tripping breakers

[Dixie722]

Hello all.. I have a 75 international, new PD converter, one year old battery, one year old Dometic 13,500 air conditioning. I can run the a c while on shore power, and it will run for about an hour, then the breaker in the trailer trips. I have it on shore power all the time, and when I went to it today, the 12 volt side of the breaker had tripped. No, charging, no lights etc.Reset the breaker, and it stayed on. Could someone help with diagnosis? I am thinking weak or faulty breakers, but I am not the electrician. I did have the PD professionally installed. ( good buddy who is an electrician), he has done several of my trailers.

[HowieE]

breakers age. First option change to a new one. If that still fails get a clip on amp meter and read the current at the breaker. Breakers should be able to carry 80% of the stated value. If the current is higher than that make sure you don't have any other load on the breaker besides the AC

[firstwave]

I've got a similar problem. When i switch the step light on the breaker pops and the AC goes off. Getting ready to replace the step light fixture to see if that will solve the problem.

[Dixie722]

First, thanks for the help.. I looked at your tow vehicle, how do you like the excursion? Is it a diesel? I am thinking of getting, one, I want 7.3 or 6.4, if I can afford it. Do you know a source for the breakers? i am sure they are some oddball kind, thanks again,
Richard

[Dixie722]

Seem like this is a common problem . Does anybody know the type of breakers and where to get them? I have 2 20 amp, a 15 amp and a 30 amp for the box.

[pappy19]

Originally Posted by Dixie722

First, thanks for the help.. I looked at your tow vehicle, how do you like the excursion? Is it a diesel? I am thinking of getting, one, I want 7.3 or 6.4, if I can afford it. Do you know a source for the breakers? i am sure they are some oddball kind, thanks again,
Richard

Do not get the 6.4 or the 6.0; the 7.3 and the 6.7 are fine, no problems. One suggestion when you are running your AC is to leave the cabinet door open where the breaker box is housed. On a real hot day, mine goes off too, but when I leave the door open, it doesn't.

[switz]

The two circuits on a 1" breaker get really hot when the air conditioner starts. Per the National Electric Code, a breaker should not carry a constant load that exceeds 20% of the breaker's capacity, or 16 amps on a 20 amp breaker.

I would suggest rearranging the breakers so that the air conditioner breaker has one side in free air inside the box. That would help it dissipate the heat generated.

Also make sure all the load wire screws on the breakers are torqued to the proper value. If they are loose, that creates more heat.

[Dixie722]

You know, I never thought of the heat, It is definitely hot in the rear of the trailer, I think I will do both, leave the door open for a while, and re arrange, sounds like a good idea, I still want to change them out, due to age..