More info. definitely needed but sounds like a voltage issue.
Pedestal breakers almost always trip rather than the 30 amp in the converter/panel inside. If the weather is warm enough, AC units are often the culprit. Many AC units running throughout a CG will drag down voltage and if the voltage drops too low, you may be drawing enough current to trip the pedestal breaker. AC units draw more current the lower the voltage gets. If the breaker trips later in the day, that's suggestive of low voltage due to AC units. 30 amp breakers can just be tired and in need of replacing - they are subjected to temp. & humidity extremes and more on/off cycles not seen in normal indoor locations.
30 amp receptacles in a pedestal get a LOT more use and abuse compared to 50 amps. Receptacles can be loose and/or have poor connection from pitting & dirt on contact surfaces, causing resistance which further reduces voltage inside an RV as well as the risk for overheating and a meltdown. If there is 50 amps available at a pedestal, use that along with an adapter. 50 amp pedestals are much less likely to have low voltage as well.
AC units have a high inrush starting current of 5-6 times the normal running current. If voltage gets too low, an AC unit can trip a breaker on startup. You would expect the 20 amp breaker in the converter/panel to trip but if a 30 amp pedestal breaker is tired and in need of replacement, that can trip instead. If the breaker is tripping on startup, try turning off as much as you can inside.
Poor contact on shore power cords can contribute to low voltage. Never plug in with the power on - turn the pedestal breaker off first. Your plug blades should be clean and shiny. If you have a detachable power cord, you can clean the blades on the inlet, but if the connector on the cord is pitted & dirty, there's not much you can do.
You should get a voltmeter and monitor voltage. Plug-in styles are available and an LED type would be better. A permanently mounted type would be a good choice and you can mount one where it's always visible.
Low campground voltage is a common problem, esp. in the summertime. The problem could lie with the AC unit, but that would be lower on my suspect list.
tvman44 wrote:
30 amp service is really inadequate in the 21st century with all the conveniences we now have & love so much. As a result we tend to over load the 30 amp breaker and the more it trips the weaker it gets. Also feel your 30 amp plug, very often it runs hot because the receptacle is worn out and not making a good tight connection causing voltage drop at the connection point and a lot of excessive heat.
tvman44 wrote:
Another good idea is to get into your breaker panel and make sure all connection are tight as they have a tendency to loosen up in a RV and will cause extra heat.
I disagree that 30 amps is inadequate. What is needed is for an owner to learn how to load manage. Plugging in a hair dryer while a coffee maker, toaster and MW are running is not a good idea. If you have an AC unit running, you have to pay even more attention to what you have running. Then there is the question of what voltage is like. When choosing appliances, get lower wattage ones if you can. Low voltage causes toasters, coffee makers, hair dryers, etc. to take longer which can lead to a 30 amp breaker tripping. Circuit breakers have an inverse time-current curve and for low overloads, can run for several minutes without tripping, allowing for short duration appliances to operate without tripping a breaker. Some mobile homes only have 30 amps and they manage okay, esp. considering they can be much larger than an RV.
I installed a permanent AC LED voltmeter and ammeter and the current rarely gets near 15 amps (without AC on). I also installed 1750 watts of permanent electric heat and a demand controller to shut the heat off (and back on) when needed. Have never once had a 30 amp breaker trip. If you try and run an 1875 watt hair dryer (like us), AC unit and toaster at the same time, you will trip a breaker.
A pedestal receptacle can often be loose and have poor contact but your shore power cord can also be part of the problem if you keep plugging in with the power on. Connections in an RV panel should not loosen up over time. The problem is that the factory does not always properly terminate the wires at a breaker. I found one completely loose in our panel because of bad workmanship. I have found many problems with 120 volt and 12 volt wiring in 3 TTs from poor factory work. Regardless of the cause, it is a good idea to check the terminations in your panel.
