Voltage increasing with load would indicate problem with the neutral.
You could try checking at the pedestal from each phase to neutral. Should be the same. If it is much higher on one side it would be in the campground or power vcompany system.
enblethen wrote: Voltage increasing with load would indicate problem with the neutral.
You could try checking at the pedestal from each phase to neutral. Should be the same. If it is much higher on one side it would be in the campground or power vcompany system.
I think we have the solution. Today the highs were in the 100f range. We are staying at a newer park and both ac units ran all day without tripping the breaker. I will contact the previous park, affiliated with a certain kampground group, and advise them to look into the box. For future reference how can I detect this issue in advance?
You would need to use a volt meter. Probe each side of the 50 ampere recetacle to the neutral. Each side should read the same. This will tell you whether it is a true 50 amp 120/240 volt four wire receptacle.
You can also read between the neutral and the ground pins. This reading should have close to Zero voltage. This doesn't always work depending on the system.
Air conditioners typically draw more current the higher the temperature on the outside coil, because the high side pressure of the compressor goes up proportionally to the temperature and the compressor has to work harder. The AC units you have may not be rated for use at over 110F ambient temperature, or the fins on the coils on the roof may be bent, clogged, or dirty.
Also, circuit breakers do wear out and trip too soon, especially the ones on campground poles that get flipped back and forth a lot by people using them as switches.
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