Tripping Breakers !!

[jtad]

I have a 2011 298 BHD Crusader. We have camped at least once a month in it since new in July of last year. In that time frame the 30 AMP main breaker has tripped at least six times. And sometime the 20 AMP A/C will trip. This past week we were in it from Thurs-Sun. Fri afternoon the main tripped. Flipped it back on no more probs. Sat afternoon the A/C trips off. Flipped it back on no more problems. Granted it was well over a 100 degrees outside both days. I was plugged into a 50 AMP service using a adapter to plug my 30 AMP shore power in. It has done this at many differnt RV parks all over the place, with the temp being anywhere from 80-103 outside. It makes no difference if I am plugged into a 30 AMP, or 50 AMP. I am affraid to go off for any leanth of time and leave my dogs inside.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by jtad

I have a 2011 298 BHD Crusader. We have camped at least once a month in it since new in July of last year. In that time frame the 30 AMP main breaker has tripped at least six times. And sometime the 20 AMP A/C will trip. This past week we were in it from Thurs-Sun. Fri afternoon the main tripped. Flipped it back on no more probs. Sat afternoon the A/C trips off. Flipped it back on no more problems. Granted it was well over a 100 degrees outside both days. I was plugged into a 50 AMP service using a adapter to plug my 30 AMP shore power in. It has done this at many differnt RV parks all over the place, with the temp being anywhere from 80-103 outside. It makes no difference if I am plugged into a 30 AMP, or 50 AMP. I am affraid to go off for any leanth of time and leave my dogs inside.

What other items are running?
Your close to 30 amp with a/c's alone.
Search "normal appliance draws" here on frf To track down you total amp draws.

Please find this issue! We seen a few months back a guy kept tripping his breaker and it was found to be bad and almost ready to catch on fire!
I'm sure herk has a pic

[Dave_Monica]

Regardless whether you're plugged into 50 or 30A, your camper has only 30A available to use. The 13.5K A/C uses 12A alone to run...the 15K A/C more yet. Add the WH at 10A, any other appliance and the 30A is maxed pretty easily. You perhaps need a amp load readout as I have on my hard-wired surge protector to know where your consumption is and avoid the trips.

Dave

[myredracer]

You might take a look at the campground voltage at your site. If it's hot out, there's going to be lots of campers with A/C units going that will drag the voltage down. Then you can have trouble with your A/C starting and even tripping either the 20A, or the 30A main if you have other heavy loads running at the same time (micro or coffee maker or toaster, etc).

You could use either an inexpensive multimeter or get one of the plug-in voltage monitors (Camping World, eg.).

We just left a c/g where the voltage got down to 104V during the day. Not very good.

[jtad]

I have one 15k BTU A/C that was on, and both fridges were turned on elec, nothing else was on.

[savin yours]

We took ours out for the first time this weekend and it was doing the same thing. I had to use gas for the WH.

[Herk7769]

The low voltage was causing your problem.
We covered this at length back in July.

I will track down the thread.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...g-26268-2.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ers-26202.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...tor-24960.html

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ech-26752.html

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by jtad

I have one 15k BTU A/C that was on, and both fridges were turned on elec, nothing else was on.

As voltage is reduced from heavy usage in park your amperage goes up in oposite and equal proportion. So yes that can easily trip your 20 or 30 amp breakers quickly.

Ohms Law E=I X R

You have your AC on and you have 2 refrigerators?

Sorry but I must ask if the 2 fridges are built in or ?

[jtad]

Yes they came from the factory that way. One regular gas/elec rv fridge. And a drom style elec only fridge in the outdoor kitchen.

[Iggy]

Originally Posted by jtad

Yes they came from the factory that way. One regular gas/elec rv fridge. And a drom style elec only fridge in the outdoor kitchen.

Thanks
I still believe it is a low voltage problem.

[savin yours]

That sounds good, but in my case I was at my deer lease and we have 6 brand new 30A plugs for campers and only two were being used.

[caper]

Amp draw
AC 12 to 16 amps
WH 9 to 13 amps
Fridge 5 to 8 amps
Con. 1 to 8 amps
If your AC is drawing 16 amps and each fridge is drawing 8 amps you are over the 30 amps needed. You might have to run your main fridge on propane to keep the amp draw below 30 amps. Not every situation is caused by low voltage.

[Herk7769]

Could also be a combination of "lower" voltage and power usage.

[Broadway Joe]

try limiting your ac usage by the house frig working on propane and making sure your water heater is on propane. You are at the upper limit of your 30 amp system and if the voltage drops into the lower useable range 106-109 your accessories draw more current.

[ddavis662]

The campground that I'm "full timing" in has issues with "low voltage". The other night it was dropping down to 106V
So I'm running the fridge on gas, then the WH on gas only when needed.
I try to keep any addition 110V items to a minimum. Phone, laptop chargers, ect... I keep the flat screen TV unplugged as well.
A must though is my coffee maker, and it is the biggest draw next to the AC.
The new owner is in the process of laying new electrical lines as well as installing new electrical posts. The row that I'm in is next. He hunted down and found the problem in the row that I'm in. The old aluminum wiring is brittle and the wiring had broke off at a connection.

My newest concern is how hot the outside wall above the HW exhaust vent gets. Got to make me a "deflector" out of thin metal ASAP

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by ddavis662

The campground that I'm "full timing" in has issues with "low voltage". The other night it was dropping down to 106V
So I'm running the fridge on gas, then the WH on gas only when needed.
I try to keep any addition 110V items to a minimum. Phone, laptop chargers, ect... I keep the flat screen TV unplugged as well.
A must though is my coffee maker, and it is the biggest draw next to the AC.
The new owner is in the process of laying new electrical lines as well as installing new electrical posts. The row that I'm in is next. He hunted down and found the problem in the row that I'm in. The old aluminum wiring is brittle and the wiring had broke off at a connection.

My newest concern is how hot the outside wall above the HW exhaust vent gets. Got to make me a "deflector" out of thin metal ASAP

You might want to put an Autotransformer on your "Holiday List" and stay "Good."

[ddavis662]

Originally Posted by herk7769

You might want to put an Autotransformer on your "Holiday List" and stay "Good."

I'll check into that!
I'm all for anything that will improve my living in the RockWood.

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by ddavis662

I'll check into that!
I'm all for anything that will improve my living in the RockWood.

I recommend this one as I have had good experiences with it and its inventor.
http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ers-26202.html

Voltage Booster

[dnaraG_1M]

Originally Posted by Iggy

As voltage is reduced from heavy usage in park your amperage goes up in oposite and equal proportion. So yes that can easily trip your 20 or 30 amp breakers quickly.
For devices with motors, like A/C and Compressor fridges, this is
true, But for resistance-only devices, like the heating element in
an ammonia fridge, NOT true - current drops.........

Ohms Law E=I X R
And that's EXACTLY why the current drops in resistance only devices
as the voltage drops.
{For an equation to be true, both sides must balance. When E drops,
either I or R - or both - must also drop.}
Please don't confuse the concept of Back EMF(motors) with resistance.

You have your AC on and you have 2 refrigerators?

Sorry but I must ask if the 2 fridges are built in or ?
Sounds like a lot..............

cheers,
johnd

[MtnGuy]

Turbo, Jasper, I moved your discussion here: http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ker-28851.html