This issue seemed to have started without any suspected cause.When using my onboard 7000w Onan gas generator, one of the two breakers would trip when using no more than we typically use.I the tried a similar size portable generator and am getting the same problem.At the present time I not able to connect to shore power.Last used the onboard genset two days ago and all was OK. So what, all of a sudden, might be causing this issue?Thanks!

What is on the 'circuit' that is tripping......what stops working?Same problem using a different gen so issue is NOT with gen....it is something in MHWhat size circuit breaker is tripping?Fridge electric element Water heater electric elementA/C Unit Fan motor...compressor motorConverterMicrowaveANY 120V LightingANY Items plugged into an outlet When CB trips something AC stops working???????

Know which circuit breaker that is tripping may help.

Same as always, getting info like pullin teeth

Without more information, it is hard to tell.I would check the neutral connections in the 120/240 volt power distribution panel.Get some electrical de-oxidation grease before you start.Disconnect from AC power source.Remove cover from AC power distribution panel.Look in the back of the box for where the neutrals connect. (white wires)Disconnect each one on at a time. Clean the buss bar and wire. Cut it back if it is real bad.Apply a liberal amount of de-ox compound and re-terminate.

Like Old-Biscuit says, first rule of troubleshooting, ask yourself "what is not working" and work backwards from those items. The circuit breaker can be tripping from something as simple as a loose wire connection. I say simple but if fact these can very hard to find. Most of your 120v is for outlets or heating elements. If your tripping a breaker at the gen-set you'll have a large search area. For a gen-set breaker try turning off all breakers in the panel. Gen-set should run fine. Then one by one turn on a breaker, start with the mains. When you trip the breaker you've found the circuit with the problem (not saying you can't have more than one). Now you have to check everything on that circuit. Don't forget to check the wiring connections on the back side of the breakers. If it's a panel breaker this helps narrow down your search. A 50 amp system can just be one side which helps eliminate half of your system. Of course a system breaker like for a AC unit will require checking out that particular appliance. For outlets, a quick visual look at each outlet for a scorched spot or maybe it will smell burnt. I have replaced several bad GFCI outlets. Check things systematically, start with the outlet farthest from the box and work back. With the breaker off (CHECK WITH A METER THAT NO POWER IS PRESENT) pull out the outlet and check for loose wires, scorched spot, melted plastic etc.Average problems take more time to find than to fix. I hope this makes sense and is at least as clear as mud. Good luck and be safe.

Circuit breaker tripping | Good Sam Community

Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Oct 15, 2015
NoSnowInAZ wrote:
I know what I can use and what I cant. New problem.

With all due respect, you don't know what you can run, else you would not be tripping 2 different 30 amp breakers. There is a load that you have forgotten about- typically a water heater and an air conditioner will trip a 30 amp breaker- it's not hard to do.
NoSnowInAZ
Explorer
Oct 15, 2015
Again, there were two gensets used - one, a contractor type and the other an onboard Onan.
And again, as initially stated, these were new problems with the breakers tripping. I know what I can use and what I cant. New problem.
DrewE
Explorer II
Oct 15, 2015
"Both were tripping one of the two 30A breakers on the gensets."

Are these contractor style generators, with open metal frames? If so, you're typically limited to half the total generator power on each leg of a 240V split-phase circuit. Depending on how you're plugged into the generator, you may be only using one leg for everything. Depending on how your RV is wired, you may have most loads connected to one leg.

The breaker on the generator is popping simply because you're trying to use too much power from that leg of its output. The shore power breaker doesn't pop under similar usage because it has a higher capacity and can support the load. There is nothing suggesting any fault in your transfer switch or other part of the RV in this case--simply that you're trying to use too much electricity from the more limited source.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Oct 15, 2015
With enough information, we may actually be able to answer that. The secret is getting enough information.
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Oct 15, 2015
NoSnowInAZ wrote:
I understand what you are asking and will do that. However, the issue now is why is everything OK with shore power but not with gensets (either the 7000w onboard or 7000w portable).
Why the difference?

Shore power is 12,000 watts, the generators are 7,000 watts. You cannot run as much off the genset.
NoSnowInAZ
Explorer
Oct 15, 2015
I understand what you are asking and will do that. However, the issue now is why is everything OK with shore power but not with gensets (either the 7000w onboard or 7000w portable).
Why the difference?
mkirsch
Nomad II
Oct 15, 2015
Please. Stop guessing randomly. You have acknowledged that you have no electrical knowledge. The reason nobody has given you any firm suggestions is because we need better information from you.

Please just do this for thr group: When one of the breakers trips, go inside the RV and test EVERYTHING. Every appliance. Every light. Every fan. Every outlet. Make a list, and note whether each one works, or doesn't.

Post that list here.

HINT: The list of items that do NOT work when the breaker trips are your prime suspects for the problem.
NoSnowInAZ
Explorer
Oct 14, 2015
I'm thinking transfer switch? Coach is an '02 - switch was replaced 10 years ago. Maybe??
NoSnowInAZ
Explorer
Oct 14, 2015
Could have been a different combination of items - mist though were heavy amps 12-15 -
Elect water heater, nuke, toaster oven, hair drier. I understand they all take a lot - it's just that the symptom is new - hadn't happened before
wolfe10
Explorer
Oct 14, 2015
What was powered by the breaker that tripped on the generator?