Forum Discussion

littleboots's avatar
littleboots
Explorer
Sep 11, 2014

Where to start. AC breaker trips... HELP

I have a 2006 Redline travel trailer. Its left at our vacation place by the Colorado River. It's plugged into 30amp power.

The problem is last time we went down the AC didn't work (and it was 112 degrees.. lucky me). When I turned the AC off at the breaker but turned the fan on, the AC fan would run but of course no cold air. The second I switched the AC on the 20amp breaker in the breaker cabinet would trip. I could reset it and breaker would hold with AC off but the second I clicked the AC on it would trip. Fridge and all other lights worked flawlessly so Im stumped on where to start. I was thinking of replacing the breaker as that has happened at my house where dust/dirt etc got in the breaker and caused it to trip easier. The batteries aren't new and I noticed the converter fan running pretty consistently. My thought is that power is obviously getting to the breaker so it should be between the breaker and the AC

Any and all assistance is appreciated.

Thanks again
  • LynnandCarol's avatar
    LynnandCarol
    Explorer
    Sep 11, 2014
    Clean the coils and lube the fan motor first. Have seen this happen and it puts a start load on the AC and will blow the breaker. Might not be your problem but have seen it.
  • Weldon's avatar
    Weldon
    Explorer
    Sep 11, 2014
    When my capacitor went out, their was an odor in the trailer like burned wires. Our a/c would run but would not cool. I think it is your compressor, how old is the unit? If necessary to replace the unit, I would replace with the same type so the wiring should match up. If you work on the capacitor, be aware they still have electrical charge in them after disconnected, put a screw driver across the terminals of capacitor to remove the charge.
  • littleboots's avatar
    littleboots
    Explorer
    Sep 11, 2014
    The batteries topic was just a question. I didn't know if it had anything to do with the electrical system when connected to 30A shore power.
  • Boband4's avatar
    Boband4
    Explorer
    Sep 12, 2014
    High outside temps could have everyone loading down the system using their air conditioners. Check your voltage at any outlet. If it is at or below 110 volts that will increase the amperage draw, so the air conditioner could be trying to draw too many amps. Try turning off the electric water heater to reduce your amp draw, which would leave more power for the air conditioner.
  • hddecker's avatar
    hddecker
    Explorer
    Sep 12, 2014
    Weldon wrote:
    When my capacitor went out, their was an odor in the trailer like burned wires. Our a/c would run but would not cool. I think it is your compressor, how old is the unit? If necessary to replace the unit, I would replace with the same type so the wiring should match up. If you work on the capacitor, be aware they still have electrical charge in them after disconnected, put a screw driver across the terminals of capacitor to remove the charge.


    Very important that you discharge the capacitor before working on it. Some of them have quite a kick and could send you over the edge of the roof.

    My grandson is in the appliance repair business, capacitors are his favorite. :S

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