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bstump's avatar
bstump
Explorer
Sep 03, 2017

Ac breaker poping

We are living in our 5th wheel and did not have any issues at our home campground. We pulled the rig down near Temcula for a week vacation. Super hot here, 108. After getting plugged in and settled, our breaker to AC 1 keeps poping after about 15 min of running. Ac2 (beadroom) is fine. But AC1 keeps poping. It's a 20 amp breaker, and I have a surge protector at the pole. We have the shades down and trying to run at reduced power( all lights off). Still the breaker pops. It ran fine back home, now it pops off. Not sure why all of a sudden we have the problem. Any thoughts and advice would be appreciated
  • It would be helpful to know if the rig is 30 ampere service or 50 ampere service.

    Only then can diagnostics begin.
  • Sounds like low voltage and that'd be my first suspect. Get a voltmeter and check voltage at the pedestal on each leg (assuming it's 50 amps with two AC units) and report back. It's a common issue in the summer with everyone else running AC units. Older CGs are more susceptible to this problem. Low voltage can damage AC units so you definitely want to make sure it's okay. If below 105 volts, do not use AC units. An AC unit draws more current as the voltage goes down.

    Only way to overcome low voltage is to use an autoformer. Some CGs don't allow them so check first. Sometimes you can move closer to where the transformer or distribution panel is located. A section of 50 amp pedestals in a CG should have better voltage.

    Other causes could be a bad 20 amp breaker, CG wiring issue, bad shore power cord to pedestal connection. If it's a 30 amp service, running two AC units is likely the cause.

    Low voltage is when you really want to have a Progressive Industries EMS unit which will automatically shut you down (as well as other electrical issues). A "surge suppressor", if that's what you really have, won't protect against low voltage.
  • You may just have a breaker that's getting weak. You might try putting your fridge and water heater in gas mode to lighten the overall electric load and see if that makes a difference. If the pedestal that your plugged into is providing voltage at the lower end of the spectrum it can start overheating your shore plug, breakers, and etc.
  • It could be low voltage on that leg. When the voltage drops the current goes up.
  • Have you read what the power is at the breaker? I would change the breaker if the power is acceptable at the breaker as a first step. Sometimes they get weak and won't carey the listed load. After that start testing how much load the AC is pulling. May be a bad start capacitor.
    Bill

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