Help I'm roasting

[MyHappyPill]

So I just had my Dad install my new penguin duo therm air conditioner. When testing it out at home, it ran, but blew the breaker. We thought it would work fine at the campground with more power. WE WERE WRONG! I am now camping/cooking. My air runs for up to about 5 minutes, but then shuts off. The breakers are not flipping. The air will restart after 5 minutes or so, without needing to touch the breakers. Any ideas??? I'm desperate (and hot!)

[jimrogers]

try putting in a 30 amp breaker

[MyHappyPill]

I am not at all electrical, do you know where I would find one? Does it go in the breaker box? I have no idea how to change it! Any tips?

[jimrogers]

it is in breaker box,you can buy a breaker anywhere breakers are sold take old one with you.
frist disconnect trailer,should be a 20 amp going t o a.c. replace it with 30

[MyHappyPill]

Thank you very much for your help! If you don't mind, I have one more question. I don't know how to get them out. Do the fuses just pull out? I don't want to create another problem! Thank you for all of your help!

[jimrogers]

there is a wire you have to take it loose and pry it loose from top

[garry]

What else do you have on ???

Make sure the frig and hot water heater are on propane and not electric.

You can not run the AC, microwave or any other high amp draw at the same time.

Try running the AC on low.

What breaker is tripping the main or the 20 amp?

The AC should not trip the breaker but breakers do go bad.

[garry]

Warning..... to be safe do not pull the breaker with power plugged in.

Normally the left side pulls straight out (you can use a screw driver to pry it) and the right side slips in 1st when you put it back. There is one black wire that has to be removed.

If you pull it make sure the wire is very tight when you reinstall.

[overlander64]

Originally Posted by MyHappyPill

So I just had my Dad install my new penguin duo therm air conditioner. When testing it out at home, it ran, but blew the breaker. We thought it would work fine at the campground with more power. WE WERE WRONG! I am now camping/cooking. My air runs for up to about 5 minutes, but then shuts off. The breakers are not flipping. The air will restart after 5 minutes or so, without needing to touch the breakers. Any ideas??? I'm desperate (and hot!)

Are you sure that the voltage was high enough to support proper operation of your air conditioner in the campground? As hot and humid as it has been in the Midwest, it wouldn't surprise me if the voltage available in the campground may not have been enough. If you don't already have one, there is an inexpensive meter that you can plug in an outlet to determine if sufficent voltate is available - - it has a green are that is acceptable - - yellow that mean caution -- and a red that meand do not use senesitive appliances.

Good luck in locating your electrical gremlin!

Kevin

[wmarsha]

Jill, circuit breakers are sized to protect the wiring in an Alternating Current system (AC). If you change out an existing 20 amp breaker (which will protect 12 gauge wire) with a 30 amp breaker (which is designed to protect 10 gauge wire), then you have a potential for fire. Please do not change it out. The RV air conditioning units I have seen require a dedicated 20 amp circuit. If the air conditioner is not performing correctly, then you should first have a qualified individual check out the voltage/current sizing of the circuit feeding the air conditioner. If all is okay with your AC system, then there is a malfunction within the air conditioner, requiring a qualified air conditioning technician to check it out. Sorry, there are no short cuts to trouble shooting this equipment.
ol bill

[MyHappyPill]

None of the breakers are tripping. The a/c is just shutting off. When you mess with the knobs it will restart after 5 minutes or so. Do you think it is breaker related?

[MyHappyPill]

Thank you for that info Marsha! It is a brands new unit. I am clueless as to why it isn't working!

[garry]

Sorry reread your post, I thought the breaker was tripping.

Could be a problem with the thermostat or overheating the compressor (low freon) or as someone else said low voltage at the CG pedestal.

[MyHappyPill]

So we just checked the amps and it is at 118 with the a/c on and 120 with it off.

[mhilley]

I am in full agreement with wmarsha. Please do not replace the breaker with a larger one. If you have 118 volts at the plug with the A/C running that should be sufficient. Make sure you electric water heater is turned off. Make sure your battery charger/converter is off. If you still have a problem call a technician.

[wasagachris]

Jill I too agree do not upsize the breaker. You will be looking to burn up your A/S if you do.
Jim a little information is a dangerous thing. If you know not of what you speak stay silent!!!

[wasagachris]

Jill when you say the A/C is shuttinf off is the fan shutting down or just the compressor? Also when you say you mess with the controls it will come on again after five mins. Which controls are you messing with? Are your controls on the unit or are you using a wall mounted thermostat?

[MyHappyPill]

Thanks for the caution everyone! I would like to camp again someday in my minuet When I refer to the controls I'm referring to the knobs on the unit to adjust the fan/ac and temperature. it seems that the water comes rushing out the drain right when the unit shuts off. any idea if this could have something to do with the problem?

[Tom Nugler]

Sound more like an internal overload/overheat switch. Does the cool air from the outlets diminish gradually or does the unit just quit? Since it failed after installation I would rule out issues with the campground.
Thinking off the top of my head again,

Tom.

[MyHappyPill]

The fan also shuts off, it is silent. I am using controls on the unit.