Circuit breaker on AS class B tripping, help!

[Mainiacs]

A circuit breaker on our Airstream Avenue, #3A has tripped, and we were able to reset it and have it work again one time, but now it will not come back on again. (circuit 3A operates the TV.) My husband has checked the 15amp breaker and says it is functioning properly, it’s not worn out. We’ve also tried resetting the breaker on the powerverter, but it seems to have no effect.

From the owners manual:
“ when you’re plugged into Shoreline power or start your generator, 120V current is fed to an automatic switch over box”. (Which in this case is a Tripp-lite “powerverter”). “Power from the box runs to the 120V circuit breakers on the powerverter. Circuit 3A can also be powered by the inverter part of the inverter/charger.”
“ The 110V power is brought into the box from either a shoreline outlet, generator, or the inverter can be used to feed circuit 3A only.”
“ The line side of this cable is fed through the magnetically coupled current transformer to the main breaker. This breaker back feeds power into the circuit breaker bus bar to feed power to the branch breakers. All the 120V loads in the RV are fed from the branch breakers.”
“ Circuit 3A. Entertainment and TV receptacles. This circuit runs through the inverter/charger. Circuit 3A can be supplied power from the inverter if needed and is protected by a GFI circuit breaker located on the inverter/charger as well as the breaker on the panel. Check both breakers if any receptacles or appliances on circuit 3A do not work. One breaker protect the charger while it is charging the batteries, the other breaker protects circuit 3A in conjunction with the distribution panel breaker. This breaker for circuit 3A may trip even if the inverter is off.”

I’m afraid all this stuff is over my head, and I don’t know what else to do. Any suggestions?

[cwf]

bump^^^
Hope you have resolved the issue. If not, please post status..

[Mainiacs]

Hi Channing, thanks for inquiring. We are stumped and don’t know what else to try. We live in a pretty rural area, so there are no rv service places nearby.

Anne

[HowieE]

Not sure what you mean by 3A. Most would consider that description for a circuit breaker of 3 amp rating

Get a simple volt meter, free at Harbor Freight if you enter the store, and check back from the tv to see where you lose voltage. Check both sides of each breaker or fuse. The one that has voltage on the input side and not on the output side is the problem. If you can not reset that breaker without it blowing again the breaker itself may be bad or the load beyond it is higher than the rating of the breaker.

You can test that by unplugging the tv and plugging lighter load, a clock or radio, into the circuit and try resetting the breaker with that load. If the breaker holds trips with that load I would replace the breaker as a first attempt and try the tv again. If the second breaker trips also I would check the tv.

[cwf]

Anne... what year is your AS?

Now, Howie gave you good info.. you really can't determine electrical problems without a proper VOM (volt ohm meter).. no need to get an expense meter.. but you need one.. perhaps a neighbor.. living out in the county I bet there are some good ole boys and gals around who should have a meter.

Electricity is serious stuff and you are right to check it. But, please go carefully.

I would take the TV into my house and try it on a known good circuit.

So, let's see.. the sequence of connections are as follows:

120v power coming into the AS---AS cable---Powerverter---breaker box---breaker---outlet--- tv

Oh.. and the TV is the same power requirement, correct? Our son had one with external power converter and it had failed intermittently... shorting out inside...

Let us know what you find..

[Mainiacs]

Thanks so much, Howie and Channing for trying to help us solve our problem!

I’ve plugged the TV into an extension cord plugged into a household outlet directly, and the TV works fine.

3a and 3b are both circuits serviced by a split 15amp breaker. The Airstream is a 2012 Avenue, and the TV and antenna powered by this breaker are all original equipment installed by aurstream.

Bill disconnected the wires from the 3a breaker to the inverter and attached them instead to breaker 3b. Power stayed on without flipping the breaker, so we conclude the breaker is functional.

He also attached the wires from the inverter that are normally wired to the 3b breaker, and attached them to the 3a breaker instead. The 3a breaker stayed on and worked as its supposed to. So it seems the breaker is not the problem. He’s going to check the two outlets on the 3a breaker and make sure there are no loose wires or a short.

Thanks again,
Anne

[HowieE]

If you have substituted the breaker and it held the load that would say the original breaker is weak and should be replaced. just the fact that you put the wire from 3B onto 3A and it held id not a good test unless the there is an equivalent load, and highly unlikely.

Breakers do go Soft and trip well below their original rating sometimes so replace it as a first assumption.