Ac potentially tripping breaker

[Resa83]

I have a 2002 keystone cougar model 281 efs fifth wheel. I bought my camper approximately 13 months ago. I was told the AC did not work therefore I bought a window unit and never turned it on. Yesterday I turned it on to see what would happen and lo and behold it actually works. However 6 hours later all the power went out at 2:30 in the morning this morning. Me and lady came by and her son seen that my breaker inside my camper was actually at an angle he fixed in everything was fine. I woke up at 8:00 this morning and the main breaker inside the camper was tripped. I turned the AC back on after flipping the breaker. And my breaker just flipped again and I think it's from the AC anyone have any idea what's going on?

 

[chuckster57]

Welcome to the forum.

More information is needed. Are you plugged into a standard outlet or an RV 30 or 50 amp. Are you trying to use the original roof AC or the window AC.

 

[Resa83]

I'm plugged into an rv outlet. I thought i was 30amp but my double breaker outside says 50 50. Using original roof ac. However since I made my first post, my breaker flipped twice the first time my central air was on I then turned it off and kept it off.. reset all the breakers and turned my window unit on in my bedroom and a little while later the breaker flipped again. I just reset all breakers outside and everything seems to be going well while using window AC And not roof ac

 

[JRTJH]

In 2002 very few travel trailers had a 50 amp electrical system. Most were 30 amps. If you're unsure about your trailer, look at the trailer's MAIN circuit breaker. If it's marked "30 Amps" then that's all you have. You can also check the shore power cord. If it has 3 pins, it's 30 amps. If it has 4 pins, it's 50 amps.
If all you have is a 30 amp system, then you're limited to a MAXIMUM of 30 amps. I'd guess that your air conditioner on the rooftop is the OEM unit based on what you said about the previous owner never used it and said it didn't work. If that's true, then it likely is drawing anywhere from 15 amps to 20 amps when it starts and restarts as the temperature calls for more cooling. It could be drawing even more power if it's seldom been used and has corrosion on the brushes in the motor or if there's a "lot of gunk" under the plastic cover surrounding the unit. I'd get on the roof and remove the cover (4 screws) and lift it straight up to remove. See if there's "issues" with broken wires, rat nests, dirt, etc"... And use a can of "air conditioner coil cleaner" to clean the coils. MAKE SURE THE TRAILER POWER CORD IS UNPLUGGED BEFORE YOU REMOVE THE COVER !!!!!

Then, also remember that you have a MAX of 30 amps. If you have a gas/electric water heater, it will draw around 10 amps when it cycles on and if you have the gas/electric refrigerator, it automatically switches to electric when you plug in the trailer, and it will draw another 4-5 amps. Then the converter/charger that supplies 12 VDC for the lights and 12 volt items in your trailer will draw another 4-5 amps.... So, doing the math, if the air conditioner comes on at 2:30 AM (15 amps) and the water heater cycles on (10 amps) and the refrigerator is in cooling mode (5 amps) and the converter/charger is supplying power to the water heater and refrigerator (4 amps) your electric demand on the 30 amp circuit breaker is: 15+10+5+4= 34 amps. That will trip your 30 amp breaker, especially if it is the OEM breaker and has "weakened over the past 23 years".....

In short, check the air conditioner to make sure it's clean and no trash is under the cover and then check what's "actually operating" when the circuit breaker trips. It may be simply overloaded.

 

[Resa83]

Thank you very much! I personally can't get on my roof however i have a neighbor that can. I'll get him to check the roof ac! I want to go left the breaker box inside my camper just now and the first breaker obviously is a double breaker and it says 20 on one switch 30 on the other and below that on the breaker it says AC dunno if that's helps

 

[chuckster57]

If the outlet your plugged into is on a 50/50 amp breaker then I bet you plugged into a 220V outlet. They LOOK like an RV 30A but are made for dryers. If th ats the case you have more issues than just the AC not working

 

[JRTJH]

How many pins are on the electric shore power cord coming out of the trailer??? Is it 3 or 4 ???

As Chuck said, if it's 3 pins and you're connected to the same circuit as your house central air conditioner, you may be plugged into 240VAC rather than 120VAC. That could "damage/destroy" anything in your trailer that's intended to be powered by 120 and is getting 240....

 

[flybouy]

Thank you very much! I personally can't get on my roof however i have a neighbor that can. I'll get him to check the roof ac! I want to go left the breaker box inside my camper just now and the first breaker obviously is a double breaker and it says 20 on one switch 30 on the other and below that on the breaker it says AC dunno if that's helps

Sounds like you are confusing a "double pole breaker" with a "piggy backed breaker". In a double pole both breakers are the same amperage and WILL NOT move independently. A piggy back breaker is nearly 2 breakers built into the size of a single breaker and can be of 2 different amperage ratings and fit in the space of a single.


I would start by turning all the breakers off except the 30 Amp main, the one marked con (converter) which provides 12vdc and the breaker for the air conditioner. If nothing trips, then you've likely overloaded the 30 Amp main by having to great of a load as John suggested.

 

[Eman85]

Pictures, they are worth a thousand words.

 

[Resa83]

I'm sorry everyone for The confusion however the landlord's son just came by here to check on us and I was asking him about the 50-50 breaker that's outside he went and looked at it and what I didn't realize is in that breaker box there is a 50-50 breaker with its own plug-in for a 50 amp cord and on the side of it is a 30 amp breaker for my 30 amp cord which is plugged in I don't have any pictures I'm sorry it's so hot outside I don't want to go back out there lol

 

[wiredgeorge]

You have a 30A service in your camper. If you plug your window A/C into most of the outlets, they will not be happy. Run an extension cord outside if possible and plug directly into a 15/20VAC outlet. My camper is also a 2002 and when I turn on the A/C and try to run other things, the main breaker in the camper will pop; especially the microwave being used. I therefor wired the microwave on its own circuit and outside plug and plug it into a campground 15/20VAC outlet and no more popping. I just got done replacing the old Parallax power center/converter as it fried and have no issues with the new unit. Old trailers have stuff that doesn't work as well as when new especially circuit breakers and the like so these may be weak.

 

[Resa83]

I already have a 12000 btu window unit plugged in outside for the living room. I only have 1 plug out there for this purpose. However I've been living here 13 months with no power problems until i used that roof ac!

 

[rlh1957]

I'm plugged into an rv outlet. I thought i was 30amp but my double breaker outside says 50 50. Using original roof ac. However since I made my first post, my breaker flipped twice the first time my central air was on I then turned it off and kept it off.. reset all the breakers and turned my window unit on in my bedroom and a little while later the breaker flipped again. I just reset all breakers outside and everything seems to be going well while using window AC And not roof ac

If you are certain your are plugged into a 30amp at pedestal or 50amp at pedestal then flip on breaker & refrigerator on electric. Turn off hot water electric heater, microwave & coffee pot.
See ir your AC still trips.
Could be a worn out or loise 30 A breaker or AC pulling to many amps, check wiring at AC.
50 Amp plug in your garage is Not the same as a 50amp RV plug. And some licensed electricians have burned up RV systems.

 

[Resa83]

My plug for rv is 3 prong. I have no idea how to turn off hot water heater. It's inaccessible bc it's located im assuming behind my built in closet with dresser drawers. I assume this bc there's an outside panel directly behind the built in closet area. Thanks for responding

 

[wiredgeorge]

First of all, clean some of the bug nests and mud daubbers out of your outside water heater. The on/off switch is a rocker switch at the bottom left. It is hard to see. There is also a circuit breaker that you can turn off in your power distribution panel. You need to invest in an Electrical Management System device (EMS) to monitor power either at the pole outlet or installed in your camper. You may be facing power issues if the A/C is tripping the breaker. This device will protect your electrical components from harm where a surge protector will not. It will also tell you how many amps are being used at glance and shut down power if power supply at the pole is too low, high or has issues of any sort.

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