travel trailer electric power
not real confident about electric power for my travel trailer, however I am confused as to why my breaker goes off when I have a coffee maker and toaster plugged in and in use. How can I improve this...
Forum Discussion
Need more info...
What is the wattage of the toaster and coffee maker?
What else is running at the same time? Is the HWT on electric? AC unit running?
What are you plugged into and is it 15, 20 or 30 amps? CG pedestal? What is the voltage? (Need a voltmeter or permanent plug-in digital LED meter inside your camper). Which breaker is tripping? The one in your panel that is supplying the kitchen circuit, the 30 amp main in your panel or the one in the CG pedestal? Does the breaker trip quickly or after a couple of minutes? Is there a poor connection at the shore power plug to pedestal receptacle? Your plug blades should always be kept clean and shiny (use emery cloth) but the inside of some CG recepts. can be really bad but you can't see inside them.
Wattage of coffee makers and toasters can vary quite a bit. We use our 800 watt toaster and 700 watt coffee maker together all the time and can run other things at the same time too like microwave, converter, fridge. A fridge element is only 300 watts so should have little affect on total load. If you are tripping the 15 amp breaker in your panel for your kitchen recept., consider getting smaller wattage appliances or only use one at a time.
Be aware that low voltage in CGs is a common problem. AC units draw more current when the voltage drops which can lead to a tripped breaker. Installing a permanent voltmeter inside is a good idea for anyone. Never let your AC unit run when the voltage gets below 105. Appliances like toaster, coffee maker & hair dryer will draw less current as voltage goes down but less than the increase from an AC unit.
Running electrical appliances in 30 amp RVs requires managing loads by not plugging in multiple high wattage appliances at the same time. Simple once you realize what to do and what the wattage of your appliances is. We have never had a breaker trip, like most RV-ers find. I installed an LED ammeter and it rarely gets much above 15 amps unless the electric heat, AC or DW's 1875 watt hair dryer is running while other things are on at the same time.
Without getting into technical details, a circuit breaker will not trip the instant it gets to it's rating (unless a short circuit) and for heavy draw appliances that operate for a short duration like a toaster, coffee maker or hair dryer for ex., will be able to run long enough to get it's job done. The longer the duration is and the higher the current, the sooner it will trip.
Note - if you are at a pedestal that has a 50 amp recept., it's often a good idea to use a 30 to 50 amp adapter because you will likely get better voltage and the 50 amp recept. will be in better shape.
What is the wattage of the toaster and coffee maker?
What else is running at the same time? Is the HWT on electric? AC unit running?
What are you plugged into and is it 15, 20 or 30 amps? CG pedestal? What is the voltage? (Need a voltmeter or permanent plug-in digital LED meter inside your camper). Which breaker is tripping? The one in your panel that is supplying the kitchen circuit, the 30 amp main in your panel or the one in the CG pedestal? Does the breaker trip quickly or after a couple of minutes? Is there a poor connection at the shore power plug to pedestal receptacle? Your plug blades should always be kept clean and shiny (use emery cloth) but the inside of some CG recepts. can be really bad but you can't see inside them.
Wattage of coffee makers and toasters can vary quite a bit. We use our 800 watt toaster and 700 watt coffee maker together all the time and can run other things at the same time too like microwave, converter, fridge. A fridge element is only 300 watts so should have little affect on total load. If you are tripping the 15 amp breaker in your panel for your kitchen recept., consider getting smaller wattage appliances or only use one at a time.
Be aware that low voltage in CGs is a common problem. AC units draw more current when the voltage drops which can lead to a tripped breaker. Installing a permanent voltmeter inside is a good idea for anyone. Never let your AC unit run when the voltage gets below 105. Appliances like toaster, coffee maker & hair dryer will draw less current as voltage goes down but less than the increase from an AC unit.
Running electrical appliances in 30 amp RVs requires managing loads by not plugging in multiple high wattage appliances at the same time. Simple once you realize what to do and what the wattage of your appliances is. We have never had a breaker trip, like most RV-ers find. I installed an LED ammeter and it rarely gets much above 15 amps unless the electric heat, AC or DW's 1875 watt hair dryer is running while other things are on at the same time.
Without getting into technical details, a circuit breaker will not trip the instant it gets to it's rating (unless a short circuit) and for heavy draw appliances that operate for a short duration like a toaster, coffee maker or hair dryer for ex., will be able to run long enough to get it's job done. The longer the duration is and the higher the current, the sooner it will trip.
Note - if you are at a pedestal that has a 50 amp recept., it's often a good idea to use a 30 to 50 amp adapter because you will likely get better voltage and the 50 amp recept. will be in better shape.
