Thermal Breaker Reset

n2916s · 10-11-2009, 01:48 PM

Putzing around with the refrigerator today and somehow popped the thermal braeker for the fridge circuit in the DC power distribution panel.

Verified the 30A breaker is open with my meter,

How long before it should reset? I left the frig disconnected...

mike

Inland RV Center, In · 10-11-2009, 03:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by n2916s

Putzing around with the refrigerator today and somehow popped the thermal braeker for the fridge circuit in the DC power distribution panel.

Verified the 30A breaker is open with my meter,

How long before it should reset? I left the frig disconnected...

mike

3 to 4 minutes is plenty of time to reset.

Make sure though that the breaker is self resetting, and not a manual reset.

Breakers, however, do go bad, be it 12 volts or 120 volts.

Andy

HowieE · 10-11-2009, 03:58 PM

30 amps does not sound like a breaker for the Refrig. unless you have a 3 way unit.

If it is in fact a 3 way disconnect the 12 volt heater before resetting the breaker and then plug it back in. If the breaker trips again after plugging in the heater I would check the heater element for a short to ground.

n2916s · 10-11-2009, 04:07 PM

Thanks guys.

The breaker is a 30 and appears to be the auto reset type, even though this reefer is 2 way. I suspect the original unit (long ago replaced by a po) might have been a 3 way which would also explain the 10 guage wire leading to he frig.

Seems the breaker is bad and that will be no fun as it is riveted in to the power distribution panel from the back. Probably easier to bypass irt and put in a 30 amp in-line fuse....

Thanks for the replies,

mike

HowieE · 10-11-2009, 04:18 PM

If it is no longer a 3 way I would replace it with no more than a 20. See if there is any current rating on the name plate or get in touch with the manufacture.

A 30 might allow a small problem to become a big problem because of a delay in tripping.

n2916s · 10-11-2009, 04:56 PM

Thanks, HowieE, hadn't considered that 30a is probably overkill for that circuit with a 2 way installed. Essentially the DC now powers the motherboard and the light so 20 should be plenty.

mike

HowieE · 10-11-2009, 05:00 PM

If there is no condensate heater on the door you might drop to 10.

There should be a lesser fuse on the board that protects it