Monaco DIPLOMAT 2004 Owner's Manual page 308

DIPLOMAT 2004
Circuit Breakers
8 •308
WARNING: This panel contains high voltage which can cause
serious injury or death. Before beginning any work or testing
procedures involving the electric panels, or any of the branch cir-
cuits, be sure the motorhome is unplugged from shore power and
the generator is not running. Certain testing procedures can
require the AC power to be on. Only qualified personnel or
personnel with electrical backgrounds should attempt any testing
procedures.
Branch circuit breakers supply AC power to the different items or
"loads." An electrical load is any item or device that will use current when
supplied with an electromotive force. Should a breaker "trip" from over
current use, or a short circuit condition, the load to which the breaker is
supplying the electromotive force should be reviewed or disconnected to
determine the cause of the trip. If no cause is found, or not readily apparent,
reset the breaker by toggling the breaker to the OFF position, then back to
ON. Should the breaker trip again after the load is reapplied it may indicate a
fault with that particular load. Do not continue to reset breaker until the
problem has been diagnosed and corrected.
Breaker current ratings are current set points in which the breaker is
designed to operate. The internal configuration of the circuit breaker is
designed to trip when excess continuous current is drawn through the
breaker. The trip action of the circuit breaker can occur within milliseconds
due to the speed at which electricity can travel. Breaker ratings are set to
operate on a continuous load at 80% of the breaker's rated capacity and
handle loads in excess of their rating for short periods of time. This designed
set point is when an inductive load is applied, such as when an electric motor
turns on. As the motor starts to spin, current consumption may momentarily
exceed the rated capacity of the breaker. As the electric motor comes up to
operating speed the electric motor's current consumption will fall. The AC
current load then falls back into the breaker's rated 80% set point. This
electric principle should be kept in mind when using anything other than 50
amp shore service and using appliances with electric motors. When using
outlets care should be considered when applying loads such as electric
motors, heaters, coffee makers, toasters, hair dryer or other large current
consuming loads. If the current rating of a load is not known it is usually
stated on most electrical items. The rating will either be in amps or watts.
Current ratings stated on electrical items will change slightly with voltage
fluctuations. As voltage increases current consumption decreases. As voltage
decreases current consumption increases. This may explain why in some
instances items operated at borderline voltage to current tolerances may seem
fine in one location but problematic in another.
NOTE: To calculate watts to amps simply divide the watt figure by
the voltage of which the item operates from. For example: The
electrical item is rated at 1370 watts. Divide that by the operating
voltage of 115 volts which equals 11.913 amps. Use this formula to
calculate load to current supply ratio.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS - HOUSE