30A hook up, need inlet ideas

[Miriam C.]

I can easily see full usage at breakfast. Bacon in the microwave, toaster toasting, coffee maker going, all lights on, AC still running, tv on...

Bacon takes 1 minute in the microwave and that is if you don't use the precooked. Toast takes a couple of minutes. The coffee pot and hair dryer take the most. I have my air and galley on different circuits for that reason. Haven't popped a breaker yet. I have a 20amp inlet and a 12 gage grounded outdoor power cord.

Really just do the bacon and toast at different minutes.

[dh]

I can easily see full usage at breakfast. Bacon in the microwave, toaster toasting, coffee maker going, all lights on, AC still running, tv on...

Let's see : At breakfast I am stoking up the campfire. The bacon is in the cast iron skillet on the fire. The coffee is sharing the campfire in the perculator right next door. The toast is sun tanning itsself near the fire on a little wire rack, the only light is the pink / orange sunrise that is greeting me, the cool morning breeze is all the AC I need and who in the hell watches TV when the birds and crickets are having their morning concert. Maybe ya should stay home cause what you are describing sure ain't camping.

I don't really consider myself a "camper". I'm more into it to stay closer to the Mt. Bike trails, and the water for the kayak. On a typical saturday morning, its up by 5:00AM at the latest, BIG breakfast, catch the weather on the TV or Radio, prep the gear for the days activities, pack some fruit for lunch, and be on the trail or water just as the sun starts to come up. When I get back, its usually a good pasta dinner to replenish, early to bed, and Sunday is spent "camping" with a fire, grilling, toasting marshmallows, maybe sneaking in a hike...

[Engineer Guy]

I used to build large P.A. Sound Systems. To ensure high wattage Bass amps were never connected into treble speakers or horns, I used only twist lock connectors with large conductor cables rated for outdoor service. They were idiot proof, and all the amps and speakers could connect through one SERIOUS 4 conductor cable. Leviton, for one, made plate-mount compatible connectors of either gender. Obviously, you use the female end on your shore cable TD end, and the male gender on a TD-mounted plate where the pins are recessed.

Note the weather proof L7-30 [3 wire] and L15-30 [4 wire] twist locks here:

http://www.levitonproducts.com/catalog/dept_id_963.htm

Lowe's or Home Despot has the 30 Amp Trailer Park-end male connectors and 3/10 Contractor grade cable to roll your own. The new Code 'thing' at Houses is to use plates with the clear covers that would lift up to access the TD connector. I believe they make those clear 'boxes' with a single, large diameter hole compatible with the connector sizes above. A little ugly on the side of a TD, but they are rain-proof. A flat, spring-loaded cover plate would work too, since the male pins are recessed back. See the Hot, Neutral and Ground pin designations at the Leviton Website. Use a commercial 30 Amp-to-20 Amp adapter shown above when plugging in at a House, etc.. The House 20 amp Breaker should 'save' you from over-current situations. If you're concerned about losing this special cable, make your own pigtail adapter that converts from the TD twist lock to a standard male extension cord plug.

[eamarquardt]

On a related note I have several machines that run on 240 volt (planer and table saw). I took a 120 volt cord, made short adapters that have the 120 connectors for the cord and convert them to 240 volt plug and socket. I tape em in place so there is no mistaking what the cord is now used for. Easy to make, use, and if needed lenghten. You just have to pay a little attention.

Cheers,

Gus

[dh]

Thanks, I hadn't thought about Levington.

I can easily see full usage at breakfast. Bacon in the microwave, toaster toasting, coffee maker going, all lights on, AC still running, tv on...

Let's see : At breakfast I am stoking up the campfire. The bacon is in the cast iron skillet on the fire. The coffee is sharing the campfire in the perculator right next door. The toast is sun tanning itsself near the fire on a little wire rack, the only light is the pink / orange sunrise that is greeting me, the cool morning breeze is all the AC I need and who in the hell watches TV when the birds and crickets are having their morning concert. Maybe ya should stay home cause what you are describing sure ain't camping.

I don't really consider myself a "camper". I'm more into it to stay closer to the Mt. Bike trails, and the water for the kayak. On a typical saturday morning, its up by 5:00AM at the latest, BIG breakfast, catch the weather on the TV or Radio, prep the gear for the days activities, pack some fruit for lunch, and be on the trail or water just as the sun starts to come up. When I get back, its usually a good pasta dinner to replenish, early to bed, and Sunday is spent "camping" with a fire, grilling, toasting marshmallows, maybe sneaking in a hike...