Forum Discussion

acooley's avatar
acooley
Explorer
Mar 06, 2014

breaker keeps throwing

Can anyone tell me why our main breaker at the meter keeps throwing? We've replaced it, tried over loading it....but it happens at random times, usually when nothing is being used. We have 10-3 wire ran about 50 feet, would that be the issue? If anyone has any ideas, please help! Trying to keep from rewiring the whole thing if it may be an issue with the camper itself. Breakers inside do not throw. When we turn everything on trying to throw it, it stays good. But at night when only a fan is running, it throws. What can it be? Thanks!
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Mar 07, 2014
    If the connector is soaking wet it could be enough to trip breaker.
    We need to wait for the OP to say:
    What kind of circuit it is. If it is a 15/20 amp then he is tripping a GFCI.
  • ScottG's avatar
    ScottG
    Nomad
    Mar 07, 2014
    enblethen wrote:
    It could be moisture build up at night.
    How is it connected on the rig's end? Is it protected from condensation?


    That could sure be the case if he has a GFCI but if it's a regular breaker then moisture wont conduct enough to make it trip (even if you submerged the plug in water).

    Cheers,
    Scott
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Mar 06, 2014
    YOu said "The main breaker at the meter" This .. is very strange,

    I would like to see a photo of the breaker. but instead I will tell you what I'd be looking for... A button on the breaker marked TEST.

    If there is such a button,, What you have is a groung fault. You said you ran 50 feet of 10/3 Ok I assume on the end of that you put a TT-30 outlet, which is laying on the ground with your trailer plugged into it.

    That is the problem, moisture is tripping the GFCI side of the breaker

    IF.. that is... It has that test button.
  • ernie1's avatar
    ernie1
    Explorer
    Mar 06, 2014
    What main breaker are you throwing? Are you at home or an rv park? What amperage rating is the breaker? Are we talking about a gfi or a breaker? Can the breaker be reset after it's thrown? Does it have good contact with the buss bars when installed? Who removed and reinstalled it?
  • pianotuna's avatar
    pianotuna
    Nomad III
    Mar 06, 2014
    Hi,

    Since it appears to happen when there is no load and the breakers do not trip inside the RV there may be an intermittent short in the power supply cord.

    I would replace the cord with one that is weather rated and cold rated for easy of storage.
  • You_can_t_take_'s avatar
    You_can_t_take_
    Explorer
    Mar 06, 2014
    We need a lot more info. like what kind of unit? what kind of hook-up? 30 amp?? Is your hot water tank on electric? Maybe that is cutting in at odd times etc. etc. Do you have anything else on that is regulated by thermostat or timed?? Having said that, is there anything else on the house circuit that it is plugged into that will trip the breaker?
  • NORM_WADDELL's avatar
    NORM_WADDELL
    Explorer
    Mar 06, 2014
    Breakers such as this trip for one of two
    reasons.......1. Faulty Breaker 2.Overload
    From your discussion, I suspect a faulty
    breaker.......change it again. If it's not
    that, you have an intermittant short circuit.
    When the short occurs, the breaker trips.
    Try turning off all but one IN THE RV
    circuit breakers, and see if you can
    find WHICH circuit is causing the problem.
    Another thought......if NO IN THE RV breakers
    trip, the problem may be in the supply plug,
    cord, or connection to the R V......again,
    an intermittant short.
  • enblethen's avatar
    enblethen
    Nomad
    Mar 06, 2014
    It could be moisture build up at night.
    How is it connected on the rig's end? Is it protected from condensation?

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