New to Hi-Lo A/C

[Kelley-HILO]

We just got our Towlite 17T and not sure how the A/C works. Does it run off the battery when the camper isn't plugged into an outlet? We can't get it to come on. I"ve tried the Master switch in all positions. Do we need to plug another cord in somewhere? I dont find any other cords other than the 30 amp to plug in at a campsite. Thanks in advance!

 

[Treeclimber]

Kelley, The A/C runs off 120v only. Anytime your plugged into 30 amp shore power the A/C should be able to run. On some units the A/C cord is in the bath area and the GFI outlet may be kinda hidden. If it's plugged in, and won't come on, check that GFI to see if it's tripped. Older units had a coiled wire from the A/C, down the street side and had to be plugged in after raising. Mine is in the master bedroom upper cabinet. A power outlet cover is in the bottom of the cabinet and the outlet is near the floor. The A/C cord is usually gray in color.
Operation is simple. On the unit, the left knob turns the unit on (low-med-high-off) and the right knob controls the temp. Some A/C's had an optional heat strip installed allowing for heat via the A/C.
Hope all this helps, let us know
Tree

 

[hilltool]

What Tree said. But, yes, there IS a cord that must be plugged in and, in my case, UNPLUGGED and stored before you lower the trailer top (so as not to snag or "rip" it out). It does not run off your battery and there is no way to make it run off your battery. Only works when you are on "shore power".

Rick

 

[Kelley-HILO]

Thank you both! I had to call my uncle (who we bought the trailer from). Yes, it was hidden and I would have never found it! I got the ac to run but my uncle said to only run it on Lo or it would trip the breaker. Well I had it running on low but it was still tripping my house breaker where I have the camper plugged in. How can I fix that problem?

 

[JackandJanet]

Kelly, the A/C has a high starting current draw, that is probably tripping your breaker as it begins to run. I'm guessing you are trying to power it off of a 15A circuit. I don't think this will work. I'm sure you need to plug the trailer in to at least a 20A circuit and even then you would NOT want to have the refrigerator, water pump, hot water heater, or anything else running off electrical power in the trailer because that would increase the electrical load on your home circuit.

I've had my A/C trip a campground 30A circuit breaker when we tried to run it along with the refrigerator and hot water heater on electrical power.

I never try to run the A/C in my trailer when I'm at home.

- Jack

 

[KnottyRig]

Also - if you are using an extension cord, it can contribute to tripping a breaker if it is of too-small gauge (thickness).

If you're already at the limits of your breaker, a little extra resistance from the extension can push it over the top.

Using as short of an extensions cord as possible, and of heaviest gauge may help.

 

[Kelley-HILO]

Thanks for all the info! That makes sense. We will try it at the campground and see what happens.