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Kc12787 · 05-04-2014, 05:03 AM

We have a 1991 Holiday Rambler travel trailer, currently hooked up to electric at our campsite, and when we turn the refrigerator on it trips that particular circuit. Any suggestions on what could be the cause?

94-Newmar · 05-04-2014, 05:13 AM

Welcome aboard!

Whether Dometic or Norcold brand, both units utilize a 120vac heating element for the boiler on your refrig. It's not uncommon, with age, to have that heating element(s) fail in some manner which causes it to short, and of course, pop the breaker it's connected to. So that you can continue using your refrigerator on propane, open the outside cover to your refrig, look for either 1 or two 120vac standard plugs, if your unit has an icemaker there will be two 120vac plugs, and only 1 if you do not, but for now, just unplug them. Reset the 120vac breaker inside and set the refrig to auto or LP again and it will continue to run on propane. Have the unit serviced and mention to the tech that it's tripping the 120vac breaker to the refrig.. they'll know what to do next :-) Enjoy the rest of your camping outing!

onechaddude · 05-04-2014, 05:39 AM

Sounds like maybe the refrigerator compressor is locked up and causing a large load on breaker and tripping it. Or if you had any mice they could have chewed on wires and causing a short circuit. Try plugging the refer into a working circuit and see if it trips on that breaker. Or unplug the refer from the original circuit and see if the breaker trips then. That way you can narrow down the problem. Hope this helps.

Chad

H. Miller · 05-04-2014, 05:55 AM

Compressor?? Doubt very seriously that the frig has a compressor!
With so little info to work with, it would be hard to determine the problem.
What "circuit breaker" is tripping? In the TT or at the pole? Without knowing make or model of the frig can only say that most only use 120VAC to operate the heater(s). 12VDC for controls.
Does it work on gas?

onechaddude · 05-04-2014, 06:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by H. Miller

Compressor?? Doubt very seriously that the frig has a compressor!
With so little info to work with, it would be hard to determine the problem.
What "circuit breaker" is tripping? In the TT or at the pole? Without knowing make or model of the frig can only say that most only use 120VAC to operate the heater(s). 12VDC for controls.
Does it work on gas?

The OP didn't state whether rv or residential refer so I assumed maybe had been changed due to age of unit. Sorry about that and I know what happens when you assume. My bad. Either way I was thinking something was pulling excessive current.

Chad