Author Topic: House Air Conditioner trips circuit breaker  (Read 2382 times)

Fred Brooks

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House Air Conditioner trips circuit breaker
« on: October 05, 2019, 03:29:04 PM »
  Greetings Beaver Owners,
      On a recent trip, I had my generator running and my basement air conditioner was on and set for 78 degrees because of a guest on board. As I was going up a 7% grade for 15 miles all of a sudden my house air conditioner turned off. The engine temperature was 204 degrees and the transmission was 195 degrees. I pulled over on the shoulder and set my fast idle to 1000 rpm and went to investigate the air conditioner. As it turned out, the A/C #2 circuit breaker was tripped. I went to reset it but it was so hot I could not touch it. As a matter of fact all the breakers were too hot to touch. ( FYI my breaker box is in the rear closet with the back facing the rear cap.) Further investigation revealed that the engine compartment was the cause. With the rear access engine door open, the partition above the door had pulled away from the vertical wall above the engine. There was a 1/2" gap all the way across allowing engine heat to force itself up the rear cap and heat the circuit breaker box, rear view camera and silverleaf modules. When I got home I cleaned the gap with lacquer thinner and filled the gap with Sikaflex 221 windshield urathane sealant and seems to have fixed the issue.
  Fred 
Fred & Cindy Brooks
2000 Marquis, Jasper
C-12 Wild Cat (U of A)
2014 Honda CRV
Proverbs 3: 5 & 6
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Mike Shumack

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Re: House Air Conditioner trips circuit breaker
« Reply #1 on: October 05, 2019, 10:23:45 PM »
Good thing you caught the problem early.
Is your engine compartment insulated in the dense foam with the aluminum/reflective backing? If so you may want to run a roll of that silver-aluminum duct tape around the seams. Something like this: https://www.amazon.com/3M-3311-Silver-Aluminum-Foil/dp/B007Y7EOT0/ref=asc_df_B007Y7EOT0/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=193184886406&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=3141612651278025455&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9011767&hvtargid=pla-365040473927&psc=1   just to make sure the seams stay in place and to protect the silkaflex from excessive heat exposure.

Fred Brooks

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Re: House Air Conditioner trips circuit breaker
« Reply #2 on: October 05, 2019, 10:38:40 PM »
   Thanks Mike, Great idea! I did not give it a second thought but I like the idea of thick aluminum tape over the urathane. The plywood above the rear engine door is not insulated, just the closet floor and bedroom step-up removeable floor.
  Just thought I would share the situation so others out there may want to inspect that area for the same period coaches for any evidence of separation. Fred
Fred & Cindy Brooks
2000 Marquis, Jasper
C-12 Wild Cat (U of A)
2014 Honda CRV
Proverbs 3: 5 & 6

Steve Huber Co-Admin

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Re: House Air Conditioner trips circuit breaker
« Reply #3 on: October 05, 2019, 11:57:22 PM »
Fred,
Another option is to use thin aluminum strips to cover the seams. The advantage is that they will also ensure that the foil stays in place if/when the adhesive fails. Worked well for me.
Steve
Steve
2015-          07 Contessa Bayshore C9,  400 hp
2013-2015: 00 Marquis Tourmaline, C12, 425 hp
2005-2013: 01 Contessa Naples, 3126B, 330 hp
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