Bullet TT AC trips breaker

[jiminhenderson]

Just came back from Curt Gowdy SP camping. Used the 30 amp outlet on pedestal, no issues with AC. I get home, plug into garage outlet with extention cord, trips garage breaker when compressor starts. I've been using this method for years, no issue. Maybe AC unit getting old? Capacitor bad? Thoughts?

[chuckster57]

Welcome to the forum

If you’re plugged into a 15A outlet along with an extension cord, you’re asking for the results you’re getting. If you’ve been “doing it for years”, I would suspect you have been slowly “killing” your AC.

You may get lucky if you turn EVERYTHING else off and only have the AC breaker on.

[jiminhenderson]

the outlet in garage is 20amp. But, the extension cord is probably 14 gauge, voltage drop?

[chuckster57]

Yes, how long is the extension cord?

[jiminhenderson]

The cord is 50 feet long.

[chuckster57]

I’m not a licensed electrician but I think that’s a bit undersized for the length.

[Max23]

for a length of 25 - 50 feet, a 14 gauge cord will be great for 14-15 Amps, whereas the 12 gauge will work for 16-20 Amps. For 100 feet, the 14 gauge cord works for 11-13 Amps, while the 12 gauge cord is best suited for 14-15 amps.

[chuckster57]

Originally Posted by Max23

for a length of 25 - 50 feet, a 14 gauge cord will be great for 14-15 Amps, whereas the 12 gauge will work for 16-20 Amps. For 100 feet, the 14 gauge cord works for 11-13 Amps, while the 12 gauge cord is best suited for 14-15 amps.

Depending on what else is on in the trailer, 14ga may be inadequate IMO.

[Max23]

Agreed, and If it's not a soft start A/C there is already an issue there.

[jiminhenderson]

Thanks for the great advice. I will buy a 25 foot, 12-gauge cord and make the distance with the trailer umbilical and see what happens.

[chuckster57]

I would get the heaviest ga. 25’ cord you can find.

[jiminhenderson]

Will do. I will give an update soon. Thanks again.

[sourdough]

Don't know your situation where it's sitting but a 10ga. would be even better.

[wiredgeorge]

It would make even more sense to put a 30A service near where you park your camper. Hire an electrician and do it right. You won't have to worry about stringing extension cords.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by jiminhenderson

Thanks for the great advice. I will buy a 25 foot, 12-gauge cord and make the distance with the trailer umbilical and see what happens.

Keep in mind that the 20 amp outlet in the garage is probably also tied to the garage lights, if you have a freezer in the garage, it may also be on that same circuit, plus, when you plug in the trailer, the converter/charger automatically comes on, the microwave starts "flashing the time", if you have a electric element in your water heater, it will be on (unless you specifically turn it off) plus anything else you have turned on in the trailer AND in the garage that might be on that same circuit will all "add to the potential overload and trip that garage 20 amp breaker" .....

So, if you are trying to run the air conditioner on a 50' extension cord plugged into a garage outlet, do a "quick down and dirty" and check to see what else is "hiding in plain sight drawing amps from that same garage circuit"....

[sourdough]

A thing I forgot to mention in my previous post; check that 20A outlet and the end of your 14ga. extension cord for signs of overheating. I melted the end of a 12ga. (not 14) 50' extension cord and heat damaged the plug doing exactly what you have been doing.

[flybouy]

Prior to installing a 30 Amp dedicated circuit in my garage I never ran my 15k a/c. Only ran the converter and fridge to prevent cool it before a trip.

[rlh1957]

For myself I will carry nothing under 12ga extension cords with my rig. Nothing over 50 feet. Especially when you’re on the amp & voltage supply coming from a 20A garage circuit then voltage drop and amperage draw will be an issue with 14gauge or forbid anything below.
Older AC units draw more amps than newer ones.
Installing an RVSoftStart unit will make a great difference.
I can run a 15K & 13.5K ac on a 30A hookup with them.

[jiminhenderson]

Thanks for the great responses! UPDATE!!! I bought a 25 foot umbilical extension cord. 10 gauge. Used the dog bone to plug into garage outlet. Voila!! no longer tripping the garage circuit breaker.