A/C problems

[rmyoung96]

We've got a 1998 Coleman Bayside and I'm having problems with the A/C.  In warm weather (when you need the A/C of course) it will run for a while and then it trips the breaker.  You have to let it stay off for a while, and then it will turn back on.  I was just wondering if anyone else had encountered this problem and if there were any suggestions on what I could do to remedy this problem.

[TexasCamper]

By-pass the outlet and plug it direct. I had a problem with the outlet. I change it works fine.

[wavery]

We've got a 1998 Coleman Bayside and I'm having problems with the A/C.  In warm weather (when you need the A/C of course) it will run for a while and then it trips the breaker.  You have to let it stay off for a while, and then it will turn back on.  I was just wondering if anyone else had encountered this problem and if there were any suggestions on what I could do to remedy this problem.

WELCOME TO PUT!!!!!!!!

When your A/C runs for a while, it starts to cycle (the compressor turns off then back on). The system will start the first time because there is no pressure in the lines and the compressor is cool. When it cycles, it has already built up pressure in the hot system and it takes a lot of extra amps to overcome that pressure and heat to get the compressor running. Those extra amps is what is tripping the breaker.

If you don't have a 30A breaker in your PU, you might want to think about installing one. However, as TexasCamper posted previously, you can plug in directly and by-pass your breakers all together. Just make sure that you use a 12g H.D. extension cord with a max length of 25'. Any less than that will drop the voltage to the A/C and may be very hard on the compressor.

[Tim5055]

If you don't have a 30A breaker in your PU, you might want to think about installing one.

No pop up comes from the manufacturer with a 30a breaker inside the PU and the wiring and recepticles are not rated for 30a.  Installing a breaker with a higher rating thant the wiring and/or recepticles is a fire hazzard!

Pop Ups generally have two breakers, 1 20a for the single recepticle that the A/C is designed to plug into and a 15a circuit for the other redcepticles.

The 20a recepticle should
look like this one, note the "T" outlet on one side.

The first question I would have is which breaker is it tripping?  The breaker inside the pop up or the breaker that the pop up is plugged into.

Is the pop up shore cord plugged into a 30a source, or are you using an adaptor to plug into a 20a or even a 15a circuit?  If you are using an adaptor and it is the breaker outside the PU that is tripping, we have found the problem.

IF the shore cord is plugged into a 30a circuit and the A/C is plugged into the 20a circuit and the 20a breaker inside the PU is tripping, it may be a weak breaker.  It does happen.

[rmyoung96]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.  The PU does have a 20 amp and a 15 amp breaker inside the camper.  The 20 amp is the one that is tripping.  It has done this both plugged directly into a 30 amp source and into a 30 amp source with the adapter.  Also Tim, the plug inside the PU that the A/C plugs into is one of the T style plugs.  Last year when it did this I thought I had it figured out and replaced the camper plug with a new plug after cutting off about a foot of the original cord (thought it was a short in the cord), but that didn't take care of the problem either.  Hoping I can do something short of replacing the A/C, lol.  The person I bought the camper from said the 20 amp breaker had been replaced about 2 years ago, so it's fairly new, but I had thought about trying a new one to see if that was the problem.  When the breaker trips, the breaker box is always very warm.  Thanks again for all the help, anyone who camps or has camped in Texas knows an A/C is essential, lol, especially with 2 kids!

[wavery]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone.  The PU does have a 20 amp and a 15 amp breaker inside the camper.  The 20 amp is the one that is tripping.  It has done this both plugged directly into a 30 amp source and into a 30 amp source with the adapter.  Also Tim, the plug inside the PU that the A/C plugs into is one of the T style plugs.  Last year when it did this I thought I had it figured out and replaced the camper plug with a new plug after cutting off about a foot of the original cord (thought it was a short in the cord), but that didn't take care of the problem either.  Hoping I can do something short of replacing the A/C, lol.  The person I bought the camper from said the 20 amp breaker had been replaced about 2 years ago, so it's fairly new, but I had thought about trying a new one to see if that was the problem.  When the breaker trips, the breaker box is always very warm.  Thanks again for all the help, anyone who camps or has camped in Texas knows an A/C is essential, lol, especially with 2 kids!

If it is tripping a 30A breaker, something is wrong.

You might want to take the PU to an A/C shop near you. They will probably check the head pressure. If the A/C has too little or too much freon, it can cause over heating and/or high head pressure. Either condition may result in hard starting when recycling.

At any rate, it is more than likely a very simple problem. However, if it is continued to be used, it could severely damage the compressor.

[rmyoung96]

Wavery, it's tripping the 20a breaker inside the PU, it so far has never tripped a 30a breaker.

[wavery]

Wavery, it's tripping the 20a breaker inside the PU, it so far has never tripped a 30a breaker.

It really shouldn't trip a 20A breaker either. This indicates a possible problem. However, on hot days it may trip a 20A breaker even if your freon level and pressures check out right. However, I would definitely have that checked first.

If everything is OK with the A/C (and I suspect that it may not be). You may want to re-wire for a 30A breaker. It's not hard. You will need to check the code for the wire size for the distance that you are running to your outlet. If it is too small, you will have to pull new (larger) wires. You will also have to change the outlet (as Tim5055 mentioned). Now that I think about it, the current wire size from your converter to the outlet may to be too small. If they just replaced a 15A outlet with a 20A outlet and left the same, minimal, wiring, it may be too small to handle the load. This would also cause a build up of resistance and cause the breaker to blow. You may want to check that first. It might be worthwhile to check to see it all of your connections are clean and tight. The smallest amount of resistance will cause this problem.

By far, the simplest solution would be to use a 12g HD extension cord (or even a 10g if you can find one) and by-pass the converter by going directly to the box, as was mentioned byTexasCamper.

[CAPEd CODger]

Check to see if the outlet that you plug the A/C into gets hot when the failure occurs.
Ours got hot, and after pulling the socket out of the wall, (DISCONNECT POWER  FIRST!!!)
check and tighten the screws, then put it back together.
That should take care of it unless the breaker has weakend from excessive tripping.


good luck