30A panel on large trailer... too small?

vlopddap wrote:
My father-in-law just purchased a slightly used 26 feet long travel trailer, with as well, a 30A electrical panel. He have a 13.5K roof AC and a electric/DSI water heater, just like most of travel trailer in this size. When he run both the water heater in electric mode and the A/C, the first circuit breaker are triggering after a few minutes... his trailer have a full outside kitchen, but if he run both of the electric toaster outside and the electrical coffee maker inside, the second circuit breaker are also triggering after a few minutes. I am owning myself a 8 feet pop-up camper so this is not the kind of concern I have on it.

I am not that much a RV specialist, however in everyday's life, I am a skilled computer/electronic technician so I surely have a good skill in general electricity and at this point I can't understand why the hell somebody put a 30A service on that size of travel trailer with that kind of equipment. It's a non-sense to me! I don't think his camper have any defect anywhere, I just think it's overloaded from the factory.

If I take the 6 gallon electric water heater, it surely have something like a 1000W+ heating element, which is over 8A continuous. Then apparently it's connected to the same circuit as the AC, which is a 13.5K compressor AC, so obviously it's a lot of power for a single 15A circuit!!! I also suspect that the RV electrical pane itself also drain some power for 12V inverter, battery charger, interior lights, etc. I don't have the exact schematic of the panel. But anyway...

Then, apparently all the 120V outlet are connected together inside and outside the camper (outside kitchen) on a single 15A circuit (the second one). So even if my house, if I connect both of my coffer maker and the toaster on a single 15A outlet, the breaker will trig! This is why my modern house is equipped 4x separated 20A circuit in my kitchen!

So guys, could you please help me understand how you manage power in a middle size trailer with a 30A service? In the best of worlds, that size of trailer should be equipped with 50A service from factory, don't you think?

Thanks for lightning up my lantern ;-)

I have a 32' TT (larger than your FIL's)and is wired with a 30A plug. My 13.5K A/C is and should be on its own 20A breaker, not a 15A and not with the HW heater which should have a separate circuit. It was probably assumed by the TT mfg. that if the owner is using the outside kitchen those outlets may be on the same circuit as some inside ones. The thought being you can't be in two places at the same time using multiple devices which may overload the circuit.

Here's how my circuits are set up:
Microwave 15A
A/C 20A
Fridge 15A
GFI outlets 15A
120V lights 15A
Then there is a row of low volt fuses.

I would occasionally trip a 20A breaker at home when the TT was plugged into a 20A outside GFI. I've since installed a 30A dedicated circuit where I park at home.

No need to name the TT brand but I'd guess the mfg. chose poorly on how to wire it.