RM100 trips break as soon as I trun it on

Norm1234 · 09-02-2009, 02:35 PM

The tiltle says it all. The very second I turn the power on it trips the breaker. Can someone help me?

overlander63 · 09-02-2009, 05:50 PM

First suggestion is to unplug the fridge from the outlet and check for a short. Try turning the a.c. switch to off, and see if the beaker still trips. If it does, the problem is between the switch and the plug. If it doesn't, the short is between the switch and the heating element. It could be the heating element itself, or could be a mouse chewed through some insulation.

Norm1234 · 09-02-2009, 06:59 PM

It is in the refrigerator. If I unplug it the refigerator the breaker stops triping. Is there a circuit board that could be back in the old beast or just a heat element.

overlander63 · 09-02-2009, 07:35 PM

It should have two thermostats, one for LP and one for electric, with a "LP/Elec" knob. The knob turns a gas valve on and off, and moves the toggle switch. I'd check the switch, they do sometimes go bad, and make sure none of the wires have been chewed or are frayed. There really should be no circuit board, other than possibly the electronic igniter, which is independent ot the other wiring.

Norm1234 · 09-02-2009, 09:18 PM

Thanks for the info. I will check it out this weekend.

Norm1234 · 09-08-2009, 07:07 PM

OK, the gas part of the refrigerators it working fine. how do I tell if the switch or the heating element it bad? All wiring looks to be in good shape.

tschat · 09-08-2009, 08:38 PM

Mine was tripping the breaker when I first got it, but since then I cleaned the contact blocks and everything has been running fine for 4 years. The RM 100 was the standard fridge for the 77 and 78 excella 500 and you can find the service and owners manual and service manual online at:

1978 Airstream Excella 500 Manuals

-thomas

garry · 09-13-2009, 03:29 PM

Depends on where you are measuring.

The heating element from one side to the other should be 2 to 5 ohms.

No reading indicates an open circuit (bad heater coil).

What happens many times the heater coil will break and one side starts touching ground popping the breaker. I'm just wondering if you did anything to move the heater coil thus removing the short or are you measuring directly across the coils. Something happed to clear the short and stop tripping the breaker.

Garry

Norm1234 · 09-13-2009, 05:32 PM

Yep it is reading open now. I think im going to try a new element. I will post how it works when I get it in. thanks for the reply.