Hi everyone, we bought a 2004 Colorado 5th wheel last year. We've had problems with the A/C not blowing as hard as we think it should, and the circuit breakers (mostly the main, but also the one for the A/C) tripped more and more. The A/C was replaced last year. It is 13,500 BTU and the rig is 30 amp.The circuit breaker it's on is a 15/20 duplex 2 pole Eaton Cutler-Hammer. The other circuit on that breaker is labeled "General Purpose", and seems to control all of the outlets in the RV that are not GFCI. The microwave and hot water heater are on their own circuits.I got around to replacing the breakers today and noticed that the listing on the panel said that the A/C is on the 20 amp circuit, but when testing it I found that it was actually connected to the 15 amp.This is an old RV so I'm thinking that the previous owner might have replaced the circuit breaker at some point and reconnected it improperly. However, the panel could also be labelled incorrectly.When I reconnected it I put the A/C on the 20 amp and so far so good. Nothing has tripped and the A/C is blowing noticeably harder. I'm wondering though if that was a mistake. What do you guys think? Does it make sense for the A/C to be on 15 amp or 20 amp?Thanks!

13.5K RV A/C Unit roughly 2750W to start (22A) and 1250W running (10.4A)20A Circuit Breaker for A/C Unit

20 amp. Check and make sure the circuit is 12 gauge wire, too.12 gauge = 20 amps14 gauge = 15 amps (a.c. circuits) < "alternating current"

Thanks guys! Appreciate the information. Hopefully putting it on the 20 amp will solve all the problems.

NEC code says that dedicated appliances can't draw more than a certain % of rated load for wire or breaker. I think it's like 80%. So for a 15A breaker, max load shouldn't exceed about 12A. Most of the non high efficiency 13.5K units have a max draw near 12-14A, so 15A is IMHO marginal. And once a breaker starts tripping, it will eventually trip at below the rated current. A quick check on the coleman site says the MachIII has a rated running current of 13.1A. standard draw is listed at 1400W and desert conditions listed at 1700W. 1700W is over the limit for a 15A breaker. That would be 14A or so draw, well in excess of NEC code for a dedicated appliance on a 15A circuit.And AC draw is dependent on temperature as well, going up as temps go up. It may draw only 10A or so on a cool day but 14+ on a hot day.Now if you go to a 20A breaker MAKE SURE THE WIRING IS 12GA, not 14GA!!!!! 14GA wire is only rated for use on a 15A or lower breaker.

ktmrfs wrote:Now if you go to a 20A breaker MAKE SURE THE WIRING IS 12GA, not 14GA!!!!! 14GA wire is only rated for use on a 15A or lower breaker.Thank you, I'll sure sure to check that!

Should a 13,500 BTU A/C be wired to a 15 or 20 amp breaker?

kmb1966
Explorer
May 20, 2018
dougrainer wrote:
ALL RV Roof top AC units the install instructions require a minimum of a 20 amp breaker and Minimum 12 /2 Romex wire. Doug

Except the Dometic BriskAir2 H.E. unit.
I have one and the specs on it call for a 15amp breaker. It's the only one I know of that specs a 15 amp instead of 20.
Bobbo
Explorer II
May 20, 2018
kmb1966 wrote:
dougrainer wrote:
ALL RV Roof top AC units the install instructions require a minimum of a 20 amp breaker and Minimum 12 /2 Romex wire. Doug

Except the Dometic BriskAir2 H.E. unit.
I have one and the specs on it call for a 15amp breaker. It's the only one I know of that specs a 15 amp instead of 20.

Here is the installation manual for the Dometic BriskAir2 H.E. unit.

http://manuals.adventurerv.net/Brisk-Brisk-II-Penguin-II-HP-mech-ABD-Operating-Manual.pdf

Page 4 of this manual calls for a 20 amp circuit.
kmb1966
Explorer
May 20, 2018
http://www.rvpartscountry.com/Dometic-Brisk-Air-2-High-Efficiency-Air-Conditioner-Top-Unit-Only_p_27182.html

Depends on the model. The one I purchased clearly states 15amp.
dougrainer
Nomad
May 20, 2018
kmb1966 wrote:
dougrainer wrote:
ALL RV Roof top AC units the install instructions require a minimum of a 20 amp breaker and Minimum 12 /2 Romex wire. Doug

Except the Dometic BriskAir2 H.E. unit.
I have one and the specs on it call for a 15amp breaker. It's the only one I know of that specs a 15 amp instead of 20.

Please try to post that spec. I have never seen a 15 amp breaker listed for a Dometic AC unit. I also have a "Master" spec guide for Dometic AC units, and ALL list a minimum of 20 amp breaker. Doug

http://www.rvpartscountry.com/Dometic13500DuoThermBrisk2TopUnitOnlyAirConditioner.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMItsT3uuiU2wIVVrbACh3THwstEAQYAiABEgIGufD_BwE
kmb1966
Explorer
May 21, 2018
dougrainer wrote:
kmb1966 wrote:
dougrainer wrote:
ALL RV Roof top AC units the install instructions require a minimum of a 20 amp breaker and Minimum 12 /2 Romex wire. Doug

Except the Dometic BriskAir2 H.E. unit.
I have one and the specs on it call for a 15amp breaker. It's the only one I know of that specs a 15 amp instead of 20.

Please try to post that spec. I have never seen a 15 amp breaker listed for a Dometic AC unit. I also have a "Master" spec guide for Dometic AC units, and ALL list a minimum of 20 amp breaker. Doug

http://www.rvpartscountry.com/Dometic13500DuoThermBrisk2TopUnitOnlyAirConditioner.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMItsT3uuiU2wIVVrbACh3THwstEAQYAiABEgIGufD_BwE

The Model https://www.campingworld.com/brisk-ii-he-air-conditioner-white
on the Camping World Site and RVpartscountry website both show this unit for a 15 amp circuit.
I have the installation manual in PDF, and it shows 15amp, trying to figure out how to post this for information on this site.
It is a DOMETIC MODEL B59530.XX1C0

Trying to figure out how to post the link.
kmb1966
Explorer
May 21, 2018
Ok. I think this is the installation manual for the Dometic Brisk Air HE (High Efficiency) Unit. I have this unit installed and have been using it for a couple years. On a 15amp circuit. Never trips the breaker. Dometic indicates it to be installed on a 15 amp circuit.
Dometic Brisk Air High Efficiency
Bobbo
Explorer II
May 21, 2018
kmb1966 wrote:
Ok. I think this is the installation manual for the Dometic Brisk Air HE (High Efficiency) Unit. I have this unit installed and have been using it for a couple years. On a 15amp circuit. Never trips the breaker. Dometic indicates it to be installed on a 15 amp circuit.
Dometic Brisk Air High Efficiency

So, it does. I sit corrected.

The website here:

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1061939/Dometic-541815.html?page=4#manual

lists the 3.5kw units as 20 amp and the 2.5kw units as 15 amp. Under "nominal capacity" it lists neither 15,000 BTU nor 13,500 BTU. It lists as "N/A." (They even have some 20 amp units listed as 11,000 BTU.)
dougrainer
Nomad
May 21, 2018
Bobbo wrote:
kmb1966 wrote:
Ok. I think this is the installation manual for the Dometic Brisk Air HE (High Efficiency) Unit. I have this unit installed and have been using it for a couple years. On a 15amp circuit. Never trips the breaker. Dometic indicates it to be installed on a 15 amp circuit.
Dometic Brisk Air High Efficiency

So, it does. I sit corrected.

The website here:

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1061939/Dometic-541815.html?page=4#manual

lists the 3.5kw units as 20 amp and the 2.5kw units as 15 amp. Under "nominal capacity" it lists neither 15,000 BTU nor 13,500 BTU. It lists as "N/A." (They even have some 20 amp units listed as 11,000 BTU.)

On some of Dometic's "models", they could NOT get a 15k BTU rating. They fell short of 15k so they dropped the actual BTU rating and stated "HE". They are close enough to 15k, but are NOT really 15K. They developed those 2 models for the Class B van market where they install smaller Onan 2.5kw gensets. Doug
kmb1966
Explorer
May 21, 2018
Before I purchased my unit, I contacted Dometic tech support because I could not determine what the BTU rating based on the documentation. They said that it was a 13.5k. A few websites show this unit as 13.5k, but most like Camping World, do not indicate it. I use this rooftop unit as a 'backup' or compliment to my current basement a/c. It works wonderful. If it is in the 80's, I can use only this unit very easily. But in HOT Arizona summer of 115 degrees, it works great in conjunction with the basement air. It does not have a heat pump or heat strip though. :(

This is the unit for sale at Camping World:
Dometic Brisk Air HE
red31
Explorer
May 21, 2018
dometic calls Model 15K Btu

https://www.dometic.com/en-us/us/products/climate/air-conditioners/air-conditioners-for-rvs/dometic-brisk-ii-air-_-20784?at=rv#specifications

Cooling capacity (ISO 5151) Hi Efficiency W
Power consumption - Cooling mode (ISO 5151) 1316 W

Forum Discussion

Should a 13,500 BTU A/C be wired to a 15 or 20 amp breaker?

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