Will it run on
this pedestal?
Tick what you actually run at once. The gauge shows the draw against the service at your site and against the 80% line that breakers really care about.
| On | Appliance | Duty | Watts | Qty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air conditioner, 13,500 BTUStartup surge is much higher | running | W | ||
| Air conditioner, 15,000 BTUStartup surge is much higher | running | W | ||
| Second air conditionerThe usual reason a 30-amp site runs out | running | W | ||
| Electric water heater elementSwitch to propane to free up capacity | cycling | W | ||
| Microwave | intermittent | W | ||
| Electric kettle or coffee maker | intermittent | W | ||
| Hair dryerClassic breaker-tripper | intermittent | W | ||
| Toaster | intermittent | W | ||
| Induction cooktop, single burner | intermittent | W | ||
| Space heater, high | running | W | ||
| Space heater, low | running | W | ||
| Residential refrigeratorCompressor cycles on and off | cycling | W | ||
| Absorption fridge on electric | cycling | W | ||
| Converter or chargerHigher when batteries are low | running | W | ||
| Washer/dryer combo | running | W | ||
| TV and entertainment | running | W | ||
| Laptop and device charging | running | W | ||
| Interior lighting, LED | running | W | ||
| Water pump | intermittent | W | ||
| Furnace blowerPropane heat, electric fan | cycling | W | ||
| Vent fan | running | W | ||
| Electric fireplace | running | W |
Wattages are typical planning figures, not nameplate ratings. Check the label on your own equipment and edit any number above — the maths follows what you type.
How to read this
A 30-amp RV connection is a single 120-volt leg: 30 × 120 gives 3,600 watts, and that is the whole budget. A 50-amp connection is two 120-volt legs at 50 amps each, so 12,000 watts total — not simply 20 amps more. That difference is why one air conditioner is comfortable on 30 amps and two are not.
The 80% line on the gauge matters. Breakers are rated for continuous duty at roughly 80% of their number, so 2,880 watts is the figure to plan around on a 30-amp pedestal rather than 3,600. Sitting above that line works right up until it does not.
What this tool cannot see
Startup surge is the big one. An air conditioner compressor draws several times its running wattage for a moment as it kicks in, which is why a load that looks fine on paper trips a breaker the instant the second unit cycles on. Low park voltage makes it worse: when supply voltage sags, current rises to deliver the same power, and a hot afternoon on a full campground is exactly when that happens.
Nothing here replaces a surge protector or an electrical management system on the pedestal. The surge protector guide covers what to check before you plug in, and the air conditioner power guide goes deeper on hot-weather load.
Switching the water heater to propane frees up around 1,400 watts, which is usually the cheapest amp you will ever find. If you are regularly short, the battery guide is the next thing to read.
