Have you ever tripped a breaker in your RV? Do you keep track of the AMPS you are using? Do you know how many amps an electric frying pan or hairdryer or a heating pad uses? I hope you will find this blog post helpful.http://quinnsawesomejourney.blogspot.com/2014/10/1092014-dont-blow-your-breaker.html

Yes we do. I have digital readouts for both AC and DC amps and voltage.We monitor the current closely when running a coffee pot, space heater and waffle iron and turn things off as needed to keep current under control.

I spent a bit of time locating which circuit each outlet was on and whether it was connected to the inverter on not. It helps to prevent tripping the circuit breakers. I also discovered that my panel has 10 circuit breakers and 11 labels (and were incorrectly marked)??? I redid the labels for the panel.Amp Usage Link

That is what breakers are for.Every now and then (when on 30Amp) we trip the pedestal breaker. We turn something off (usually the water heater) and reset the breaker. Life goes on. No big deal.

Interesting topic. I've blown the main 30 amp breaker in my Outback a few times. I would have expected the breaker at the post to go first. But it did not. This has happened to us a few times. I suppose the breaker in the camper is either a bit more sensitive to 30 amps, or else the breaker at the post just doesn't work. No need for read-outs or anything though in my world, when I turned on that electric griddle with the water heater on electric and the air-conditioner running, the television and Dish receiver, 2 fans, and the television in the bedroom, I knew the griddle was a bit to much. Same thing happens when I try to plug that griddle into the outside outlet. I know better. I usually run an extension cord direct to the campground post for the griddle. But when it was raining that day, I just didn't want to go outside (you know???)

Allworth wrote:That is what breakers are for.Every now and then (when on 30Amp) we trip the pedestal breaker. We turn something off (usually the water heater) and reset the breaker. Life goes on. No big deal.That is my take on it also. Tripped park 30 amp breaker a few times. Just reset it and watched usage afterward. Never tripped a 50.Only internal breaker ever tripped was breaker for rear AC. Tripped three different times on one trip. Turned out to be a weak breaker. Replaced it and never another problem.

Don't Blow Your Breaker! | Good Sam Community

K3WE
Explorer
Nov 15, 2014
I dunno that you have to obsess over it and track every last AMP.

I prefer to go for big concepts:

1) A 30 amp trailer can be limiting and you can trip the breaker with relatively little effort.

2) Air conditioners pull a lot of amps.

3) Stuff that uses electricity to make heat pulls a lot of Amps. Electric space heater, microwave, hair drier, coffee pot.
(Gas furnaces and gas water heaters get their heat from the gas- not the electricity, thus they are not a big current draw*).

4) Don't run two big things at the same time if you are not willing to run out and flip the breaker back on...

4a) I'm not saying "never run two big draws at once"...you can indeed track the wattage/amp needs and run two things (the right things) at a time...but if it's the wrong two things- the breaker is likely to trip.

*"Big draw" is a relative term- When plugged in to electric hook ups- the furnace electricity use is minimal compared to 30 amps of never-ending power. When running off of a battery- the battery isn't "never ending", and the electrical draw (from the fan) does add up pretty quickly and can exhaust a battery in a day fairly easily.
Bobbo
Explorer II
Nov 12, 2014
SteveRuff wrote:
Bobbo wrote:
DW finally learned to turn off the A/C and elecric water heater element before turning on the hair dryer.

Took her a while.

Yours does that herself???? Mine just yells that she is about to dry her hair and it's up to me to do what needs to be done, asap!

Actually, no. What she finally learned to do was to yell "I'm fixing to dry my hair!"

When I used to hear the hair dryer fire up, it was too late.
kvangil
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
Allworth wrote:
That is what breakers are for.

Every now and then (when on 30Amp) we trip the pedestal breaker. We turn something off (usually the water heater) and reset the breaker. Life goes on. No big deal.

X2. We've never tripped the pedestal breaker yet, but have tripped our own breakers when running 2 heaters on the same breaker. We've since moved the heaters to opposite ends of the camper. We had a popup for several years where the AC breaker was always tripped during storage. Not sure why, but no harm done, just reset and go...
SteveRuff
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
Bobbo wrote:
DW finally learned to turn off the A/C and elecric water heater element before turning on the hair dryer.

Took her a while.

Yours does that herself???? Mine just yells that she is about to dry her hair and it's up to me to do what needs to be done, asap!
beemerphile1
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
Snookie wrote:
Have you ever tripped a breaker in your RV? Do you keep track of the AMPS you are using? Do you know how many amps an electric frying pan or hairdryer or a heating pad uses? I hope you will find this blog post helpful.

http://quinnsawesomejourney.blogspot.com/2014/10/1092014-dont-blow-your-breaker.html

I would think a senior member would know how to make a link clickable, specially if using the forum to advertise your blog. :B

http://quinnsawesomejourney.blogspot.com/2014/10/1092014-dont-blow-your-breaker.html

The info in your blog is accurate but is only the beginning in understanding how the electrical system operates.
wannavolunteerF
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
did it when a friend was camping with me.. water heater on electric, drying hair, furnace blower came on at the same time that friend tried to use microwave... once I realized it was breaker at the post, I realized that was another thing that people who have never RV'ed should be instructed on..

I guess I should make a guest list.. toilet use, power management, etc
NanciL
Explorer II
Nov 12, 2014
In our case ninty percent of the time it is the ground fault receptacle, and usually that is caused by moisture in the outside one

Jack L
mileshuff
Explorer
Nov 12, 2014
Only when running microwave while A/C is on. Otherwise never a tripped breaker.
LynnandCarol
Explorer
Nov 11, 2014
Bobbo wrote:
DW finally learned to turn off the A/C and elecric water heater element before turning on the hair dryer.

Took her a while.

He he he Well Bobbo you sound kinda like my DH. Some times it is hard to remember to turn stuff off before you warm that coffee in the microwave. He just looks over and shakes his head.
atreis
Explorer
Nov 11, 2014
Every appliance has a label on it somewhere that gives the amperage draw. Read them, and you'll know the answer. (Most of those listed will pull in the neighborhood of 10-13 amps depending on model. If I remember right, NEC limits continuous load to 13 amps max for any single device in order to account for older wiring and breakers.)