breaker triping

[oceancamper]

I have a 02 Everest.The air conditioner when on trips the breaker most of the time.This will happen with the fridge on a seperate extension cord from the campground panel.Also the cord will get hot at the campground 30amp plug enough to melt the wires.

Could the breakers be bad.I checked all the wiring connections and they are all tight.If the ac is not in use i can run everthing including a electric heater.

I have considered changing to 50 amp.

[RJay]

Sounds like it could be a low voltage problem in the park. Did you measure the voltage at any time?

[Ray,IN]

In addition to what RJay suggested, measure the current draw of the air conditioner when operating. Compare the measurement to the nameplate rated draw. I suspect low CG voltage has damaged your A/C compressor motor and it is drawing more than its ratings. Your incoming voltage to your RV should be between 103VAC minimum, 132VAC maximum. Anything outside those parameters is damaging any inductive motor and sensitive electronics.

[oceancamper]

This has happened in various campgrounds.Sometimes not as bad.What do you measure your voltage with.

thanks

[davecampbell]

Yes, definitely measure both current and voltage. Buy a "amp clamp" or clamp on AC ammeter even if it means spending $100, its a safety things.

A circuit breakers current rating is the HOLD rating, not the trip rating. A 50 A breaker will continuously pass 50A. It may not suddenly "trip" until 250A.

Scary thing is how much over-current they will pass without tripping as fast as one might expect. I once had an automotive 30A breaker tested that didnt "break" quickly until 100 AMP!

Tripping doesnt scare me, heat does. The plug in connection getting hot enough to melt may be all the problem. Heat = bad electrical connections and there is no such thing as "checking" them by looking or disconnecting and reconnecting. Are they burned (if theres melting, definitely). There may be a marginal overload on the inside breaker panel, but not much future messing with it without voltage and current readings.


Breakers dont normally get hot just from failure, and when they do, there should be burning or charring of the plastic body where the terminals connect. Wiggling the terminals might show one breaks off because the body has overheated. Crimp-on or loose screw connectors are the most likely source of failure.