Forum Discussion

gkime's avatar
gkime
Explorer
May 13, 2014

circuit breakers

just got my new (used)rv new to me a first timer it,s a 2001 four winds 34 foot 34,000 miles on it.
my question is I can,t seem to find the circuit breaker box my back air condition is not working I can hear it click on but nothing else I
was wanting to check the circuit box can somebody help thank you
  • If it clicks you have power. More than likely the shaft is stuck. Every Spring (we winter in the Tacoma WA area and do not use the AC) I have to pull the cover on each AC unit and lubricate the fan shaft and give it a good spin by hand. After that they run fine. You can access it by taking the cover off on the roof, or from below by removing the grill, and then there is a sheet metal access plate on the bottom of the AC unit. Make sure it is off when you do this. If it isn't it could start up suddenly and take your fingers off.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Not necessarily.. My A/Cs the initial CLICK is a relay closing, it is powered by 12 volt DC from the batteries, THEN the motor kicks in.

    Where oh where did the breaker box go, or where or where could it be....

    Two answers: Look for a panel with a name on it, May be Parallex, WFFCO , Magnetek or Progressive Dyanmics.

    Open cabinets and cupboards Lift the dust ruffle on the bed. and check the basement compartments. That about covers the list..

    IN my house it's in the hall and I forget if it's not marked or says Progressive Dynamics on it (Black rectangle, I have two, different sizes, the other one is the fuse panel) I have seen them in an overhead cabinet in the bedroom, In a bathroom, IN a basement, Just inside the door and under the bed.. Sometimes like mine the fuse panel is a different box, sometimes it's the same box. You really need to find it.

    SOMETIMES it is near the power inlet or where the cord comes in,, If you can follow the cord on a Trailer you normally get there.

    ----

    One other thing: I am fond of saying many RVers have a few screws loose.. The screws I am referring to are inside the breaker panel.. While you are unplugged and if you have a generator turn it off (likewise an inverter) tighten every screw in the box.

    one of mine took over 2 turns.... It powered an air conditioner,, sometimes..(All the time once tightened)
  • Depending on your RV.

    If 30 amp with out a management system the rear AC may "only" work with the generator you may try that first.
  • wa8yxm's avatar
    wa8yxm
    Explorer III
    Another possible issue: IN days of old there was a company who's web page was, as I recall PSRV dot NET, Now gone.. but they made an adapter that let you use both A/C's on a 30 amp site.... By doing a "Break out" on one of them..

    The adapter consisted of a box with an inlet (Mounted Plug) an outlet on a pigtail (Like the outlet end of a 12ga extension cord) and a circuit breaker.

    If you have one of those the outlet may have been pulled off (handy for say running an air compressor for winterizing, DOne that in fact) or the breaker tripped.