A/C tripping 20A breakers

Chardagha · 08-09-2022, 01:07 AM

Hi all, I’ve got an ‘04 5er. Today, I moved her off the slab and onto the street to get ready to travel. She is connected to a 30A circuit while parked and I THINK all is ok.
I connected her to a 20A circuit (not enough extension to reach 30A) and turned on the A/C. She starts fine and runs for 4-5 min, then blows the breaker. I reset the breaker and same thing. I tried another 20A circuit and same thing.
A/C is the only appliance running in the 5r. Do I need to connect to a 30A circuit or do I have another problem?
TIA

Oaklevel · 08-09-2022, 06:03 AM

20A breaker, AC and the converter and a long extension cord. I personally am not that surprised that the breaker is tripping. What guage cord is the extension cord.

Good if it is the campers cord, but the AC and the converter pull around 20A. The converter is always on.

Which breaker is tripping the garage or the camper? I am assuming the garage.

aceinspp · 08-09-2022, 06:34 AM

You need to use the 30amp circuit. AC draws to much for a 20amp circuit. Later RJD

Aussieguy · 08-09-2022, 06:40 AM

if breaker in garage tripping .... too much current is being drawn by the a/c and converter. Allow converter to charge the battery before a/c is turned on.
-----------------------------------------------------

if breaker in trailer for the a/c is tripping
use multi meter to read voltage at a power point in trailer
while a/c is OFF should read 120v

Then start the a/c and watch the meter if it drops much... mine went to 108v
Power cord from garage to trailer is not supplying enough current

I went out and bought a contractor grade power cord 12G wires ... breaker has not tripped since

5picker · 08-09-2022, 07:37 AM

As mentioned... which breaker is tripping? The one in the R/V or in the garage/home?

The length and gauge of this extension cord you are using now that you've moved your R/V to the street is critical. Too small and too long will create voltage loss and not allow the same usage as your 30a shore cord causing breaker(s) to trip.

You say nothing else is on but there are items like the CONverter (that charges the battery and supplies 12v for lighting, etc.) that will always be on unless you turn the breaker for it off.

Aussieguy · 08-09-2022, 07:49 AM

length of extension cord is not usually an issue unless it is over 100ft...
The gauge is definitely important.

Age and condition can be a factor too ... loose, corroded or worn connections.
coiling a long cord is bad as well as it can overheat more.

Chardagha · 08-09-2022, 09:55 AM

Thanks for all the info; I forgot to mention that I’m using a 25’ 12 ga extension from the house circuit to the RV, and that it is the house breaker that is tripping. I have a 30’ RV extension cord, but it is not long enough to reach the house 30A supply. I suspect this would alleviate my problem…
Next question; could I replace a 20A breaker on my panel with a 30A breaker to create a 30A circuit?

mmartin_tdc · 08-09-2022, 09:58 AM

Just changing a breaker size is usually not a good thing. It has to have the proper gauge wire to handle a 30amp circuit before you should swap the breakers out.

jimmarako · 08-09-2022, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chardagha

Thanks for all the info; I forgot to mention that I’m using a 25’ 12 ga extension from the house circuit to the RV, and that it is the house breaker that is tripping. I have a 30’ RV extension cord, but it is not long enough to reach the house 30A supply. I suspect this would alleviate my problem…
Next question; could I replace a 20A breaker on my panel with a 30A breaker to create a 30A circuit?

No, do not replace the breaker. The wires for that circuit will not safely handle 30A. Bad Idea. Very bad.

You 20A house breaker is most likely tripping because you have other loads in the house on that circuit. See if you can shut off or remove all the loads in the house. As other have said you should also shut off your convertor and any other 120V loads in you 5th wheel before trying the AC again. I run mine off a 20A house outlet all the time with no issue.

Jim M.

**Flybob** · 08-09-2022, 10:21 AM

Are you overlooking something else on that breaker in the house?

MR.M · 08-09-2022, 10:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chardagha

Thanks for all the info; I forgot to mention that I’m using a 25’ 12 ga extension from the house circuit to the RV, and that it is the house breaker that is tripping. I have a 30’ RV extension cord, but it is not long enough to reach the house 30A supply. I suspect this would alleviate my problem…
Next question; could I replace a 20A breaker on my panel with a 30A breaker to create a 30A circuit?

12 ga extension cord is to small 10 ga minimum then everything else off in camper 120 side .

Aussieguy · 08-09-2022, 10:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chardagha

Thanks for all the info; I forgot to mention that I’m using a 25’ 12 ga extension from the house circuit to the RV, and that it is the house breaker that is tripping. I have a 30’ RV extension cord, but it is not long enough to reach the house 30A supply. I suspect this would alleviate my problem…
Next question; could I replace a 20A breaker on my panel with a 30A breaker to create a 30A circuit?

You could..... BUT risk of burning your house down
breakers are designed to protect the wires inside your house so they won't melt and start fires if they get too hot.

You could possibly add a 120v 30amp circuit to your existing house panel
If you do NOT know how to.... get an electrician won't cost that much

but in the meantime you could do the following ....
make sure all your 20amp connections are clean and tight fitting

you can change the breaker with a new one the same amps...
breakers have been known to go bad and fail

Larry-NC · 08-09-2022, 12:59 PM

Double-check that the electric side of the water heater is off. Easy to overlook.

mmartin_tdc · 08-09-2022, 01:04 PM

I have run my AC off a 20 amp breaker, but I know nothing else is on that circuit.
It was for my old pool pump equipment that has been removed. I used my 30amp RV cable to run the distance with a dog bone to a 15amp plug. Runs my 15k AC without issue.

Chardagha · 08-09-2022, 01:06 PM

I’m back!
As I suspected, the breaker replacement was a bad idea, and thanks for you all making sure that I understood.
Ideally, I would want a 30-40’ 8 ga cord with 30A connectors, but I’m finding that is a unicorn. I will be purchasing a 30’ 10 extension cord and contacting an electrician to see what I can improve on my house panel.
Both of the 20A circuits I used are dedicated outdoor circuits I had installed recently.
Again, thanks to this community.

Chardagha · 08-09-2022, 01:07 PM

Thanks, didn’t think of that!

**Mr. Dan** · 08-09-2022, 01:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chardagha

Thanks, didn’t think of that!

If you will use the QUOTE function, other members will know what you didn't think of.

JimM2109S · 08-09-2022, 03:25 PM

Why not use the RV's power cord and a 20a to 30a dogbone to adapt the power cord to the 20a receptacle at the house?

Reverse_snowbird · 08-09-2022, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chardagha

I have a 30’ RV extension cord, but it is not long enough to reach the house 30A supply. I suspect this would alleviate my problem…

That statement scares me a bit.
If you're thinking of hooking up to a 30A plug for a household dryer DON'T. That will not alleviate your problem. Some people here have tried it only to realize that it's a 240V and have burned up most of the appliances in their rig.
A 30 or 50 A RV plug is a whole different animal and you have to have an electrician who is familiar with how an rv plug is wired to install it.

5picker · 08-09-2022, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chardagha

Hi all, I’ve got an ‘04 5er. Today, I moved her off the slab and onto the street to get ready to travel. She is connected to a 30A circuit while parked and I THINK all is ok.
I connected her to a 20A circuit (not enough extension to reach 30A) and turned on the A/C. She starts fine and runs for 4-5 min, then blows the breaker. I reset the breaker and same thing. I tried another 20A circuit and same thing.
A/C is the only appliance running in the 5r. Do I need to connect to a 30A circuit or do I have another problem?
TIA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reverse_snowbird

That statement scares me a bit.
If you're thinking of hooking up to a 30A plug for a household dryer DON'T. That will not alleviate your problem. Some people here have tried it only to realize that it's a 240V and have burned up most of the appliances in their rig.
A 30 or 50 A RV plug is a whole different animal and you have to have an electrician who is familiar with how an rv plug is wired to install it.

The OP stated in post # 1 they had the R/V connected to a 30a outlet and they thought all was fine. They then moved it to the street where the 30a cord no longer reached so they plugged into a 20a outlet using an extension cord.

The 30a R/V outlet they ultimately would like to plug back into is one that they already had been using. At least that's how I read it.

You may also like: