 |
|
03-18-2015, 07:24 PM
|
#1
|
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 10
|
MH Tripping 30 Amp Pole Breaker
We have a 2006 Itasca class c and recently moved into a park to work for two months. We are plugged into a 30 amp box that has a GFCI breaker. We are tripping the breaker about every other day. If we are home when it happens the breaker doesn't immediately reset. If it happens while we're gone or overnight, the breaker resets.
We've never tripod any of the RV breakers and the outage has never been associated with a specific appliance coming on. We did have the control board on the fridge go out last week and it has been replaced. Other than that, no issues until this.
It has been raining pretty much every day since we've been here and I'm hoping it's just a moisture issue with the breaker. They replaced the breaker yesterday with the same type and it tripped today in the rain.
|
|
|
 |
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
|
03-18-2015, 07:41 PM
|
#2
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,063
|
Sounds potentially like low voltage/brownouts in the park. The board going out on the fridge is like a canary giving up the ghost in a mine. Check the voltage and consider getting a Autoformer to protect your devices inside the coach from low voltage situations. Since I installed mine I have not lost any more refrigerator boards, AC Hard Starts or other electrical equipment. Park breakers will still get hot and trip but the damage will stay at the pole and outside of the coach.
__________________
Neil V
2001 Winnebago Adventurer WFG35U
|
|
|
|
|
03-18-2015, 07:55 PM
|
#3
|
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 10
|
Thanks! Wouldn't other campers be having the same issue? Also, the box was putting out 123 volts when they switched the breaker. We are the only ones in this section having issues. We've also had it at two different boxes.
|
|
|
|
|
03-18-2015, 08:49 PM
|
#4
|
|
Senior Member
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Buxton, North Dakota
Posts: 3,938
|
It is unusual to have GFCI on the 30 amp breaker. It is also unusual for it to reset. The rain may be contributing to the problem.
__________________
2003 Winnebago Adventurer 38G F53/ V10 605 watts of Solar
1999 Winnebago Brave 35C F53V10 Handicap Equipped
1999 Jeep Cherokee, 1991 Jeep Wrangler Renegade and 2018 Chevrolet Equinox Diesel
|
|
|
|
|
03-18-2015, 09:45 PM
|
#5
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Warren, Oregon
Posts: 2,549
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by acecop
We have a 2006 Itasca class c and recently moved into a park to work for two months. We are plugged into a 30 amp box that has a GFCI breaker. We are tripping the breaker about every other day. If we are home when it happens the breaker doesn't immediately reset. If it happens while we're gone or overnight, the breaker resets.
We've never tripod any of the RV breakers and the outage has never been associated with a specific appliance coming on. We did have the control board on the fridge go out last week and it has been replaced. Other than that, no issues until this.
It has been raining pretty much every day since we've been here and I'm hoping it's just a moisture issue with the breaker. They replaced the breaker yesterday with the same type and it tripped today in the rain.
|
Something does not sound right. GFCI breaker don't reset on the own and I have never seen one on a 30A service. If you do not have surge-protecter on your coach I would invest in this one if you have a 50A coach
Progressive Industries EMS-HW50C Hardwire RV Surge Protector 50 Amp
or if you have a 30A this one, as good as the come with a life time warranty
EMS-HW30C
2 stroker
__________________
2006 Country Coach Inspire 360 40ft Genoa Designer Series, Samsung 197 RR
Cat C9--STEEL & COPPER Bolt Together Radiator w/ updated rubber mounting
SilverLeaf 330 Magnum 2812 PSW 2011 Ford Edge Sport-Air Force One
|
|
|
|
|
03-19-2015, 03:14 AM
|
#6
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2005
Posts: 4,063
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by acecop
Thanks! Wouldn't other campers be having the same issue? Also, the box was putting out 123 volts when they switched the breaker. We are the only ones in this section having issues. We've also had it at two different boxes.
|
How is the voltage under load? Is the voltage substantially different inside the coach?
__________________
Neil V
2001 Winnebago Adventurer WFG35U
|
|
|
|
|
03-20-2015, 05:53 AM
|
#7
|
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 10
|
We do have surge protector and were told it might be more sensitive to fluctuations in the power and tripping the breaker. The voltage inside the RV seems to be a steady 120 at all outlets and no fluctuations seen during the testing.
|
|
|
|
|
03-20-2015, 09:46 AM
|
#8
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 4,651
|
If fridge is not home type then unplug it forcing it to run on gas.
If gfi stops tripping then plug it into s gfi outlet in your mh with an extension cord to verify it is cause.
Common for the heater to break down and leak current to casing before it fails.
Still heats but can blow out the cooling unit if not replaced.
__________________
Tony & Lori
1989 Country Coach Savannah SE
|
|
|
|
|
03-20-2015, 10:15 AM
|
#9
|
|
Member
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 50
|
" If we are home when it happens the breaker doesn't immediately reset. If it happens while we're gone or overnight, the breaker resets"
sounds like the reason is overloading or a bad breaker it has to cool before reseting.
|
|
|
|
|
03-20-2015, 10:47 AM
|
#10
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,777
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by acecop
We have a 2006 Itasca class c and recently moved into a park to work for two months. We are plugged into a 30 amp box that has a GFCI breaker. We are tripping the breaker about every other day. If we are home when it happens the breaker doesn't immediately reset. If it happens while we're gone or overnight, the breaker resets.
We've never tripod any of the RV breakers and the outage has never been associated with a specific appliance coming on. We did have the control board on the fridge go out last week and it has been replaced. Other than that, no issues until this.
It has been raining pretty much every day since we've been here and I'm hoping it's just a moisture issue with the breaker. They replaced the breaker yesterday with the same type and it tripped today in the rain.
|
acecop
I "assume" that moisture, (from the persistent rain you've been having?), is somehow getting into the 120V electric system of your RV... OR into the 30 amp shore power receptacle itself...causing a ground fault, which then trips that 30 amp GFCI shore power breaker.
BTW, as far as I know, there is no such thing as an "automatically resetting" 120VAC breaker....I believe that when any 120V breaker, (GFCI or not), "trips" it can ONLY be "reset" manually.
Mel
'96 Safari
|
|
|
|
|
03-20-2015, 11:10 AM
|
#11
|
|
Community Moderator
Newmar Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Point Pleasant Beach, NJ
Posts: 28,011
|
I agree with mel s. GFIs don't auto reset. I would suspect if you are not over loading the breaker, that the breaker itself may be bad. Is it possible for you to plug into a nearby pedestal and see if it happens there?
__________________
Tony & Ruth........... FMCA#F416727
2016 London Aire 4519, Freightliner chassis, Cummins ISX, 2018 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited, Blue Ox Avail with AF1. TST 507 TPMS
No amount of money can buy you an extra second of time.
|
|
|
|
|
03-20-2015, 11:31 AM
|
#12
|
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: At various Florida State Parks.
Posts: 967
|
Acecop: You don't happen to be staying at Lake Kissimmee State Park? The reason I asked is that although it is a wonderful park, we had issues with the electric every morning. Our surge suppressor would cut power to our MH every morning due to low wattage at the pedistal/park. Since we left, have not had any problems with other parks' electric. Best of luck and happy RV'ing
__________________
George and Brenda
2005 Newmar Dutch Star 3810, Spartan with CAT7
2013 Honda Fit 
|
|
|
|
|
03-20-2015, 12:42 PM
|
#13
|
|
Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,927
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2 Stroker
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by acecop
We do have surge protector and were told it might be more sensitive to fluctuations in the power and tripping the breaker. The voltage inside the RV seems to be a steady 120 at all outlets and no fluctuations seen during the testing.
|
I also wonder what would be the purpose of an ' auto reset' GFCI circuit breaker? If it senses a voltage imbalance between hot and neutral, a GFCI trips. If it resets, it would again create a dangerous condition.
The Progressive Industries EMS 2 Stroker recommends is far more than a 'surge protector.' It prevents connection to a badly wired outlet, low or high voltage conditions, AND is a surge protector.
The suggestion to check the heating element of the refrigerator is a very good suggestion. A failing element can cause a leakage of electricity to ground, thus tripping the GFCI while still working. Test it with a ohmmeter to see if it's within range, which usually can be found in the manual for your refrigerator.
__________________
Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
|
|
|
|
|
03-20-2015, 05:07 PM
|
#14
|
|
Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 8,777
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by 2 Stroker
|
2 Stroker
I agree that "GFCI breakers" and "GFCI receptacles" do not reset on their own.
However, 30 amp GFCI beakers are not uncommon in shore power pedestals...(in fact the 30 amp receptacle to which my coach is connected in a TX COE park is a protected by a 30 amp GFCI breaker).
I suspect that acecop, (the OP), IS already using a "surge protector", some of which, (like the 30 and 50 amp Progressive Industries models), Sometimes DO "automatically reset" after being tripped by bad shore power.
BTW I also assume that what the OP is experiencing is caused by intermittent "bad power" from a campground pedestal.
Mel
96 Safari
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
|
| Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
|
| Display Modes |
 Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
