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tomthyme's avatar
tomthyme
Explorer
Jul 22, 2015

AC Tripping a breaker

Hello Folks!
Well summer is finally here in Texas! 100+ temps in the DFW area are a sure sign that it is summer.

Last weekend the DW and I were out in our 2011 Carriage Cameo. The bedroom (2nd air) would run for 30 minutes or so, then trip a breaker. However, as we got into the evening and the temps cooled off, the tripping stopped - it ran straight through after about 11pm.

So, the question is, was the unit just overheating due to the heat? or could there be something more sinister afoot?

I am sure I need to clean the unit on the outside, but I am wondering if I should have it checked out before our next trip in September.

What do you guys think?

Thanks so much!

Tom
  • rjdlooking's avatar
    rjdlooking
    Explorer
    Jul 23, 2015
    If the bedroom air and main air are on the same c/b that will cause the C/B to over heat. I installed a second breaker that i pickup at the big box store moved one of the A/C to that breaker problem solved.
  • sdianel_-acct_c's avatar
    sdianel_-acct_c
    Explorer
    Jul 23, 2015
    we have been in Mississippi for a few days in 2 cities and both our AC's shut off when on shore power. Low voltage seems to be the culprit as it doesn't happen when running the generator. In 2 military campgrounds. I'm thinking brown outs due to excessive heat?? We have an energy management system. It either shut down or the AC's shut down due to low voltage. The voltage was fluctuating. We've also had storms both times with lightening. In one location the lightening took out 3 transformers near our location. Last night we waited until 10pm to turn back on the front AC and it worked fine until late this afternoon about 6pm. Weird!
  • magic43's avatar
    magic43
    Explorer
    Jul 23, 2015
    The cleaning may very well solve your problem.

    I am not reading where a voltage reading was taken. Low voltage = high current and that leads to tripped breakers. It is possible that the voltage was low on only one leg.
  • tomthyme's avatar
    tomthyme
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2015
    Thanks for the advice folks. I'll clean the coils and fan, then swap the breaker and see how we do. I will report the progress here.

    Thanks again!
  • filrupmark's avatar
    filrupmark
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2015
    Its possible that cleaning the condenser coils on the roof may help. If you don't have good air flow on those coils your compressor has to work harder. Higher temperatures means higher head pressure . Higher head pressure means more load on the compressor fighting higher head pressure which in turn draws more amperage. Remove the top cover and wash coils with a hose. Be sure fan has good air flow also. The fins on the coils may need straightening. As it cools down in the evening a little bit the compressor does not have to work as hard .So no more breaker tripping
  • tomthyme's avatar
    tomthyme
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2015
    CarlT100 wrote:
    If both units ran well on your generator, I think your shore power was dropping - probably because of all of the ac's running. As the temp cooled, demand dropped. Were you on 50 amp or 30 amp shore power?

    I guess the thing to do is check it on shore power at another location.


    .....makes sense to me....we were on 50 amp...
  • CarlT100's avatar
    CarlT100
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2015
    If both units ran well on your generator, I think your shore power was dropping - probably because of all of the ac's running. As the temp cooled, demand dropped. Were you on 50 amp or 30 amp shore power?

    I guess the thing to do is check it on shore power at another location.
  • tomthyme's avatar
    tomthyme
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2015
    tomthyme wrote:
    CarlT100 wrote:
    Tom, were you on shore power or generator?


    Good question - shore power. We ran our genny while going down the road, with both airs running (4 hours each way) and the AC never failed.

    Interesting question. We have a power conditioner built in, so unless the power level was dropping significantly on shore power, we should have been getting reasonably balanced shore power....I think....


    Good info - would be nice if that is all it is. Fingers crossed.
  • tomthyme's avatar
    tomthyme
    Explorer
    Jul 22, 2015
    CarlT100 wrote:
    Tom, were you on shore power or generator?


    Good question - shore power. We ran our genny while going down the road, with both airs running (4 hours each way) and the AC never failed.

    Interesting question. We have a power conditioner built in, so unless the power level was dropping significantly on shore power, we should have been getting reasonably balanced shore power....I think....

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