you can swing it. I have one real handy, but seeing I don't have A/C, I only use a 15A circuit.