Quote:
Originally Posted by plpfromnb
...The power to the microwave comes from the "water heater" breaker. I am just sincerely hoping they just labeled them wrong...
|
That would be interesting, but might not be the case. This is a little long, but bear with me. Actually you should hope that they labelled them right, although what the Micro breaker powers is anybody's guess.
It might be that the power to the microwave AND the hot water heater BOTH comes from that breaker labeled Water Heater. There is an issue that has been floating around this forum for a while about how some people constantly trip their 30 amp breaker when using air conditioning and about how some just don't ever seem to have the problem and get along fine. Most of the discussion revolves around making sure that the HWH is turned to propane when your running A/C on 30 amp shore power.
However, there is an obscure section (well its all kind of obscure) of the national electrical code that relates specifically to Recreational Vehicles and states that
if you have 30 amp service and
if the power panel powers more than two
thermostatically controlled loads, there cannot be more than 5 load breakers. Thermostatically controlled loads include water heaters, air conditioners, refrigerators, etc. The one thing that all of these devices have in common is that they turn themselves on and off invisibly and you have no idea when and for how long.
Now from the images you posted, you have 30 amp service and only 5 load breakers. However, the WF8900 panel family supports up to 9 beakers which minus the main would be 8. Actually many of the brochures from WFCO say it only takes 5 while in other places it says 9! The reason for this is that WFCO cannot control how the manufacturer uses the panel, only what it can handle all by itself.
Now one would think that the code would limit them to 5 breakers since it is a 30 amp panel and why would they put extra knockouts for more breakers in the panel? However, there is a loophole and I think your TT might be using it. There is a unit available from Intellitec that can feed BOTH the microwave
and the HWH from the same 15 amp breaker. What it does is sense how much power the microwave needs and if it needs more than 3 amps, it shuts down or "sheds" the HWH while you are heating your food and turns it back on 45 seconds after the microwave drops back down to clock and light only. For reference I have attached the spec to the unit.
If the AESS is installed on your TT it won't show in the specs or documents...it will just not ever seem to trip the main when you are using A/C on 30 amps! The best way to find out if you have one is to hook up to 30 amp shore run the A/C, AC Hot water
and the microwave ALL AT THE SAME TIME. If it trips the main you don't have one but if it doesn't you do and you can forget using propane when its hot out!
Now, all of you guys who have added additional circuits for your outlets who don't have one of these things are
technically in violation of the NEC. However, it isn't an actual fire hazard...it is more like a "protect the user from himself" nuisance main breaker tripping issue.
Linear Mode
