Community Forums

rogelling · 06-22-2016, 09:07 PM

During our stay in Vegas we experienced Temps over 110 and sun directly on driver side and windshield. We had constant issues with AC breakers popping. Mostly the front but all three. In the afternoon when I went to reset the breakers I noticed they
were so hot I couldn't even touch them. It's obvious the panel doesn't have enough insulation in back. I would think with the breakers that hot it wouldn't take a high current surge to pop them. I'm thinking about pulling panel and adding fiberglass insulation.

loisjop · 06-22-2016, 09:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rogelling

During our stay in Vegas we experienced Temps over 110 and sun directly on driver side and windshield. We had constant issues with AC breakers popping. Mostly the front but all three. In the afternoon when I went to reset the breakers I noticed they
were so hot I couldn't even touch them. It's obvious the panel doesn't have enough insulation in back. I would think with the breakers that hot it wouldn't take a high current surge to pop them. I'm thinking about pulling panel and adding fiberglass insulation.

When it's that hot leaving the panel open will help. It's been around 100 deg here and haven't had that problem yet. Noel

Gary.Jones · 06-22-2016, 10:35 PM

Roger:

Some of that heat is probably being generated by the constant high current flowing through each breaker. I would guess your AC units are on all the time and if so, some of that heat is likely the load.

Gary

Old-Biscuit · 06-22-2016, 10:45 PM

What was the line voltage?

Lower the system voltage the higher the amp draw.....higher the amp draw more heat generated

brobox · 06-23-2016, 04:56 AM

Roger, you are in the most miserably conditions you could be in. Not only are the A/C's being worked to death, my front breaker pops too when that happens too. But you also have everybody else in the park using the same amount of power and breakers suffer when that happens from line loss.

I think Noel has the right idea and maybe a small clip on fan attached to the door struts blowing on the circuit panel. I have seen them at Walmart, but when it gets that hot, Walmart sells out of fans quick, been there when my A/C went out at over 100.. With that kind of heat, more insulation will probably get hot too.

cewgcw · 06-23-2016, 05:53 AM

The secret there is to not go to an area that has that temp. Come to Maine where it is 75 and very low humidity. Just thinking out loud.....

brobox · 06-23-2016, 06:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cewgcw

The secret there is to not go to an area that has that temp. Come to Maine where it is 75 and very low humidity. Just thinking out loud.....

That's our plans this year after the PDI, follow the Weather Channel.

Our planned trip last year lead us into 100 + degree temps for over a month. Not doing that this year.

A $19. box fan from Walmart really helps, if you can find one, then give it away when you reach cooler temps.

rockettour · 06-23-2016, 06:05 AM

We have 2015 Anthem 44B and noticed about week 1/2 ago we had same thing happen in Texas. We came athe RV and noticed it was real hot so checked breakers and sure enough all three of a/c breakers where popped. I clicked one on at a time and they held, but wondered if the heat did not have something to do with it. It had cooled down some by time we came back to RV and have not had that problem sense, but are headed to Las Vegas tomorrow, so will see. Thanks for letting us know. Steve & Judy

Cruzer · 06-23-2016, 07:49 AM

We've been in "barely over" 100 degree temps but not 115 yet. Never had a problem with the breakers popping. When at the factory during the build I did see that they put insulation behind the panel. But there is also enough open space to drop all those Romex lines through to get into the panels.

Tiffin had their breaker panels in the rear wardrobe and they had breakers popping as well in lesser temps than that. But that was when driving because the engine heat rose up into the area where the breaker panels were.

We'll be in Moab for a bit in July so maybe we'll see some 115 degree heat. If my breakers do trip I know what my next step would be. I would mount a thermostatically controlled fan to bring in some fresh air. Maybe something like https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1 which I already have in case my entertainment center got hot (but never installed because I didn't need to). That would lower the temperature in the cavity behind the panel and correct the problem.

More insulation isn't that answer. All that would do is slow the rate of heat transfer. It won't keep the heat out and eventually your breakers will trip. Removing the heat and replacing with cooler air is the answer.

FreshAir · 06-23-2016, 09:41 AM

Yes, they can get hot and it may be more than the heat of the sun. This happened to me Dec. 2015. I had been having my microwave bkr. FG tripping occasionally and getting difficult to reset. This is what I found when I removed the cover.
Received a new bkr. and in the box from the bkr. manufacturer there was a sticker Saying 'to be pasted next to the bkr.' "Ckt. Breaker with Ground Fault Protection." "Should be tested every 30 days."

Test procedure,
1. Have power on to panel .
2. Press Test button, breaker handle must trip to center position.
3. Reset by moving handle dow to off position then up to on.

When replacing the 20A microwave breaker I found the two breakers,'BC' & 'DE' were partially melted as was the breaker panel housing. I was lucky I didn't have a fire. Had the Manufactures sticker been attached I would have caught this months earlier.

I contribute the cause to be burrs, rough edges on the metal contact prongs the breakers plug to and was causing resistance and high current flow leading to heat. I filed and burnished the box breaker connectors.

Maybe EC manufacturing overlooked my instruction sticker and the rest of you have one. I informed CS.

FWIW, I would check that the microwave Ground Fault CKT. Breaker is working.

Pat

rogelling · 06-23-2016, 10:30 AM

Good suggestions you'll. Yesterday I drove with the panel door opened and they stayed cool. I think a temporary cooling option for when you need it as Chuck suggested is the way to go. Cruzer's is very elegant.

As to driving to Maine. ..when you are way out West you don't need to...you just go UP! Last evening the high here was 100 and the low this am 69.

jktxs · 06-23-2016, 01:13 PM

We had a similar problem a couple of weeks ago. I found the problem was the 50 amp breaker on the pedestal was super hot. The outside temperature was 86 degrees. When I checked the current draw (amps) I was at 27 amps. Had the park change the breaker (they did not agree it was a bad breaker). After the breaker was changed no more issues.

Ourrvtrip · 06-23-2016, 02:57 PM

Also leave the panel door and cover open to all cool air to breaker panel. I think the whole front cap needs better insulation (at least in my 2014). Tommy

Cruzer · 06-23-2016, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ourrvtrip

Also leave the panel door and cover open to all cool air to breaker panel. I think the whole front cap needs better insulation (at least in my 2014). Tommy

I'll take Entegra's front cap insulation any day. I had a whole lot of nothing in that regard on our last coach. I don't think Entegra can pack any more up there without compressing the insulation, which reduces its effectiveness.