Foretravel Owners' Forum

Foretravel Motorhome Forums => Foretravel Tech Talk => Topic started by: dalegass on October 23, 2012, 11:28:03 pm

Title: circuit breakers
Post by: dalegass on October 23, 2012, 11:28:03 pm
hello all....$2300 later my onan emerald plus propane 6.5 generator seems to run good...my problem is the 20 amp breaker flips off after runninga/c for 30 seconds or so...rear a/c on 30 amp is not affected...can i change the 20amp to a 30 amp without negative results...any advice is appreciated
Title: Re: circuit breakers
Post by: Rick on October 24, 2012, 08:08:08 am
Dale,
          I am assuming that you are talking about one of the breakers in the house panel. Does your schematic show any other loads/circuits on that line? Breakers can become weak. Take one of your other 20 amp breakers and swap it out to see if that cures it, if that works then get new breaker. Unless you can verify that all circuits off of that breaker are wired with wire size #10 or better, you should not change to a 30. Could also be an issue with the A/C pulling too much current.
Good luck,
Rick
Title: Re: circuit breakers
Post by: Jerry Whiteaker on October 24, 2012, 10:42:10 am
Dale,
          I am assuming that you are talking about one of the breakers in the house panel. Does your schematic show any other loads/circuits on that line? Breakers can become weak. Take one of your other 20 amp breakers and swap it out to see if that cures it, if that works then get new breaker. Unless you can verify that all circuits off of that breaker are wired with wire size #10 or better, you should not change to a 30. Could also be an issue with the A/C pulling too much current.
Good luck,
Rick

Just to reinforce what Rick said for those with limited electrical experience.  The primary purpose of a breaker is to protect the wire and secondary to protect what is connected to that circuit.  Too much current flowing in a wire causes the wire to get hot, insulation to melt, possible short circuit with even more current and most likely a fire.  Never increase the size of a breaker unless you are positive the wire is large enough to handle the increased amps which will almost never be the case.
Title: Re: circuit breakers
Post by: Tom Lang on October 24, 2012, 01:01:24 pm
I'd first try swapping that 20 year old 20A breaker for a new 20A breaker.  Old age might be setting in.
Title: Re: circuit breakers
Post by: dalegass on October 24, 2012, 02:56:01 pm
thanks everyone for response....breaker i'm referring to is on the side of generator ...priced at ppl it is 84 dollars...at onan shop it is 45...i am hoping that it is a case of old age and not other issues..