Electrical Wiring - 15 amp Breaker Trips

[benchmarks]

Hi,

I just purchased a 2017 Microlyte 25BRDS. Sometimes instead of using the heater in the trailer (due to noise levels) I will use my portable heater. It is very small. When I also operate the coffee maker it will blow the fuse and require me to flip the breaker to turn the lights back on. None of these two items draw that much energy. The first time they were plugged into the same outlet, then the next time I separated them to different outlets. It still happened. I have never had this happen in other trailers (18' Starcraft). Do they only have one wire in these things and just "daisy chain" the outlets? What is the fix?

Thanks

[formerFR]

these two items 'don't have much draw'?? They are EXACTLY what is your problem: the draw TOO MUCH between the two when operating at the same time on a 15a breaker - the heater alone can draw close to that.

if the two outlets are from the same breaker, yes, you will continue to trip the breaker.

one easy option is to run an extension cord to another 15a outlet, either on the shore power pole, the house, the bath house, another site, etc....

[benchmarks]

Okay. Can you explain why this did not happen on other? There are only so many outlets. What are you talking about run an extension cord...lol

[325BH]

A heater and coffee maker do draw a lot. Combined, they draw more than the circuit will allow.

If you must use them at the same time, you will need to use them on different circuits. I don't know if your camper has more than one receptacle circuit.

If your camper is 30 amp, you are probably getting close to that too. Gotta manage loads.

[benchmarks]

I appreciate the feedback on this. I just did not think that a trailer would be set up with one wire for the electric outlets, minus the fridge and stove of course. Well I guess I will not bug the service department on finding a solution, but I would like to know if this is how the unit is wired or if it may be a concern I should have. Anybody know how to find this info?

[Broadway Joe]

Look at your power center where the C/B's are located. See how many circuits there are. This is usually labeled for what each breaker is supplying.

[crunchman12001]

Buy a Progressive industries EMS. You will be able to see your amp draw on the display. You will see the electric heater will most likely be 15 amp by itself.
When another suggested using an extension cord, you can run a separate cord through a window or door to the pedestal to run your space heater so you can be warm while you make your coffee.
Also, if you have room in your breaker box, you can add a circuit with additional plugs to run things off the chain but you will still be limited to 30 amps on your main.

[benchmarks]

Okay I took some pics of the amps from the coffee maker and heater. This is the coffee maker

[benchmarks]

Heater

[benchmarks]

pictures of equipment

[Flutooth]

You definitely can't run both the Coffe maker and heater on the same brakes.

The coffe maker eats up 7.5 Amps, and the Heater around 13 Amps. So that is a total of 20.5 Amps. Generally speaking, any thing that generates heat consumes a lot of power. Iron, heat gun, heaters, electric oven ... etc.

[llr]

The heater is about 12.5 amps, put you at 20 with the coffee maker.
Which breaker trips? I don't see one for the outlets.
Does your heater have a low setting? If so you may be able to use low and the coffee pot at the same time.

[325BH]

Originally Posted by benchmarks

pictures of equipment

Your Mr. Coffee is 900 watts, which is 7.5 amps. The label on your Mr. Coffee also states 7.5 amps.

Your heater is 1,500 watts, which is 12.5 amps.

Add those two together and you have 20 amps, way over the 15 amp circuit. You need to run the on separate circuits or at different times.

[benchmarks]

The one that trips is #2 - 15 amp labeled S/O....

[benchmarks]

One last question, unless there is more feedback on this. After seeing the pictures do I have multiple outlets that are not on the same wire? Can I plug in both appliances say if one was plugged into the bathroom outlet and the other at the I/O outlet or other?

[gectisme]

Originally Posted by benchmarks

The one that trips is #2 - 15 amp labeled S/O....

That is the label for the 12v side, if it is the second one down, it is labeled Refer, which should be your Refrigerator. Your panel seems like it is missing a breaker for outlets. On our WJ there is one more breaker and it is labeled GFI and that is what the "accessory" outlets are wired too. I use our 120vac heater on low at the same time as the coffee maker on those outlets and don't trip a breaker. So you are plugging the heater and the coffee pot in the same outlet as the Refrigerator. If you are running the refrigerator on 120ac then I would think you couldn't even run the heater without tripping the breaker...



Here is a pic of our breaker panel, you can see the breaker labeled "GFI" I am talking about.

[SpringerPop]

Originally Posted by benchmarks

The one that trips is #2 - 15 amp labeled S/O....

That's a +12 volt DC fuse, not a 120 volt AC breaker.

Pop

[benchmarks]

Breaker 1 9 Breaker 1 9 I need a radio check.

So does anyone else think I am missing a breaker for outlets?

Help me out on the electro lingo....I'm not as smart as the dog.

[325BH]

Originally Posted by benchmarks

One last question, unless there is more feedback on this. After seeing the pictures do I have multiple outlets that are not on the same wire? Can I plug in both appliances say if one was plugged into the bathroom outlet and the other at the I/O outlet or other?

It is possible and what is suggested. To find out, turn off (or leave tripped) the breaker and see if other receptacles still have power. If so, you will know your different circuits.

The breakers are like switches. You can turn them on/off one-by-one and see what is still on.

[benchmarks]

Thanks everyone for your feedback....most appreciated.