Need more power for AC

[Raygor]

I have a 78 Ramada and will be camping about 50/50 with and without power. I also will be adding an air conditioner this year. So my thought was to leave the existing system that only powers LED ceiling lights, fan and furnace blower. Looking to add a 30 amp panel with circuit breakers. Looking for one with maybe one 20 amp circuit for the air, one 15 amp circuit for the existing converter and another 15 amp circuit for spare accessories. I was also thinking that I would connect the existing converter to the box with a female extension cord on one end and plug the current old system cord into it. This would cover getting to a campground with only a 15 amp outlet, I could plug just the old system into it like I do now and bypass the 30 amp system. Any thoughts on this by those of you who have already done upgrades to your electrical? The biggest question is where do I find this 30 amp circuit breaker box and what is it going to cost me? I have been searching the net with no luck yet. I am assuming I don't need a converter since I am keeping the old one for 12V. Any help would be appreciated.
Rick

[Redwood]

Rick,
   I just installed a 30 amp breaker box and system a week ago. It's pretty easy thanks to 79 Ramada and the diagram and info he gave me. You don't need a big breaker box just one that you can install a 30amp breaker and a couple 15 or 20 amp breakers.
   The plan you have is exactly the same thing I did. On the back of my breaker box the was a single outlet to plug something in. So I shorten my power cord from my converter to about three ft and just plugged it in there. Now the converter will only be used for 12 v items. The fan and overhead light.
   I bought a new 30 amp power cord to plug into the campground power pole and to feed the 30 amp breaker box. From my 15 amp breakers I ran four plug outlets around the trailer and one more to be mounted outside by the door using a GFI outlet. Here are a few pictures of the box I bought off ebay.

[Redwood]

Rick here's some more pictures.   This diagram is from 79 Ramada it was very helpful in doing the hook ups.

[79Ramada]

You are on the right track. I would suggest wiring the 120VAC input cord of the existing converter box into one of the breaker on the new 30A panel, so that you'll only have one shore power cord.

Here is a similar distribution panel to what Redwood has. http://www.bestconverter.com/PD5000-30-Amp-ACDC-Power-Control-Panel_p_27.html

[Redwood]

79 Ramada i sent you a PM

[jdpber]

If you look at my thread in my signature on the first page i built my 30 amp system cheap compact industrial.. up to code..

[Raygor]

jdpber, Can you put a link to it? I couldn't find the thread or signature.
Thanks

[Redwood]

jdpber did you change your shore power cord over to a 30 amp power cord??
Did you install a 30 amp breaker in the breaker box?

[jdpber]

http://www.apachepopups.net/smf/index.php?topic=9260.0

RED
I installed all new wiring threw entire camper a new 30amp cord it is a 10/3 heavy walled 30 amp cord i wired to the box and i split the 30 between 2 15amp breakers. 15 for the AC unit and fridge, and 15 for the other recepticals.. and the box was home depot.. 20' of cord and male end, breaker box, breakers, new romex threw the entire camper and all new recepticals. was like $50 area. i have a pig tail adapter to 15 amp for the generator plug..

My AC is 5,000 btu • 500 Watt • 4.6 Amp max pull on 115Volt... so that and the mini fridge pulls may 6.3amps on one breaker will be perfect..

If i over load and trip 30 amps on my camper we have a serious issue and people are using too much stuff..
Guys we must remember 30 Amps threw these little campers is a lot of power.. and need to look at the individual apliances.

[sensi3d]

whar he did is fine! I was a trouble man trainee for a year and a half.38 years in the utility. Many farm circuit boxes don't have a main insted you are allowed up to 6 submains. I understand gfi fairly well, not an expert! I know you have to isolate the neutral from the ground, but does this affect the ability of the GFI to funtion properly? Is this a breaker GFI or an outlet style one.

[sensi3d]

Yes, if you look to the left most 30A breaker the power feeds it then it is fed to the sub breakers. You don't have to have a main breaker on less than 6 circuits but having one makes shure the cord can't be overloaded and cause a fire.

[jdpber]

the main box on the pole will trip before the cord can ever get overloaded.. dont forget about the main pole breaker...

[Redwood]

I had a friend who was killed by a power surge on a construction site while holding a light. For me to add a 30 amp breaker for a little more safety was a very easy thing to do.  I do agree with jdpber that it would be hard to use 30 amps all at once to overload a power source but the extra breaker was cheap and gives me more peace of mind.  One more thing, a lot of the campgrounds breakers are old and may not be reliable so for me to have one also doesn't hurt at all.

[jdpber]

RED - good point.. partly why i broke mine down.. i know what pulls what amps and have my camper set for the appliances separate from everything. and i have thought of a main 30 breaker. i will see.. this setup works great so far.. been using it at the house for a month solid and no issues yet..

[Raygor]

Redwood,
I see from your post you got your panel off Ebay. I like the outlet on the back could you see if you have a model # or brand name. I would like to search to see if I could find one like it on the Internet.
Rick