Real newbie question

[Paladin]

Well as they say, the only dumb question is the one unasked so here is another really dumb one that is sure to be yet just another in a long string as I climb the learning curve.

How many rv parks and campgrounds have 240v?  I'd like to be about 80/20 split with an emphasis on all electric but still be able to be alright for a little boondocking but I have no idea what to expect most often, 30 amp, 50 amp etc etc....

Sorry if this is really stupid.



-Dave 

[JackConrad]

Dave,
   Most of our camping is at friends houses (many time on a 20 amp circuit), bluegrass music festivals (usually dry camping) and only occasionally in campgrounds. We have found the older campgrounds will usually have mostly 30 amp with maybe a few 50 amp. The newer campgrounds seem to have more 50 amp. "RV Resorts" usually have 50 amp and typically have higher rates to cover all the amenities such as tennis, spa, golf, etc. Note: The information about the "RV Resorts" is based on conversations with other, we do not use Resorts, we prefer Campgrounds. 
    For the way we use our coach, I would not have anything that required 240 volts or anything that I could not use on 30 amp. 30 amp just requires a little "power management"  YMMV Jack

[Coops6]

Dave,
I am a  newbie to the bus world, but not the camping world.  My experience is that most private campgrounds will have 50amp service.  Most city campgrounds, State Parks and Corps of Engineer parks will have mostly or only 30amps.  Most private campgrounds will cost you more too.  As Jack, I am set up where 30amp will be sufficient with some power management.   

Coop

[travelingfools]

Same as above, Ive done my share of camping in a S&S in both privite and state/Corps campgrounds and have yet to come across one that offered 220v.

[Tom Y]

Dax, Unless you are planning on a 240v appliance. the 50 amp plug would work. Just make an adapter to the 30 amp and watch what you run. 30 being a 120 voltage and the 50 being  240 volts or 2 hot wires. And yes I know my spelling is poor.  Tom Y

[Frank @ TX]

Hi DAX,
About the campground AC.
20 amps is the normal 110 volts AC you have in your house with a breaker set a 20 amps for example your microwave
30 amps is the normal 110 volts AC you have in your house with a breaker set a 30 amps for example your electric stove

BUT

50 amps is made up of ( 2 ) off phase 110 volt lines, when the both lines are used on the same load you get 220 volts AC
Only the rare RV actually uses the two lines to make the 220 volts ( some with big Air Conditioning needs )
Most 50 amp capacity coaches use each line to netural to make 2 line of 110 volts
In the real world you would get ( 1 ) line of 20 amp capacity and ( 1 ) line of 30 amp capacity.

Yes, your question is very basic , so I would suggest you get to know an electrican to help you with your wiring.
That electrican must understand that way campgrounds are wired and the way RV's are wired
RV's are wired differently than a house, so the guy you find MUST know what he's doing or you'll have big problems like Shocks, Fire and worse.
Frank

[Paladin]

My real question I guess is what is the probability of using 240v appliances?

-Dave

[Sam 4106]

Hi Dax,
There are only three appliances that I can think of that would use 240 volts AC. House type electric range, electric dryer, and air conditioning, none of which are commonly used in bus conversions.
Good luck, Sam 4106

[Paladin]

I really don't want to have propane unless I really must, what are my options for cooking?

Also, the boss wants a dryer if possible.

[H3Jim]

Maybe more important than what the campground has, is your own system.  If you will be running on batttery power and expect to get 240 volts, you will likely need two inverters to do that.  Most of us just use one inverter and use all 120 volt appliances.  

In my setup, any appliance that needs 240 can only be used when the generator is running or we are plugged in.  So, I personally do not use any 240 volt apppliances.  The only one that might be a lot better is the cooktop, and using an induction cooktop you would gain efficiency and create less heat than the regular one.

I do not have a dryer, and that might also be a lot better with 240.

[H3Jim]

I have a 110 volt convection / microwave - GE Advantium.  I am very happy with it.  I've baked pies as well as done the usual microwave stuff.  While the 240 volt version will cook a baked potato in 4 minutes, this one does them in 15, and thats ok.  It was not worth the extra infrastructure to me to shave a few minutes off a baked potato.

Always while traveling, I will stop at friends and relatives houses along the way, so doing laundry is not an issue.  If I really needed it, I might stop ata  laundromat, so I could use multiple machines at once and get done sooner.  My girl friend, who is extremely pickey about stuff and wants the best of everything, just hand washes her delicates each day.  Also with the bus, we generally take way too many clothes - because we can, ans so can last a long time without the washer.  It was not worth the space it ook up, and I'd have to be plugged in somewhere otherwise the water use would drain our holidng tank in short order.  If we are hooked up, almost everywhere that is done, has laundry facilities.