Hello,I have a 1985 Jayco travel trailer that I'd like to install an air conditioner in. The camper is already wired for A/C with a wire from the ceiling to close to the breaker box. I took a look at how the breaker box was wired and I think it needs some work. It's a two breaker box with a single screw for the black hot wire on either side (one for each breaker). The left side has a double 15 amp. If I need to add a 20 amp breaker it has to go on the right. Can I jumper the hot wire over to the right breaker to power it? Or should I reconfigure it with a 30 amp main breaker going to a sub panel with multiple breakers? How would these be setup from the factory?Thanks for your help,Jeremy

The breaker should already be powered by the rail since it is a 30 amp you only have one hot side. Put the breaker in and the breaker will be hot just hook up the 12ga wire

You need to purchase a thin breaker to go in the right side. This will give you protection for the new AC unit and supply power to what is currently fed from the right side. The buss should be either all ready jumpered or is one piece.

My breaker panel has five large full size breakers slots on the 120VAC side.I have the main 30A Breaker full size and then installed 8 half size breakers for the 12-circuit breaker zone I use.Circuit breakers usually comes in three different physical size... FUl with single breaker - Full with two separate breakers - half size with one breakerI got all of the breakers from LOWES when I canged my old Power Panel for a more modern WFCO 8900 Series Power Panel...Some folks like to use the same manf type breakers so get the model and manf off the existing breakers and LOWES will most likely have your exact model line...google imageRoy Ken

Thanks so much for your quick replies. The bus appears to be two different pieces one for each breaker which is fed by it's own hot wire. Only the left currently has the 30 amp hot feed coming in. I'm not getting any power to the right side breaker yet. I have yet to test it, but the A/C is not turning on wired to the new 20 amp breaker on the rights side. If the right does not test to have any power, should I jumper the wire from the left bus screw to the right bus screw?Thanks,Jeremy

You may need to jumper the two sections of buss work.

Wiring Air Conditioning to 30 amp Panel | Good Sam Community

enblethen
Nomad
Jun 30, 2016
Thanks for the update!
JeremyV
Explorer
Jun 30, 2016
I jumpered the lugs together last night and everything is working fine. Thanks again!
JeremyV
Explorer
Jun 28, 2016
Thanks so much! I swapped the breaker last night to to hot side and at least I was able to test the A/C and it worked. =) I'll get this jumpered and let you all know how it goes. Thank you very much for your time, you all are awesome!
enblethen
Nomad
Jun 28, 2016
A and B from the diagram must be jumpered. On lower photo the lug on the left side of blue handled breaker must be jumper to empty lug on right side of double 20 amp breaker. Use minimum of #10 wire.
JeremyV
Explorer
Jun 28, 2016
Here are some pictures of the box.
JeremyV
Explorer
Jun 27, 2016
I'll grab a picture and post it up later tonight. I did have the double 15 breaker on when testing the 20 amp for the A/C. I'll try testing with the multimeter also and see what I get. Thanks so much for your help I really appreciate your input.
westend
Explorer
Jun 27, 2016
Are you measuring for voltage on the right side bus with the 30 amp breaker "ON"? The 30 amp breaker in most RV load centers acts like a main breaker for the whole load center.

If you can list the name and model of the distribution panel or post a picture, it would add some clarity.
enblethen
Nomad
Jun 27, 2016
You may need to jumper the two sections of buss work.
JeremyV
Explorer
Jun 27, 2016
Thanks so much for your quick replies. The bus appears to be two different pieces one for each breaker which is fed by it's own hot wire. Only the left currently has the 30 amp hot feed coming in. I'm not getting any power to the right side breaker yet. I have yet to test it, but the A/C is not turning on wired to the new 20 amp breaker on the rights side. If the right does not test to have any power, should I jumper the wire from the left bus screw to the right bus screw?

Thanks,
Jeremy
RoyB
Explorer II
Jun 26, 2016
My breaker panel has five large full size breakers slots on the 120VAC side.

I have the main 30A Breaker full size and then installed 8 half size breakers for the 12-circuit breaker zone I use.

Circuit breakers usually comes in three different physical size... FUl with single breaker - Full with two separate breakers - half size with one breaker

I got all of the breakers from LOWES when I canged my old Power Panel for a more modern WFCO 8900 Series Power Panel...

Some folks like to use the same manf type breakers so get the model and manf off the existing breakers and LOWES will most likely have your exact model line...

google image

Roy Ken