Help needed - A/C keeps throwing pedestal circuit breaker
We keep throwing the pedestal circuit breaker (CB) in a 30A line. This is the one day of the trip so far we need the AC to keep our dog cool while we are away! Earlier we threw the CB a few times. I thought it might be a jumpy CB so I tried the next camp site socket and we threw that too. We never threw any inside CB. After consulting camp personnel, they said I needed to turn off the hot water and the refrig (which I switched to gas). It then ran stable for a good 20 mins so we left. But when we returned the CB was blown again. Nothing else was plugged in at all. (The microwave draws slightly for the clock.) The only other current draw could be the converter. The AC itself is drawing 14-17A steadily. I have now turned off all inside CBs (including the converter) except for the main and the AC. It's now running steadily again but I don't feel comfortable leaving the dog here. It is 85 outside, not humid. We are using good relatively new power lines with 2x25' cords. If it could be a cord issue I could switch to 1x50' cord. We have a Progressive Industries EMS box at the pedestal and it has not thrown any errors the whole time. Any thoughts on why this was happening and what else to do or check? Thanks!
first off you should be able to run ac , fridge H/W/H and microwave all on electric with out popping CB . what stood out in your post was the length of cord . what size cord ? so you running 50' extension cord along with the TT power supply cord ? if so way to much . AC should pull around 12 to 14 amps
Help needed - A/C keeps throwing pedestal circuit breaker
2x25' 30A cords. One is the original that came with the RV, the other is a 25' extension that is identical to it in therms of size. Neither has Ga. on them but both are labeled for 120V 30A 3750W.
A/C is rated compressor 13.3A, fan 2.0A, compressor locked rotor 66A, fan locked rotor 5.6A.
Converter input is rated at 1000W which is 8.3A at 120V.
I suppose either could run hitter if there is voltage drop across the 50'. I previously ran that calculation and the voltage drop in even 100' was within allowable range but the voltage drop would raise the amps for the required wattage.
seems it's the cord length . i run mine all day night converter , ac , everything never issues . only time i had problem was using extension cord on 20 amp service . then i had to watch what was used . AC but no electric H/W/H
Help needed - A/C keeps throwing pedestal circuit breaker
Could be. Thanks. Still means we can't leave the dog if it might trip again. I could run it off the generator but can't leave it on until we get back late due to quiet hours.
may just have to take the dog with . one reason i don't have pets while on the road .
hope you figure it out . i assume you can't try it with out the extension on . that would be the first thing . then it could be old breakers in the campground
Low campground voltage will do this. Almost always found on the 30 amp loop of older campgrounds that used minimum gauge aluminum service wire.
Move to a 50 amp site and use a dogbone adapter if possible.
Using an autotransformer will boost low voltage at your site and allow the compressor to turn over.
Watch the startup amps and voltage drop as the compressor fires up. I have a 2 second delay relay between compressor start and fan motor start. Before I put the relay in to delay fan startup, the LRA has routinely topped 30 amps; though not long enough to tip the pedestal breaker at a well wired campground.
At a marginally wired campground, low voltage will cause a pedestal trip even with the delay relay and hard start capacitor.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
one thing to do is check the power at the pedestal while the unit is on with the ac running.
If you don't have 120 volts while the ac is running at the breaker, then they have a voltage drop issue. This is if you have a meter to check voltage.
Does the pedestal have a 50 AMP connection? If it does, use a 50 Amp cable converter. If you have one. This may solve the problem.
Your pedestal 30 amp breaker circuit may be bad or too much load on the line by all the other campers causing your pedestal to kick off line.
30A only. I think it's our load. Tripped two separate breakers. No one else seems to be having trouble. Also eliminated the problem (apparently) by turning off all our other circuits besides AC and converter.
Thanks all for tips and suggestions. The temperature came down at the last hour so we were able to switch to FantasticVent in thermostat and we got to the play although 10 min. late!
The best I can tell without an electrician is the 50' of cord caused some voltage drop which increased the amp draw across multiple appliances. I realized there would be a small voltage drop, for example ---
But didn't appreciate that this would cause an amp increase to fulfill the power demand.
Thanks all for tips and suggestions. The temperature came down at the last hour so we were able to switch to FantasticVent in thermostat and we got to the play although 10 min. late!
The best I can tell without an electrician is the 50' of cord caused some voltage drop which increased the amp draw across multiple appliances. I realized there would be a small voltage drop, for example ---
But didn't appreciate that this would cause an amp increase to fulfill the power demand.
Land of 10,000 Lakes
2016 Forester MBS 2401R
50 foot of extension cord will make all the difference in the world when under load.
It also depends on where you are in the campground as the farther you are from the distribution source the lower the voltage and amps available under load.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Have you checked the voltage at the pedistal and the unit ? the voltage drop shoundnt be mutch,with that load, if it is one or both of the cords my be at fault. Have you tried pluging in to the pedistal directly?
Linear Mode
