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Changing Circuit Breaker

revump
Explorer
Explorer
I have an 06 Alfa SeeYa. I am going to change #7 double throw in the left panel. It says that it is for the roof AC and Comp #2, but it also shuts off the charging cycle when it trips. It trips when we are on the generator or dry camping and we run the microwave or put anything heavy on the circuit. We are on shore power now. What do I need to shut off when I pull this circuit breaker?
Bob
25 REPLIES 25

dan-nickie
Explorer
Explorer
But all he asked was
"What do I need to shut off when I pull this circuit breaker?"
Dan and Nickie
2014 Forest River Berkshire 390RB

sailor_lou
Explorer
Explorer
Great post D.E.Bishop.

Lou
05 Travel Supreme Envoy

D_E_Bishop
Explorer
Explorer
This may be way off topic but, IMHO, this thread is emblematic of many posts. The OP is obviously a novice in the field of residential wiring, abet one who feels safe venturing into an unknown field. His problem was one many of us have, we forget to properly identify what we are talking about. It is so simple to site make, model and properties of what we are writing about. I have seen the evolution of residential electrical wiring from 1954 to present and since buying our Bounder, I have noted many changes in every facet of RV construction and materials. The name and model of your rig, company name and model of the piece of equipment you are having trouble with and the problem is the minimum information needed to respond logically. Pictures are almost always very helpful.

One should not be afraid to show that he is not a specialist in all things but just say what is wrong. The responders should in my opinion help the OP by explaining how to correctly state the problem. There are several sites dealing with and explaining basic electricity as it applies to RV's as well as S&Bs, suggesting the OP look at them in the future is a friendly and helpful thing.

I found the OPs statement a little vague and he didn't know how to identify the breaker. As I see it he has a breaker that has too many high current draw items it and not a bad breaker. Letting him know what he most likely has is a double circuit breaker in the spot designed for a single CB and how to isolate it. Several of you stated the obvious, disconnect all incoming power, shore, generator and inverter circuits. It would seem to me that his rigs wiring has a problem, too many things on the breaker. The OP did let us know directly that the AC and Comp #2 were on the breaker and indirectly by saying that other things stopped working when the CB tripped.

Do you get where I'm going, it's a lack of detail and failure to read between the lines. The CB is probably a double breaker(cheater) but not a double pole or 240 volt breaker(two single pole breakers tied together). Going into DP/DT definition isn't necessary or relevant. Uncalled for statements saying this is always and forever the way it is isn't relative either. Just because it's that way in your rig doesn't mean that is the industry standard. I had never seen an panel of low voltage automatic reset breakers in a rig in place of fuses until last year, and then I only saw them in the Winnies. Doesn't mean a thing, I wasn't looking for them in the other rigs, they may be very common in the industry today and they may go back several years.

Getting in an argument on someone's point of view is pointless and in this post just lead to flaming one another and forgetting the problem.

OK, my rant is over, and I'll let rvhump have my take on the problem and how I'd fix it.

There is probably nothing wrong with his breaker, the problem is most likely as stated by someone, the AC and the Microwave shouldn't be on the same circuit. The electrical codes almost everywhere in the US wouldn't allow that. MW, Garbage disposals and heavy draw items should be on their own circuits. I would suggest that he(following all safe practices) strip off everything but the AC from the circuit and see if the CB trips. Bet it won't.

I know that there isn't always room for the number of circuits in a house and some things may need to be doubled up but a AC unit and a Comp.(I guess compressor), MW and probably(I'm guessing here too) an outlet circuit with a toaster or maybe hair dryer connected, not good. Sometimes things have to be sharing the same circuits but the OP and everyone else should know not to turn them all on at once.

Hope this helps the OP.
"I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel's sake. The great affair is to go". R. L. Stevenson

David Bishop
2002 Winnebago Adventurer 32V
2009 GMC Canyon
Roadmaster 5000
BrakeBuddy Classic II

enblethen
Nomad
Nomad
That is the same as Bryant, Westinghouse and Murray breakers.
Need to make sure you get the correct series.

Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow


2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker

wolfe10
Explorer
Explorer
Clicky: http://www.bestconverter.com/Twin-30-20-Amp-Circuit-Breaker_p_132.html#.UrvB2HmA05s
Brett Wolfe
Ex: 2003 Alpine 38'FDDS
Ex: 1997 Safari 35'
Ex: 1993 Foretravel U240

Diesel RV Club:http://www.dieselrvclub.org/

bycrackey
Explorer
Explorer
Dennis4809 wrote:
Panel may not be labeled but breaker should be same as one of the choices at Lowes or Home Depot. Just because it doesn't look like the one in you SB house is somewhat immaterial. A Ford truck grill doesn't fit well in a Prius either.


Its a IOTA panel
you can see a picture of one at http://www.bestconverter.com/Twin-30-20-Amp-Circuit-Breaker_p_132.html#.UrvB2HmA05s

Dennis4809
Explorer
Explorer
Panel may not be labeled but breaker should be same as one of the choices at Lowes or Home Depot. Just because it doesn't look like the one in you SB house is somewhat immaterial. A Ford truck grill doesn't fit well in a Prius either.
2006 41' Gulf Stream Friendship 7
Cat C7, Allison 3060
Honda VTX on CruzerLift
Blue Ox, Brake Buddy
2014 Equinox LTZ V6 AWD

enblethen
Nomad
Nomad
bycrackey:
Look on your panel for the manufacturer of your panel and post it.

Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow


2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker

bycrackey
Explorer
Explorer
Old-Biscuit wrote:
bycrackey wrote:
enblethen wrote:
Double throw circuit breakers are only used in specialized systems. They are not used in houses or MHs.
You are confusing them with wafer, thin, tandem breakers.
This should be what you have not necessarily a Square D.
Tandem circuit breaker.
This style is common.
Tandem breaker
Circuit breakers are the same as residential.

maybe in yours but not my 08 bus.the breakers are shorter than house breaker,s and about a inch wide and are double throw per breaker most likely referred to as tandum.they do not look like my S+B house breakers such as the pictures u listed


Double Throw???
Those are used to transfer loads from one source to another source

Tandem is a double single pole CB (know as cheaters) that take up one panel space and feed two different circuits---each with own on/off/trip

what I said "most likely tandum" single breaker with 2 feeds and there way different looking and size than any house breaker I have ever seen,used or delt with.That is the ones in my 08 ABDP are much different looking than my house to repeat myself
I admit I may be using the wrong terminology compared to a qualified electrical guy.All I know is this 1) the breakers in MY mh are different than any house breaker I have seen and 2) there all double
what iam saying is in my house the breakers are all mostly single 15 amp one throw.In my MH there all double throw which I assume is like two breakers in one assembly

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
bycrackey wrote:
enblethen wrote:
Double throw circuit breakers are only used in specialized systems. They are not used in houses or MHs.
You are confusing them with wafer, thin, tandem breakers.
This should be what you have not necessarily a Square D.
Tandem circuit breaker.
This style is common.
Tandem breaker
Circuit breakers are the same as residential.

maybe in yours but not my 08 bus.the breakers are shorter than house breaker,s and about a inch wide and are double throw per breaker most likely referred to as tandum.they do not look like my S+B house breakers such as the pictures u listed


Double Throw???
Those are used to transfer loads from one source to another source

Tandem is a double single pole CB (know as cheaters) that take up one panel space and feed two different circuits---each with own on/off/trip
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

bycrackey
Explorer
Explorer
enblethen wrote:
Double throw circuit breakers are only used in specialized systems. They are not used in houses or MHs.
You are confusing them with wafer, thin, tandem breakers.
This should be what you have not necessarily a Square D.
Tandem circuit breaker.
This style is common.
Tandem breaker
Circuit breakers are the same as residential.

maybe in yours but not my 08 bus.the breakers are shorter than house breaker,s and about a inch wide and are double throw per breaker most likely referred to as tandum.they do not look like my S+B house breakers such as the pictures u listed and the mini handle that allows u to turn on and off are smaller in size

Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Explorer III
enblethen wrote:
Double throw circuit breakers are only used in specialized systems. They are not used in houses or MHs.
You are confusing them with wafer, thin, tandem breakers.
This should be what you have not necessarily a Square D.
Tandem circuit breaker.
Circuit breakers are the same as residential.


Correct!

CB's for home or RV are standard single pole...available at any hardware store. Even ones that are GFCI CBs

And some times the installers will wire the converter feed to a breaker used for another appliance...ain't right but have seen it done.
Is it time for your medication or mine?


2007 DODGE 3500 QC SRW 5.9L CTD In-Bed 'quiet gen'
2007 HitchHiker II 32.5 UKTG 2000W Xantex Inverter
US NAVY------USS Decatur DDG31

enblethen
Nomad
Nomad
Double throw circuit breakers are only used in specialized systems. They are not used in houses or MHs.
You are confusing them with wafer, thin, tandem breakers.
This should be what you have not necessarily a Square D.
Tandem circuit breaker.
This style is common.
Tandem breaker
Circuit breakers are the same as residential.

Bud
USAF Retired
Pace Arrow


2003 Chev Ice Road Tracker

bycrackey
Explorer
Explorer
chuckftboy wrote:
If by double throw you mean double pole, somthing is not right. RV's use single pole breakers (115 volt) on the circuits except for the main breaker. If 2 are tied together, when one trips, it will trip the other. The a/c breaker should be independant of converter or microwave breaker.

motor homes don't use the same breakers as a house!
In my MH (eg) the breakers are all double throw even though they
control different segments of the MH