murry1946
Oshawa,On
New Member
Joined: 10/13/2007
View Profile
 Offline
|
Campground has only 15 AMP service, if I use more than T.V. and lights the campground breaker kicks out. Now my question is. Can I use two 15 AMP plug ins and run them to gether to the power cord from trailer (30 Amp) I was told this is possible but would like to know how exactly this can be done. Help is greatly appreciated.
|
mstoetz1
Edmonton, AB
Senior Member
Joined: 04/10/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
I am surprised that just using the TV and lights trips the campground breaker. Any tv you'd fit in most campers wouldn't draw more than a few amps. Lights shouldn't draw much either. A 15 amp breaker shouldn't really trip until you reach close to 15 amps (it depends on a few things). It would be curious to throw an ammeter on your trailer to see how many amps its using in that situation. Now if you're using the microwave or A/C thats a different story, because those are big draw items. We rarely trip 15 amp breakers running our 31 foot trailer, even using the A/C and a few lights.
|
OnaQuest
Raleigh, NC
Senior Member
Joined: 01/15/2006
View Profile
|
Running two 15amp cords to the same outlet that is tripping it's breaker won't buy you anything. It will just trip sooner. If there is another 15amp service nearby (on a different breaker) then you could plug into it with an additional cord and run some of your appliances off that service. Don't try to gang them together in any way.
In this case 15 plus 15 doesn't equal 30, it equals potential disaster.
Dyslexics of the world... UNTIE Visit www.Dyslexics.moc
|
Polishnurse
Schodack, NY
Senior Member
Joined: 03/13/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
As Mstoetz1 said, you shouldn't be popping any breakers with what you mentioned. I believe your power is pretty much like it here in the US.
To answer your question, I wouldn't recommend putting two power cords from different outlets together, with out check that they are on the same circuit. You could make some nice fire works putting two leads together.
If you using a low gage cheep cord, that could be your problem. You should find the shortest cord that can reach and use a min. of 14ga a 12 would be better. JM2Cents Bill
|
JimInMA
Littleton, MA
Senior Member
Joined: 07/27/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
You can't just twist the wires from 2 15 amp outlets together and get 30 amp service. Electricity doesn't work that way. You'd have to have outlets on seperate breakers and an entire kit of equipment to isolate and balance the load between the 2 15 amp circuits.
You don't seem to have that much of a load with just a TV and lights so either something else is kicking on (fridge? AC water heater?) or their GFCI protected outlet that you are plugged into is tripping to easily (i.e. it's dying...). Is that one outlet that you are plugged into the only outlet on that breaker? Or is a neighboring site also fed off of that breaker?
|
|
|
AlanB
Sierra Vista, AZ
Senior Member
Joined: 11/18/2002
View Profile
Offline
|
Do you have a converter / battery charger? When I first plug in to a campground, my charger draws close to 20 amps. It tapers off as batteries get charged, or I can switch it to a lower current.
AlanB
2002 Holiday Rambler Imperial 40PKDD Cummins ISL
|
Nick Wildwood
Hell California
Full Member
Joined: 04/16/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
15 amp circuit plus 15 amp circuit equals two 15 amp circuits other wise know as 240 volts. Please do not try this at home.
|
wittmeba
Roanoke, Va
Senior Member
Joined: 02/02/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
To answer your fundamental question I dont know how to do this either. However.
I suspect (assuming you could see 2 outlets in the breaker box and thats why you are asking) that the breaker box has 1-15amp breaker feeding a receptacle and another 15amp breaker feeding the other receptacle. I also suspect there is more than 15 amps being feed into the box. The reason I say this is if someone camped next to you and used the other outlet, you and your neighbor would likely use more than 15 amps combined. It is possible that there is only 15 amps available as others stated.
I doubt if there is 2 separate lines in the box therefore you would not see 240V unless there is also a 50 amp circuit available.
Guessing at your intent, yes you could do this, but I dont know how you would split your existing feed to your RV to where you could bring in another feed to isolate some of your appliances.
You are thinking in a risky arena.
* This post was
edited 07/31/08 04:20pm by wittmeba *
Bruce & Carolyn Wittmeier
Viet Nam Vet 1968-69
2001 Ford F250 4X4 OffRoad, Auto ESOF, KingCab, ShortBed, Airlift Airbags, DiPricol gauges, SCT-Tuner from DP-Tuners (40/80/120HP), Bilsteins, Reese Slider, Jordan, 2001 30RKFS SunnyBrook w/personal touches.
|
Nick Wildwood
Hell California
Full Member
Joined: 04/16/2008
View Profile
Offline
|
If there are two 15 amp circuits then they are the two different legs and will make 240 volts. You have to have a balanced load according to the nation electric code. Every 15 amp circuit has a twin that is the other phase of the 240. If you look inside the box you will find 2 hot wires, 1 neutral and 1 ground. This is the basis of Alternating Current (AC).
The technique that the OP was referring to will allow you to combine two circuits but it will not work for him because is TT is 30 amp 120 volt. The technique will give you 15 amp 240 volts. You can plug in your 50 amp 240 RV but you still only get 15 amps although you get 15 amps twice. You will never get 30 amps.
|
wittmeba
Roanoke, Va
Senior Member
Joined: 02/02/2001
View Profile
Offline
|
Nick, thats a great diagram.
The issue really isnt at the distribution box but how to split the feeds from the RV. You only have 1 plug - and looking for 2 circuits 15 amps each.
I think the OP was asking if he could use 2 outlets (15 amp 120 volt receptacles in the diagram) and somehow split his RV connector to share the load - creating 2 - 15 amp feeds. Again, I dont know how you could split the RV load circuits with a single conventional 30 amp plug.
|
|
|
