Electric issue

[licamp]

My camper chucks the 30 amp campground breaker when I have the AC on and wife blow drying hair, or AC and Microwave. I do have a whole camper surge protector on it, but I have had this problem prior to the protector also. Does anybody else have this issue?

[bedrck46]

although those items are a high amp draw item I would think they shouldn't blow the campground breaker unless the voltage is low or the 30 amp breaker has weakened due to its age. Only way to see what the actual amperage is when the breaker blows is with a clamp-on amp meter. Also check voltage using a meter. Loose or corroded connections could also be a factor


Does the CB blow immediately or does it take a little bit of time for it to trip??

[oldmanAZ]

Originally Posted by licamp

My camper chucks the 30 amp campground breaker when I have the AC on and wife blow drying hair, or AC and Microwave. I do have a whole camper surge protector on it, but I have had this problem prior to the protector also. Does anybody else have this issue?

Nearly everyone with 30amp power has, or is close to, having that issue.

It's not a surge issue. It's a current draw issue. With AC on, often there is not enough 'extra' current for the microwave or hair dryer. You could 'take turns' running the AC/microwave/hair dryer.

If you are in a CG and lots of folks are running their AC, then you could also be having a voltage drop issue. In those situations, sometimes the AC alone will trip the breaker.

If you are in a CG and your power pole has a 20amp outlet, you could plug the hair dryer into that.

[norty1]

You are exceeding the capacity of the service provided.

Look at the bottom of this chart for currant usage. Just the 3 items you listed will exceed 30a, not even counting the converter or any or ac draws.

Basic RV Electricity - RV Information (RV Maintenance)

[tnchuck100]

Many people overlook the water heater element. Most of the time it is off. But if the water heater is on and A/C is running and you use the microwave you WILL trip the 30 amp breaker.

[bedrck46]

I agree with the other comments posted Yet without knowing all the conditions that you are running at the time the breaker trips its is hard to say if you are exceeding the capacity of the service being provided. Other than the amps that are listed in the chart there are other factors that need to be considered.


many years ago the company I worked for transferred me to another plant After I was there I received a report of a circuit breaker tripping a few times during the shift
I went and checked the circuit and found out that the 15 amp breaker would trip at
9 amps. I replaced the old breaker with a new one and problem was solved I have also seen brand new breakers trip before their rated setting.


I would suggest at this point that you turn off the AC when the hair dryer or MW is being used You won't loose much in cooling in the RV but will save you from having to reset the CG breaker

[bedrck46]

norty1 some very good information in the link you provided Would be nice to include it in a sticky

[tnchuck100]

That list is very helpful but even that list fails to mention the water heater element which is 10 - 13 amps.

[bedrck46]

I read the article on RV Electrical 101 and liked the part that said


The breakers for the electrical systems in most campgrounds are designed with a tolerance of 20-percent, plus or minus. (If breakers tripped at exactly 30 amps, they would cost much more – perhaps 10 times as much – as breakers normally used.)
A 30-amp outlet supplies 3,600 watts (30 amps multiplied by 120 volts).
Therefore, the breaker on that outlet could meet code and still trip anywhere between a total load of 2,880 watts (80 percent of 3,600 watts) and 4,320 watts (120 percent of 3,600 watts).

[licamp]

Originally Posted by tnchuck100

That list is very helpful but even that list fails to mention the water heater element which is 10 - 13 amps.

You are correct I forgot I was running the electric water heater. Next time out I will shut that off and see if breaker chucks. The hair dryer really heats up the camper when I have to shut the AC down. But I'm also glad that it's not a camper issue. Thanks for the help!!!!

[bedrck46]

It is always helpful when all the facts are known. I would agree that the hair dryer adds a lot of heat into the camper. Could always use it outside or in the bath house at the campground

[Jagiven]

30 amps on a single leg sounds like a lot but it is not. What we do is turn the ac off until we are done doing what ever else. The trailer will not over heat or rise in temp if it is off for a few minutes.

[norty1]

Or switch the water heater to gas while the coffee is brewing and the hair is drying.

On my last 30a rig, I had a mod that allowed me to plug my water heater into the pedestal via a separate extension cord. That helped a lot.