Why?

cowboy_71 · 02-04-2013, 07:46 AM

I can't remember, maybe we discussed this before...why do you think my newly installed seperate a/c breaker kept tripping this past weekend till my wife remembered that we had to put the refer on gas last trip...doesn't the refer have it's own dedicated breaker? it must share with the refer? any help appreciated...and any ad- or dis-advantages in using a 50 to 30 amp pigtail?

beaker · 02-04-2013, 08:39 AM

Newly installed a/c breaker tripping? Probably more to do with breaker than hot water heater. What else is on in the camper?

2wheelglider · 02-04-2013, 09:19 AM

Need more information to assist. For 2 air conditioners to run at same time as other appliances like refrigerator and water heater, you need to be on 50 amps. What is the size of the new air conditioner? Did you get a power saver model? Sounds to me like the second air conditioner is not on a dedicated breaker or you have a wiring problem. One should have nothing to do with the other.

dalemac377 · 02-04-2013, 09:36 AM

The a/c should be the only thing on the 20 amp circuit breaker for the a/c. I am a little confused by your post. Please clarify exactly what is tripping and why the refer would have anything to do with the a/c breaker?

cowboy_71 · 02-06-2013, 05:59 AM

OK, I'm back home now...It is the original 15k a/c on my 30 amp service camper....Lasy year I replaced the original 30/20 amp breaker with seperate 20amp and 30amp breaker...the 20amp a/c breaker was continually tripping till I switched the refer to gas....I have no idea why this worked...any ideas, maybe just a weak breaker?and just coincidental?

dalemac377 · 02-06-2013, 06:30 AM

One way to find out if the refer is on the same ckt. breaker as the a/c, turn off the a/c ckt. breaker and see if the refer goes off when its on electric. If it doesn't then it was a coincidence.

cowboy_71 · 02-06-2013, 06:40 AM

Dale , I did turn off the 20amp a/c breaker and the refer stayed on , but I wasn't sure if it was on a 12v system or some other way stayed on...I dont think it should hav anything with the a/c but am not sure why the a/c stopped tripping when I switched to gas on the refer...think I need a new breaker?...

socoguy · 02-06-2013, 07:33 AM

The refer is Gas or AC, not 12volt. You should be supplying 50 amp to run 2 ac units. Not sure but you could simply be drawing too much load at 30 amp and the AC trips 1st. Others with more input will offer advice I am sure. Good Luck

cowboy_71 · 02-06-2013, 08:34 AM

I wondered about that...do you think its the 20amp a/c breaker tripping because of total camper amps too high? Seems the 30 amp should trip first, I think...I dont know...the 20 amp breaker was inexpensive so I might just change that first...

dalemac377 · 02-06-2013, 08:54 AM

I agree. Change the breaker first. The only 12 volt the refer uses is for the control board and this would be a very small current draw. I agree refer is either Lp or ac otherwise.

Stan · 02-06-2013, 10:15 AM

Cowboy..when you replaced the single breaker for the two breakers did you place them side by side each other?? It may be the total draw on the rig was close to 30 amps which heated up the 30 amp breaker and the heat transferred to the 20 amp breaker just enough to make it trip??? Just guessing a bit here. You could try separating them.

cowboy_71 · 02-07-2013, 03:24 AM

Hi Stan, no, I seperated them from the start...the 20amp a/c breaker is now all the way at the bottom and the 30amp service breaker is still at the top...but when the 20amp tripped , I noticed that it was not warm as before...will let you know the outcome when have a chance to replace it...thanks to all for the advice...

Hunter11 · 02-07-2013, 03:41 AM

I don't know if this will help or not but one thing I did on our old Cruiser and on our current unit is once a year I get into the breaker box and tighten up all the connections and all the termainals on the ground bar. You would be surprised how loose I have found some from the factory. ****WARNING*** DO NOT HAVE THE TRAILER CONNECTED TO SHORE POWER WHILE DOING THIS.

I also turn the battery switch off while doing this.

socoguy · 02-07-2013, 06:58 AM

Good tip Keith. I also discovered loose connections from the factory. Busy guys under the gun to produce.
X2 on disconnecting SHORE POWER and battery.

tator447 · 02-11-2013, 01:13 AM

Keith,
Could you expound on your comments a bit more. The first thing I did when I got my unit was inside and out I checked ever screw I could find...I never thought of anything like this...where am I looking for this and what all am I tightening please.

Thanks,
Jim

Hunter11 · 02-11-2013, 02:00 AM

Jim, you will have to shut down all power to the trailer first including battery power then pull the front cover off your breaker box. This gives you access to the breakers and the ground buss bar. I tightened all the ground wires where they connect to the bar and checked every connection in there while I was at it. I might add, I did all this when I was hard wiring the 50A Autoformer inside the trailer.

Another thing not related to this post but something I do every year is to check all the water connections. Several of ours were "less" than tight from the factory and I have had to tighten a few each year after traveling during the year as they loosen some.

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