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07-31-2023, 10:45 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2023
Location: Henderson
Posts: 9
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Bullet TT AC trips breaker
Just came back from Curt Gowdy SP camping. Used the 30 amp outlet on pedestal, no issues with AC. I get home, plug into garage outlet with extention cord, trips garage breaker when compressor starts. I've been using this method for years, no issue. Maybe AC unit getting old? Capacitor bad? Thoughts?
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07-31-2023, 11:16 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,357
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Welcome to the forum
If you’re plugged into a 15A outlet along with an extension cord, you’re asking for the results you’re getting. If you’ve been “doing it for years”, I would suspect you have been slowly “killing” your AC.
You may get lucky if you turn EVERYTHING else off and only have the AC breaker on.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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07-31-2023, 11:27 AM
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#3
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2023
Location: Henderson
Posts: 9
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the outlet in garage is 20amp. But, the extension cord is probably 14 gauge, voltage drop?
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07-31-2023, 11:29 AM
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#4
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,357
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Yes, how long is the extension cord?
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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07-31-2023, 11:33 AM
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#5
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2023
Location: Henderson
Posts: 9
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The cord is 50 feet long.
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07-31-2023, 11:36 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,357
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I’m not a licensed electrician but I think that’s a bit undersized for the length.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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07-31-2023, 11:39 AM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Middle of nowhere
Posts: 577
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for a length of 25 - 50 feet, a 14 gauge cord will be great for 14-15 Amps, whereas the 12 gauge will work for 16-20 Amps. For 100 feet, the 14 gauge cord works for 11-13 Amps, while the 12 gauge cord is best suited for 14-15 amps.
__________________
2023 Passport SL 229RK
2023 Ram 2500 6.4L Hemi.
Nebraska
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07-31-2023, 11:42 AM
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#8
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,357
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Max23
for a length of 25 - 50 feet, a 14 gauge cord will be great for 14-15 Amps, whereas the 12 gauge will work for 16-20 Amps. For 100 feet, the 14 gauge cord works for 11-13 Amps, while the 12 gauge cord is best suited for 14-15 amps.
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Depending on what else is on in the trailer, 14ga may be inadequate IMO.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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07-31-2023, 11:43 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Middle of nowhere
Posts: 577
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Agreed, and If it's not a soft start A/C there is already an issue there.
__________________
2023 Passport SL 229RK
2023 Ram 2500 6.4L Hemi.
Nebraska
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07-31-2023, 11:47 AM
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#10
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2023
Location: Henderson
Posts: 9
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Thanks for the great advice. I will buy a 25 foot, 12-gauge cord and make the distance with the trailer umbilical and see what happens.
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07-31-2023, 11:51 AM
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#11
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,357
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I would get the heaviest ga. 25’ cord you can find.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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07-31-2023, 11:53 AM
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#12
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2023
Location: Henderson
Posts: 9
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Will do. I will give an update soon. Thanks again.
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07-31-2023, 11:55 AM
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#13
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,702
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Don't know your situation where it's sitting but a 10ga. would be even better.
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Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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07-31-2023, 11:59 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Mico, TX
Posts: 7,479
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It would make even more sense to put a 30A service near where you park your camper. Hire an electrician and do it right. You won't have to worry about stringing extension cords.
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wiredgeorge Mico TX
2006 F350 CC 4WD 6.0L
2002 Keystone Cougar 278
2006 GL1800 Roadsmith Trike
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07-31-2023, 05:19 PM
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#15
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,998
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jiminhenderson
Thanks for the great advice. I will buy a 25 foot, 12-gauge cord and make the distance with the trailer umbilical and see what happens.
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Keep in mind that the 20 amp outlet in the garage is probably also tied to the garage lights, if you have a freezer in the garage, it may also be on that same circuit, plus, when you plug in the trailer, the converter/charger automatically comes on, the microwave starts "flashing the time", if you have a electric element in your water heater, it will be on (unless you specifically turn it off) plus anything else you have turned on in the trailer AND in the garage that might be on that same circuit will all "add to the potential overload and trip that garage 20 amp breaker" .....
So, if you are trying to run the air conditioner on a 50' extension cord plugged into a garage outlet, do a "quick down and dirty" and check to see what else is "hiding in plain sight drawing amps from that same garage circuit"....
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John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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07-31-2023, 06:09 PM
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#16
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Site Team
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: W. Texas
Posts: 17,702
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A thing I forgot to mention in my previous post; check that 20A outlet and the end of your 14ga. extension cord for signs of overheating. I melted the end of a 12ga. (not 14) 50' extension cord and heat damaged the plug doing exactly what you have been doing.
__________________
Danny and Susan, wife of 56 years
2019 Ram 3500 Laramie CC SWB SB 6.4 4x4 4.10
2020 Montana High Country 331RL
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07-31-2023, 07:28 PM
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#17
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,763
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Prior to installing a 30 Amp dedicated circuit in my garage I never ran my 15k a/c. Only ran the converter and fridge to prevent cool it before a trip.
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Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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08-06-2023, 12:36 PM
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#18
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Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Jacksonville
Posts: 542
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For myself I will carry nothing under 12ga extension cords with my rig. Nothing over 50 feet. Especially when you’re on the amp & voltage supply coming from a 20A garage circuit then voltage drop and amperage draw will be an issue with 14gauge or forbid anything below.
Older AC units draw more amps than newer ones.
Installing an RVSoftStart unit will make a great difference.
I can run a 15K & 13.5K ac on a 30A hookup with them.
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2020 Cougar Half Ton 29RKS Fifth Wheel
2019 F350 4WD Lariat SRW 6.7 Diesel SD
Anderson Ultimate 5th Hitch - JT Strongarm TST509 TPMS- 2200W(8)Solar Panels - 800AH BattleBorn Batteries. 3000W Victron MultiPlus II Inv. SoftStartRV on 2 AC’s - Predator 3500 generator Airlift 5000 bags
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08-07-2023, 05:39 AM
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#19
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jul 2023
Location: Henderson
Posts: 9
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Thanks for the great responses! UPDATE!!! I bought a 25 foot umbilical extension cord. 10 gauge. Used the dog bone to plug into garage outlet. Voila!! no longer tripping the garage circuit breaker.
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