Is 30 amps enough for 15,000 BTU AC?

[Ozarkscamper]

We're looking at the Cougar X-Lite 26RBI. 30' TT with 2 living room slides. Will the 30 amp service be enough to power the 15K AC, fridge and hot water with enough power for electronics and lights? I know the AC will have to be off to run the microwave, and can live with that. Or should we custom order to get 50 amp? Thanks for any advice.

[notanlines]

The 15k AC will probably draw around 13 to 16 amps on start, but remember your converter also can draw around 6 or so and pretty soon you are out of amps.

[NotyetMHCowner]

30 AMP is enough for the 15k AC. I'm not sure you could run the water heater on electric along with the AC though. Electric water heater pulls a good amount of current. You did not specify if the fridge is a residential unit or RV. Even if its a res fridge, I think you would be ok with AC and fridge.

We keep our house and camper cooler than most people, therefore 2 AC's were a must for us along with 50 amp service. It depends also on where you live and camp most of the time.

[SADLY]

taking in to account your converter is running at a variable amount of amps that you really can't control, 30 amp is generally good for A/C and one "big draw item"....

A/C plus coffee pot
or
A/C plus microwave
or
A/C plus (electric) hot water heater

Pick one, not two

If the above is not good enough for you, opt for the 50 amp service. You can basically run EVERYTHING at once on 50 amp.

Personally, I would always opt for 50 amp over 30 on any RV it was available on. Without 50 amp, you're basically saying you will only ever have a single A/C unit installed. Which, depending upon where you live and/or travel, would be a deal killer for me.

:)

[JRTJH]

Our Cougar was built with 30 amp service. In 2014, 50 amp service was not an optional item. In 2015, Keystone began offering 50 amp electrical service as an optional item in our model. My biggest regret about our Cougar is the lack of 50 amp service.

One of these days, I'll get busy and order the WFCO Power Station and upgrade our trailer, in the meantime, I "pick and choose" what to turn off because we can't run the microwave and the A/C at the same time when we first get to a campground and we "have to cool the trailer" which means "we can't heat a quick meal"....... And, on "very hot days" we are reluctant to even consider turning off the A/C, even for a few minutes, so we're limited again.... Also, with 30 amp service, there's no way to even consider adding a second A/C to solve that "borderline cooling" issue.......

I know, "Life's terrible" :banghead:

[mfifield01]

I've found that the 30amp will run the 15k A/C, Fridge, and water heater (or microwave). My wife started the microwave with the A/C, Fridge, and water heater running. It tripped the breaker. Afterwards, I let her know to turn off the water heater while running the microwave and just turn it back on after. I haven't seen any problems since.

Results might depend on the battery charge state. The converter can pull some watts.

For amp wattage break down, the A/C pulls about 1700 watts (running), Microwave 1575 watts (max), Fridge 180 watts, and water heater around 1200 watts. From what I've seen, 30 amp service is listed at 3750 watts max. Basically you can pick your combination.

[Pull Toy]

Based on my past personal experiences, 50 amps is a no brainer if it's available, even as an option. I assume you plan on keeping your rig for at least a few years. The extra few bucks will add to your enjoyment, and your resale value too.

It is a pain to have to keep track of which combo's can work together, and it's never the camper breaker that trips. It's always seems to be on the power pedestal outside.

[CWSWine]

That is the only thing I really didn't like with our Cougar 28SGS is that on 100+ day the AC wouldn't bring the inside temp down below about 78 degrees and it ran all day long and never shut off.

[cathcartww]

taking in to account your converter is running at a variable amount of amps that you really can't control, 30 amp is generally good for A/C and one "big draw item"....

A/C plus coffee pot
or
A/C plus microwave
or
A/C plus (electric) hot water heater

Pick one, not two


:)

I agree. You have to learn what to turn off before you turn something else on.

Our travels are south in the winter, Hatteras in the late spring, and Canada in the fall, so we never are in really hot weather. If we were, we would definitely need a second AC in the bedroom.

If you have a 50 amp service, installation of a second AC is not too big of a deal - if you only have a 30 amp service, the electrical upgrade can be pricey.

At this point, if we did add a second AC, we would probably just run a separate 20 amp service, just for the second AC unit. If we needed to use the second AC, we would have to use a separate power cord to the regular 3 prong 20 amp circuit on the pedestal.

[sourdough]

If you have a 50 amp option, get it. My trailer is 50 amp but we just stayed in a campground in FL night before last that only had 30 amp left. Our 15k AC ran fine with the hot water heater and fridge. All lights (led), TV and device chargers ran fine; I would not use the microwave or 2nd AC. Again, get the 50 amp if you can. A 15k AC is nice, and does a much better job than a 13.5k, but in hot weather it will still be taxed. Turning on the 2nd AC during the really hot part of the day to help out is great; come back in at dusk, turn off the 2nd AC because you can hang beef in the camper, and chill for the evening.

[Ozarkscamper]

Thank you to everyone for the advice. It makes sense to upgrade the AC and electric now when ordering for all the reasons you provided!

[Desert185]

I've found that the 30amp will run the 15k A/C, Fridge, and water heater (or microwave). My wife started the microwave with the A/C, Fridge, and water heater running. It tripped the breaker. Afterwards, I let her know to turn off the water heater while running the microwave and just turn it back on after. I haven't seen any problems since.

Results might depend on the battery charge state. The converter can pull some watts.

For amp wattage break down, the A/C pulls about 1700 watts (running), Microwave 1575 watts (max), Fridge 180 watts, and water heater around 1200 watts. From what I've seen, 30 amp service is listed at 3750 watts max. Basically you can pick your combination.

Your microwave has some horsepower! Mine is only 900W.

[denverpilot]

Definitely go 50 amp and pre-wired for a second A/C if you have the option.

We added the second A/C to our Laredo one year after we bought it and it saved our bacon when we broke the TV in Nebraska in the dead of summer. Both A/C units ran constantly to keep up with the 90+ temps and 80%+ humidity. Water from both was streaming off of both sides of the roof for the three days we stayed there waiting on truck repair parts and the labor after the parts arrived. (Now there's proof you got the trailer leveled correctly!)

[fla-gypsy]

Option for the 50A and a 2nd AC