A/C popping the circuit breaker

[Grumpy_1]

Howdy folks, I need some friendly advice. I am new here, but an experienced camper who has been very lucky and have had few issues with my 2011 Prowler. My AC unit has begun to snap the main ac circuit breaker on my converter. I doesn't seem to have a problem until the outside temp is above 90 degrees. I have checked all my wiring and have nothing loose or that looks out of the ordinary. It is playing a game of stump the chump, and I am STUMPED. any ideas?

Grumpy

 

[wdk450]

Howdy folks, I need some friendly advice. I am new here, but an experienced camper who has been very lucky and have had few issues with my 2011 Prowler. My AC unit has begun to snap the main ac circuit breaker on my converter. I doesn't seem to have a problem until the outside temp is above 90 degrees. I have checked all my wiring and have nothing loose or that looks out of the ordinary. It is playing a game of stump the chump, and I am STUMPED. any ideas?

Grumpy

Grumpy:
You need to check 2 things to begin with: The incoming voltage at the AC breaker panel, and the current draw of the AC unit. A clamp-on multimeter will be good for this (inexpensive ones are available at Harbor Freight Tools). Measure the AC voltage on the breaker bus (hot common for the breakers) to neutral with both loads off and with the AC running (if you can). If there is a significant voltage drop (about 5 volts or more) this indicates incoming wiring (including possibly the RV park pedestal) problems. You should be able to locate the black wire coming out of the Air Conditioner breaker, put the meter clamp probe around it, and see the running air conditioner current. If the current is greater than the breaker rating, you have an air conditioner problem. If it is less, you probably have a weak breaker. Also put your finger on the plastic, insulated part of the circuit breaker while the air conditioner has been running for five minutes or more. If the breaker feels hot, it needs to be replaced. I don't know if your air conditioner breaker pops immediately, or after a while in recommending these tests.
In all of this electrical troubleshooting be VERY CAREFUL not to touch any energized metal surfaces.

 

[danemayer]

Hi Grumpy,

Could you clarify something? You said: "My AC unit has begun to snap the main ac circuit breaker on my converter." Where you say converter, what exactly do you mean? You do have a power converter, which converts 110V AC to 12V DC. But I'm having trouble making the connection.

I'm reading what you said as meaning that the 110V circuit breaker supplying power to the converter is tripping and presumably the air conditioning keeps running. Is that what you meant to say?