Huh? 30 Amp vs. 50 Amp RV Service: Choosing the Right Option.

Huh? 30 Amp vs. 50 Amp RV Service: Choosing the Right Option. Understanding the difference between 30 amp and 50 amp RV service. Whether you're a seasoned RVer or just starting out, knowing the distinctions can make a significant impact on your RVing experience.
Join Todd as he breaks down the key differences between 30 amp and 50 amp RV service. He explains the electrical capacity, and the appliances and equipment each service can support. Todd also shares practical advice on how to determine which service is best for your specific RV needs.
With this knowledge, you'll be better equipped to make informed decisions when it comes to campground selection, electrical hookups, and managing your RV's power requirements.
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[@ericjacobson8917]

Good explanations and info. I would’ve also mentioned the electric side of my hot water heater. I have 50 amp but if I have to use 30 I only run my water heater on propane.

[@canadiantwig4772]

Yep 50amp. We're in AZ running 3 AC's, fridge, laundry going. It's 100 today. I know it's stupid hot, but we're here due to work. All 3 AC's have soft starts, RV airflow in all, reflective material on top of AC covers and have shade screens on drivers side and rear. Everything runs no problem.

[@dawnr6577]

Do you know how many amps you have used at one time? People are telling me you only have 50 total so if you are using 30 on 1 leg, you only have 20 available on the second leg. I'm so confused

[@QLFProductions]

@@dawnr6577 You get 50 on each leg. You can't exceed 50 amps on a single leg but you can exceed 50 amps if the appliances aren't on the same leg.

[@beauxtibideaux9919]

Every time my wife asks me anything on a Tuesday I say "Tech Tip Tuesday." It is funnier to me than it is to her

[@wendysheehan4017]

I learned early on with our 30 amp to shut the AC off every time I used the hair dryer.

[@bertkelly7650]

Thank you Tuesday Todd!

[@johngriswold8735]

great answers from an end user perspective. Just wanted to expound on some of the details... There's much more difference between and 30amp RV and a 50amp than just 20amps difference as mentioned. The 30amp service is a single buss service giving 30amps maximum capacity of which safe, constant useable load is 80% or 24amps (2880 watts) of power. The 50amp service is a split buss giving essentially 50amps of capacity to each side of the split buss (80% safe load capacity or 4800 watts) or 9600watts of constant load giving a difference of 6720 additional watts of load available over the 30amp service. This is accomplished by providing 2 legs of power (50amps capacity each) from the shore power source with a shared neutral which is possible because each leg is out of phase with the other Normally, this is used as a 240volt source of power BUT the 30amp service is single phase only so 30amp/240volts should NEVER be applied to an RV service with a 30amp panel. Lots of damage to RV's have been caused by people plugging into a 30amp 240volt dryer circuit and trying to do a make shift adapter to make it happen. You can run a 50amp RV service off a 30amp 240volt source IF and only if that 30amp source has a neutral. Older dryer circuits did not have a neutral while newer installations do. Your shore power should be a 4 wire plug indicating 2 hots, a neutral and a grounding conductor. As always, if you are unsure of how to properly provide power to your RV, PLEASE employ the expertise of a qualified electrician who understands RV requirements.

[@IamMugs]

I was typing out a response about VxA=W but this explained it. This is more akin to a house, where you have a total of 240 coming in and split into 2 legs?

[@SuperSushidog]

I run my fridge and water heater strictly on propane, freeing up the 110v ac power that these appliances would use for other uses. I mostly boondock, so I usually have a maximum of 6,000 watts available (a 5,000w 48v whole house inverter and a 1,000-watt 12v inverter on a separate circuit.) Even though my MH has a 50a (per leg) service, I only use one 50a leg because my inverter is limited to 63a throughput from the power pedestal or generator. I also carry a spare inverter and charge controller so I'm ready when things fail at the most inopportune time. I guess you can tell I'm ex-military. We had a saying, " Two is one and one is none."

[@motosquid5979]

I got a 30 amp rv with two ac units that run about 1500 watts each in extreme heat so I can use both ac but not much room left for other things. It’s a 15000 btu ac.

[@kathleenrutherford733]

FABULOUS as always, thank you

[@MattLegler]

I love the cougar 22MLS, but I’m so bummed it can’t be ordered with 50 amp service.

[@bobwaldron420]

Great information! Thanks.

[@Dbgolfnski]

Best explanation ever!!!! Now… what can different size generators run? PS. I always said “20 amps”.

[@MPH6492]

Are these examples based on shore power or do they also apply to battery only power too. We plan on doing mainly boondocking.

[@karlmopete]

For the most part, all of our provincial campgrounds in Canada only offer 30amp, and we require an adaptor to step down from 50 amp motor home to the 30 amp plug in

[@johntucker1050]

Assuming you don’t try to run your microwave while you start your ac, why couldn’t you run the ac and microwave in a 30 amp camper. Running wattage on a 15,000 btu ac is around 1,500 watts. Camper microwave is 900 watts. That puts me at 2,400 watts, not including the refrigerator. I have used my ac, microwave, tv, and refrigerator at the same time with no issue. Am I missing something?

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

So when it comes to ac running watts, they change based on heat. The compressor is compressing a gas that expands as it gets heated. This adds more pressure on the compressor. So much do that it’s quantifiable by each manufacturer. They set the RLA at a specific surface temp. Typically around 94 degrees. For every 5-10 degrees temp increase from surface temp of 94 on the compressor (depending on mfgr) you add an amp. While many times you might be able to run both with shade or cooler temps, my goal is to teach habits that protect the rv.

[@mikeoconnell9611]

Does a product like "soft startup RV" allow the AC unit to use less wattage while running or just amps at start up?

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

So softstarts do not lower running amps. But they do limit starting amps.

[@IamMugs]

@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy Which as my experience has shown, is yuge.

[@bobabooie6389]

Thanks 👍🇺🇲

[@johnr5545]

God bless

[@Hugo-Hernandez]

Great information and great video. Unfortunately you got these "know it all and it works for me" idiots. Keep up the great work.

[@anibal477ful]

My Jayco came with 30amp can i switch to 50amp ???

[@harderja]

It’s costly

[@RobertDalotten]

I need your help please. I got an RV to have in the backyard as a Stationary rental source of income.The RV is 30amp, i am trying to connect it to the main house,the electrician suggested creating an inlet connected to the main house panel.The question is,should we creat a 60 amp inlet or 30 amp inlet for the RV?,knowing the fact that my RV suggest 30Amp.I read some people say,if the RV will be stationery (non-moving) ,it's better to create higher amp inlet to support daily consistent usage of power like AC,Microwave,,,,,,, (we're in California).should we go with a permanent 30amp inlet or go higher for consistent power usage?.Thanks

[@harderja]

Yes your trailer has a 30amp main breaker.

[@justinlogue31]

Your forgetting the water heater. Never know when it will kick on and pull serious watts as well

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

Yes. But you do have a choice to switch to propane when needed.

[@justinlogue31]

@@NationalRVTrainingAcademy yes. I do that in the summer when the ac is really working hard. Most of our cooking is done outside anyways. 😎

[@rickschwartz2447]

i have a alpha wolf 22sw-l 30 amp, 15000 ac I run the AC and the microwave at the same time all the time I can't run the microwave and the fireplace at the same time

[@dawnr6577]

I'm now confused because people are saying I don't actually have 100 amps available. They are saying I only have 50 amp period. I was assuming that I could have 30 amps running on 1 leg and 30 on the second and be fine but they said no, I would only have 20 amps left.

[@harderja]

You have a 220 volt with two 50 amp legs that is a total of 100 amps.

[@randywright271]

But can use a dog bone 50 amp to a 30 amp, will hurt my trailer?

[@harderja]

No your main breaker in the trailer is 30amp.

[@35matinee]

Why dumb it down so much? How many amps does the friggen refrigerator draw? A 750 watt microwave draws about 6.5 amps. Washer motor? Dryer has to be high draw.

[@Dougy_Fresh]

Ehhhh I dunno about this one. Plenty, and I mean many people have ac on, tv on, charging a phone, wifi on, and able to use the microwave without issue. RV microwaves are not as powerful. That being said, my microwave is only for melting butter and storing bread anyway.

[@harderja]

It all depends on the total wattage.

[@smitty8143]

I like your videos but your wrong here. I run my AC and microwave with no issue. I have 2 AC’s that can run at the same time. Unit has an energy management system that would shut off the rear AC compressor if the microwave is used with both AC’s on.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

So it is possible HOWEVER, the load shed still allows the second fan to run and alternated the compressors. While this is possible we are very close to the limits. Add 100+ temps and we are overloading the system. Notice not many OEMs offer this anymore. It’s not 100% failure nor 100% successful. But enough failures that many OEM stopped doing it. Yours may be fine and work perfectly, but the load shed system (as it currently is) isn’t great.

[@brianvandy4002]

The difference is 70 amps.

[@chrisb6866]

You failed to mention the 50 amps is at 240 volts while the 30 amps is at only 120 volts... HUGE difference. Your tips are always misleading....

[@AtiRanzuglia]

Look at the comment from John Griswold, I think he suggests otherwise. The way I understand it is that if you use the two out-of-phase pins you get 240 volts, but if you use one of the live pins and neutral you get 120 volts, times 2.

[@NationalRVTrainingAcademy]

This tech tip was just on consumption.