A/C breaker keep tripping - WITHOUT the A/C on!

[worksology]

The current situation is that I cannot flip our air conditioner's 20-amp breaker on without it immediately tripping (even while the thermostat is off). The thermostat & every other 120-volt appliance & outlet works fine.

Before this, there was a period of a few days where we could get the A/C to come on for a few minutes but it would inevitably trip (along with the paired 30-amp breaker).

Before that, it worked fine. (Up until last summer when we had to have the capacitors replaced).

So quick question: should I replace the capacitors again? I've done a visual inspection and they look fine. I'm not aware whether faulty capacitors could make the circuit breaker trip so quickly, even when the thermostat is off.

(Another possibly pertinent detail: a few campgrounds ago, before I noticed any of these A/C symptoms, I noticed I could feel an electrical charge in the SKIN OF THE AIRSTREAM. Rivets, the frames around the door & storage boxes, especially tingled. It kinda freaked me out, but I only noticed it as we were packing up to leave, and as soon as we disconnected from shore power it went away. And we haven't noticed it again since.)

I'm going to the city tomorrow so wondering whether I should plan to pick up some capacitors or whether I've got a different kind of problem (wiring?) on my hands.

[minimarriott]

Josh,
I am going to watch this thread and see what comes up. I have an issue ona 25ft. 2010 Int. Just bought it and I believe I either have seized the ac up or blown a fuse/breaker or something. Did it using too low a voltage to start it up. Very very frustrating. I hope you find a solution to yours.

[HowieE]

Sounds like the feed wire to the AC is shorted to the body. If the thermostat is not calling for cooling there is no reason to assume it is within the AC itself.

Disconnect from shore power. I would drop the inside cover and disconnect the power to the AC in the splice box or disconnect, which ever is there. If you have a volt meter read the continuity between the output side of the AC circuit breaker and the body. If there is continuity there the wire to the AC is shorted to the body. If you do not have a meter turn the AC breaker on get out of the trailer and plug in the shore power. Disconnect the shore power and go into the trailer and see if the breaker has tripped. If it has there is a short.

Do not allow anyone near that trailer while it is plugged in until you do these tests. If the wire is shorted and a person is well grounded as they touch the trailer it could kill them

[SteveH]

Yes, do what HowieE says. I concur and he is right on with this one.