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Audioa_fan's avatar
Audioa_fan
Explorer
Dec 31, 2013

Tripped Breaker

Later on during our debut trip on our 2001 HR Ambassador, we were at an RV park in Pigeon Forge Tennessee the day after Christmas. We had dinner and I started the furnace. We put in a DVD and got settled down. It was still cold so I plugged in a small ceramic heater in both the front and the back. I wanted it to warm up a lot before bedtime and I wanted to do that more with the campground electricity instead of my LP. 10 minutes later I lost all power. I still had lights since they are 12VDC.

After some investigation, I discovered that a few outlets were still hot but most were not. I checked the breakers in the bedroom and they were all fine. I checked the GFCI under the dining room table and it was fine. I was at a loss. Since I still had AC for the furnace, we decided to go to bed. The next morning I continued my troubleshooting exercise. When I checked the basement compartment where the inverter is located I found there were two breaker/switches and one of those was tripped. I reset it and all was well. Even though they were in opposite ends of the RV, I had plugged both of the ceramic heaters into the same circuit without knowing it which exceeded the 20A capacity by 4 amps. Another learning experience.
  • JimM68's avatar
    JimM68
    Explorer
    Jan 01, 2014
    Our 08 Knight is wired the same. 2 15 amp circuits off the inverter run most but not all the a/c outlets.

    Once I turned pulled both breakers and checked for power at every outlet. Discovered that the outlets on the "bed side" of the bedroom are on the main a/c, the "TV Side" is on the inverter. Kinda wish the bed side was on the inverter, but haven't figured out how to do it.

    I have yet to map which what is on which inverter breaker. I need to do that someday. Always "assumed" the microwave is alone on one of them, but not sure.
  • jnharley's avatar
    jnharley
    Explorer
    Jan 01, 2014
    Our HitchHiker came with a list of what was what electrically. We found the list was not correct. So we spent an afternoon going through all the breakers and fuses and now have an accurate list. It is very helpful when having to do troubleshooting.
  • Jim-Linda's avatar
    Jim-Linda
    Explorer II
    Dec 31, 2013
    Since I still had AC for the furnace, we decided

    I believe you will find the furnace needs 12vdc, not AC

    Jim
  • JamesBr's avatar
    JamesBr
    Explorer
    Dec 31, 2013
    My knight was setup the same way. Several outlets shared the same breaker on the inverter. Nice when heading down the road or boondocking, to power electronics/etc. But not so nice to run the heaters thorugh. I took time to find out what power was on which breaker including non inverted power and which leg of the 50A. By doing so I learned that I could run a 1500watt thermostatic controlled heater in the bedroom area on a 30A site which helped keep the overall coach warm. If I was on a 50A site add another 1500watt pointed towards the front door, but I had to use a specific set of outlets to avoid poping the breaker and stay off the inverted power.

    I never tried to use them to avoid the furnace, I still wanted it to run to keep everything underneath from getting too cold (did not heat the bays but it shed heat onto the water system/etc.)
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Dec 31, 2013
    You had two 1500 watt heaters (roughly 12 amps each) plugged into one 15 or 20 amp breaker, Yes, it tripped, that is what they call Working as designed.

    Next time make sure when you plug in a portable heater it is on an outlet that is *NOT* powered via the inverter.

    In fact, a suggestion... 12 amps is pushing it for many RV systems.. Though the outlets are rated for 15... 12 is pushing it.

    I installed a pair of 15/20 amp breakers in my RV, one in the bedroom, one living room. These outlets have a T shaped neutral slot and will accept either 15 or 20 amp plugs. (20 amp plugs the neutral is turned sideways)

    They DO NOT have any kind of hole or punch down connector but rather a screw you bend wire around and tighten down.. 12 ga wire is what I used, and it runs back to the breaker box where it has a breaker all to it self..

    I also have a 3rd 20 amp outlet but it's kind of special and I won't discuss it.

    These are for the heaters... No problems, no smell of hot wire either.
  • Bobbo's avatar
    Bobbo
    Explorer II
    Dec 31, 2013
    Knowing which outlets are on which circuits is important, as you have discovered. My rig has 3 circuits with outlets. One is a 20 amp circuit without GFI, 2 outlets in the dining area and 1 in the bedroom. One is a 20 amp circuit with GFI protection, an outside outlet, entrance door outlet, kitchen outlet, and bathroom outlet. The third is through an inverter and is only 15 amps with GFI protection, both the front and rear entertainment centers.

    That is knowledge hard gained, and long remembered. Space heaters go on the two 20 amp circuits, one to a circuit, but never on the 15 amp circuit.
  • RoyB's avatar
    RoyB
    Explorer II
    Dec 31, 2013
    We like to use the campground power to run out electric heaters as well. The best thing we came up with was to run a second extension cord out to the pedestal and plug into the CG 20AMP service.

    This allows us to run the electric heaters off their breakers verses the RV...

    The problem may be to find a spot to run the extension into the trailer without leaving an open weather hole somewhere. I was able to come thru my storage bay door and up into the bedroom thru the dirty clothes chute on my 5th wheel..

    Using my off-road camper which is the trailer we use the most it is easy to come through any window flap...

    Just a couple of thoughts for you..
    Roy Ken
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Dec 31, 2013
    Flat tire
    Overheated brake
    Tripped breaker due to overloading

    And loose wiring connections

    You're learning FAST :B

    Welcome to the world of RVng!

    Even though you have had some problems you have been able to work your way thru them....KUDOS
  • DutchmenSport's avatar
    DutchmenSport
    Explorer
    Dec 31, 2013
    When we got our new Outback last September, I took the time to play with all the electric plugs to figure out what the camper could handle. I did the same as you, 2 heaters on the same breaker in the camper, and after a few minutes it popped and both heaters went off, but the television, microwave, etc. still worked. So I finally figured out which plugs to use so we could run 2 heaters without popping anything. Ever since my initial "exercise" in deliberately popping breakers, I've never popped another one since!

    It's all a learning curve! But now you know!
  • trnfla's avatar
    trnfla
    Explorer
    Dec 31, 2013
    You have learned one of the RVer's electrical juggling. 30 amp mains only can handle so much at a time. Enjoy the adventures

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