A/C breaker tripping

[twindman]

I had to replace my circuit breaker last year, I think. At the time I bought a spare. Well the breaker just tripped again. It wouldn't reset. I went to replace it and then it reset so I tried it again. After about 3 or 4 minutes the same thing happened. Oh, by the way, it is over 90 here today.
Anyway, is it normal for the breakers to go so fast when they are stressed near the limit whenever used?
I have the spare installed and it is working so far - up to 5 or 6 minutes now!!! ha ha
Oh, I have a surge protecter installed and the AC pulls 15 amps (or 16?) continuously when it is hot outside and the sun is baking down on the roof. Doesn't use so much when out of the direct sun, such as evenings (even with a temp of 100).
Any advice would be helpful!
Oooo - up to 8 minutes!

[racerjoe]

how good is the service you are plugged into? 30amp or 50 amp? Is the receptacle in good condition? poor wiring in the box? just a few thoughts

[awaywego]

If you are plugged into 30 amp and the voltage is low that will make the things you are running pull more amps. Also I have had the plug in the pedestal loose from people plugging in and out and it over heating many times. Feel the plug and see if it is hot. The recept. may be loose and need replacing but good luck on getting the campground to do that.

[kdeiss]

With a lot of AC units running in a Camp Ground during this heat the votage can be low as mentioned. So the first thing I would do is check the voltage then with an AMP meter check AMP draw at the pedastal

[twindman]

My surge guard will shut down with low voltage. So I don't think that is the problem. Actually that is the reason I got the surge guard, as I blew out the AC at a campground with low voltage.
I am currently on 50 amp.
Keep 'em coming!

[DQDick]

Are your filters clean and have you blown out the coils this year?

[jimcol]

I'd check all my connections on that air conditioner circuit starting at the breaker box. Make sure all the lugs in the box are tight and then check the wire nuts at the unit. Quick and easy and eliminates one possibility. Jim

[NCFischers]

Breakers will also trip if they get hot. Heat can be transfered through the wire. Feel the breaker and see if it's warmer than the others.

[wmcclay]

After checking your connections and voltage. If you can move it to the last space on either end it will help as the suspect breaker gets heat from other breakers on both sides. Moving it will allow it to get some cooling and heat from one side only. This is not a fix but will allow the breaker a chance to get rid of some heat if you are pushing the amp draw.

[Art-n-Marge]

In my rig both A/C breakers are rated for 20 amps each. Breakers should not be failing that much unless the devices on them are overworking the circuit and if they are 15 amps for the A/C then they should be at 20 amps.

Others have mentioned other things to look at and it sounds like you have a surge protector, but this does not help with brownouts. You'll need to buy other diagnostic equipment to keep track of or prevent brownouts. Loose wires, questionable voltage at the pedestal and underated or overated stuff is common in the trailer world.

It's been a while since my basic electronics courses but if the voltage drops, the amps will raise to make up for what the device requires. This is when brownouts, resetting breakers or broken devices occurs. Trailer living sure does bring out the worst in electricity so awareness of what can cause problems is critical. Asking these questions is a great start. I know I am constantly thinking of this but a single day RVing is better than sitting in the stickhouse.

[Ozz]

High head pressure will cause a over-amp condition, I just went on a service call where the condenser was plugged with lint and dust.
Spray the coil on the roof with simple green, then hose it out if it hasn't been done this summer.

[twindman]

I have to admit, I have NEVER cleaned the coils other than spraying some water in the sides. I haven't taken the cover off and done anything, I don't believe. Oz, I assume the simple green is some sort of cleaner?????
I do live in Arizona where my AC repair guy showed me the side of teh AC unit in the sun was 130 degrees. So I have always attributed the high amps to just a blazing sun on the roof. Because in the evening when the temp is still 100-105 but no direct sunlight the amps read 15 steady.
Thanks everyone.
Oh,as to moving the breaker - I don't think I have enough extra wire to do that, but I will check it out sometime.

[ols1932]

You will find that breakers become "weak" as they are used. In many of the older campgrounds, the breakers have been installed for 25-30 years or more. As current flows through the breakers, they heat up. If they get too warm they will trip even though their current capacity may not have been reached. On top of that, when the weather is hot like it has been, the breakers heat up from the natural ambient temperature and since they are old they will trip. In addition, when breakers are used to turn power on and off, their life can be shortened as they get "weaker."

Orv

[Ozz]

quote:Originally posted by twindman

I have to admit, I have NEVER cleaned the coils other than spraying some water in the sides. I haven't taken the cover off and done anything, I don't believe. Oz, I assume the simple green is some sort of cleaner?????
I do live in Arizona where my AC repair guy showed me the side of teh AC unit in the sun was 130 degrees. So I have always attributed the high amps to just a blazing sun on the roof. Because in the evening when the temp is still 100-105 but no direct sunlight the amps read 15 steady.
Thanks everyone.
Oh,as to moving the breaker - I don't think I have enough extra wire to do that, but I will check it out sometime.

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[twindman]

Thanks Oz for the simple green info. I will check it out.
One other surprising thing (to me anyway) is my 2nd AC in the bedroom is drawing about 17 amps and I am pretty sure it is a smaller unit than in the living room. I should get the manual out and check it out, I guess. But even in the full heat in California the other night, it never blew the circuit breaker (20 Amp).

[kdeiss]

We are in a CG North of Pittsburgh on Sat I checked the voltage 110.2 this was on the weekend and hot as hell with many people using their AC units but still it was no where close to 100% of the sites ocupied.

This AM with temps in the low 70's and those of us that are here are not running AC my reading 122.5 V

My point is you can see with the use of AC on these hot days how this can effect the voltage in a park with good electical service

Years ago in a park in Erie Pa on hot days the volts would drop to 98V not good!