30 amp breaker keeps popping
I have an 07 Safari Damara Class B+ that we bought late last year. We took it to two state parks and found that the A/C, when using 30 amp, would pop the breakers. Switching the refrigerator to gas ...
Forum Discussion
Hi,
You might have had a problem with the 30 amp receptacle at the RV park, if it has a week socket, then there can be a voltage loss through that connection. This will increase the amperage on the air conditioner, and perhaps the microwave.
At home, you likely did not try to run the microwave and air conditioner at the same time. Each will draw about 14 amps, so it will work fine on a 20 amp circuit. Your receptacle at home is not worn out, and the brass contacts inside will hold the adapter tightly.
It is the campground receptacles that get overheated, the brass gets loose, and will not hold the plug tightly. This caused further overheating! and more damage to the campground receptacle.
Also at the campground, you probably have the TV on, a 1 amp load.
Things like toaster and coffee maker can also use 12 amps each, and overload the circuits too.
My blame is on the campground receptacles. They get used almost 300 days a year, and much of that time they will see more than 80% full load. It is a 50 amp circuit that does not have a problem, as they normally never see more than 30 amps, or about 60% of full load, and have much larger brass contacts, and larger surface area to transfer the 30 amps that the RV used.
Have fun camping!
Fred.
You might have had a problem with the 30 amp receptacle at the RV park, if it has a week socket, then there can be a voltage loss through that connection. This will increase the amperage on the air conditioner, and perhaps the microwave.
At home, you likely did not try to run the microwave and air conditioner at the same time. Each will draw about 14 amps, so it will work fine on a 20 amp circuit. Your receptacle at home is not worn out, and the brass contacts inside will hold the adapter tightly.
It is the campground receptacles that get overheated, the brass gets loose, and will not hold the plug tightly. This caused further overheating! and more damage to the campground receptacle.
Also at the campground, you probably have the TV on, a 1 amp load.
Things like toaster and coffee maker can also use 12 amps each, and overload the circuits too.
My blame is on the campground receptacles. They get used almost 300 days a year, and much of that time they will see more than 80% full load. It is a 50 amp circuit that does not have a problem, as they normally never see more than 30 amps, or about 60% of full load, and have much larger brass contacts, and larger surface area to transfer the 30 amps that the RV used.
Have fun camping!
Fred.
