AC not working

[lestrada82203]

Hi there
We have owned our Jayco Swift 26BH for about a year and a half. We are getting ready for a trip tomorrow and as I was packing I switched on the AC. It was working then shut off and wont turn back on. Is this bc there is not enough power or is something wrong:/ Any help would be great. we have a 1 year old and if we don't have it cool in there no one will be sleeping

[clubhouse]

I would check the AC power source. I know for us if I try to run the AC on a hot day from the 20A garage circuit I have tripped the breaker, frequently in fact.

[TWP723]

Where are you plugged in? Home? CG?

[Jimw606]

A weak ground fault on an outdoor plug in can do just as you described. Has happened to me several time.
Tripped fuse in fuse box on trailer or home.

[bucko]

If you were packing the camper at the house, with the trailer plugged into a house outlet, your campers A/C unit won't work, as a 120 VAC house outlet is usually protected with a 20 amp breaker; your camper A/C will draw more then that.
Check the campers breaker box and look for a tripped breaker, then reset it.
Don't use the campers A/C unit while plugged in at the house unless you have a 30 amp or higher plug outlet in which to plug the camper into. You'll notice that campsites always have a 30 amp (or higher) plug outlet you connect to.

[bedrck46]

are you certain that " as 120 VAC house outlet is usually protected with a 20 amp breaker; your camper A/C will draw more then that."

It has been my experience that most 120V house receptacles are wired with 14 gauge wire and protected by 15 amp breakers. However a 20 amp receptacle is wired with 12 gauge wire and protected with a 20 amp breaker Which should be enough to handle a 13500 btu RV A/C which draws approx. 14 amps.

[bucko]

Depends maybe on the age of the house? My garage outlets (assumed to be what the OP was plugged into) are/should be GFI, and mine are 20 amp.

[bedrck46]

Just my opinion and not meant to offend anyone.


One of the things that I have noticed on this and also on other forums is that people tend to ASSUME what the OP fails to post. In this case the OP simply stated he turned on his A/C and it shut off. He does not state what he was plugged into. So there is no way to know if he plugged into a 15, 20 or 30 amp receptacle. The adaptor that is used to connect a 30 amp cord is normally a 30 to 15 amp adaptor which also can be plugged into a 20 amp receptacle. Also as has been posted many times on this forum it is not a good idea to plug the RV into a GFI circuit. Some people have had no problems while others have had problems with the GFI recept tripping.
It also appears that we may never know what the OP plugged into or if he found the answer to his problem as he hasn't been back to this thread since his original and only post.

[namusmc65]

Originally Posted by bedrck46

are you certain that " as 120 VAC house outlet is usually protected with a 20 amp breaker; your camper A/C will draw more then that."

It has been my experience that most 120V house receptacles are wired with 14 gauge wire and protected by 15 amp breakers. However a 20 amp receptacle is wired with 12 gauge wire and protected with a 20 amp breaker Which should be enough to handle a 13500 btu RV A/C which draws approx. 14 amps.

My 15,ooo BTTU main Coleman ac only draws 14-15 amps according to the meter on my electrical line. AC alone should not blow 20 amp breaker by itself IMHO. But of course, opinions are like something else.

[norty1]

Another consideration is voltage loss on a extension. This can also increase the current load on the breaker feeding the rig and reduce the current available to run stuff in the camper.