Generally need for full time living

[RWilhoit70]

Really frustrated right now and just getting started in summertime. At a park that is older and we just started having issues with the electrical main at meter tripping. We have the 377FL and 2 15000 ACs running with a couple fans. Windows covered and have a portable AC to help keep cool and it is on its own power outlet. Not sure what would be the best size of generator to get to help with full time living since we work and have pups at home that we worry about. Would love to get an Onan but expensive as wall get out. Leaning more to portable one, need quiet and long running as well as to support the fifth wheel, we try to keep lights off etc to help reduce use. HELP!!!!!

[LHaven]

The Predator line of generators at Harbor Freight have been receiving surprisingly rave reviews from RVers for a fraction of the price of Onans. I own a large one myself to run my home well pump and booster pump for water through extended monsoon outages. I don't believe any of them have "auto-start" capability for coming to life when your shore power fails, but I may be wrong.

[JRTJH]

First, you say that you're plugged into "park power and the circuit breaker at the power pole keeps tripping". Then you say that you're currently running two 15KBTU roof units, a couple of fans and a small portable air conditioner "on its own power outlet"....

You say nothing about the shore power data. Are you plugged into a 50 amp outlet that is properly wired? Are you using a 30 amp outlet with a 50 amp adapter to the trailer shore power cord? Is that "portable air conditioner on its own power outlet" plugged into the same park power pedestal? Have you looked at where circuit breakers for your air conditioners are positioned on your trailer power center distribution?

It's easy to visualize that both your rooftop air conditioner circuit breakers are located on the same leg in your power distribution panel AND that the pedestal 120 volt 20 amp outlet "COULD" be wired to that same leg of power. So if all of your "heavy amp use" is all located on the same leg of park power, you could easily be overloading the park power pedestal circuit breaker causing it to trip....

We'd need a LOT MORE INFORMATION about what you're actually using for a power source, how it is connected to your trailer and how your trailer circuit breakers are configured before being able to make any accurate assessment about how to solve your problem. It may be as easy as moving a circuit breaker in the trailer power distribution panel to the other leg of power (equalize heavy amp use to both legs) and maybe even have the park management/maintenance wire the 120 volt 20 amp outlet to the other leg so your small air conditioner is not on the same leg of park power as the heavy amp appliances....

More information will surely help with understanding what you're facing that's causing the problems..... Buying a generator to supplement power may only move the "pedestal circuit breaker tripping" to the "generator circuit breaker tripping"......

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by RWilhoit70

Really frustrated right now and just getting started in summertime. At a park that is older and we just started having issues with the electrical main at meter tripping. We have the 377FL and 2 15000 ACs running with a couple fans. Windows covered and have a portable AC to help keep cool and it is on its own power outlet. Not sure what would be the best size of generator to get to help with full time living since we work and have pups at home that we worry about. Would love to get an Onan but expensive as wall get out. Leaning more to portable one, need quiet and long running as well as to support the fifth wheel, we try to keep lights off etc to help reduce use. HELP!!!!!

Do you have an EMS? If not I'd urge you to getone ASAP. An EMS is not the same as a surge protector.

Is the portablr ac unit plugged into an outlet inside the camper? If you plug it into the 15/20 amp outlet on the pedestal should remove that load from the 50 amp breaker.

Has anyone checked the voltage at the pedestal and checked the amperage draw of the camper? In low voltage conditions the amps will increase ( ohms law) and an EMS will protect the equipment from damage during low voltage "brown outs".

[notanlines]

You have certainly gotten good advice so far. Keep in mind that your RV park may not allow ANY generator regardless of how quiet it may be. I know of nobody on this site who would allow a generator running in the area of their RV.
As previously stated, the secret lies in your power pedestal.

[TXiceman]

Parks are pretty well known to have low voltage issues in the summer. There are more RVs with 2 A/C units and many now with three. Especially the older parks have inadequate wiring to handle the load.

There is a product that will boost low voltage automatically. I highly suggest that you get a Progressive Ind EMS and a Hughes AutoFormer. While using these we never had another low voltage unit in the RV while our neighbors were suffering.

Another thing to get is a MarCell, power and temperature monitor for the RV. It is cell phone based and sends a text to your phone on power loss or temperature out of range.


Ken