NHTSA Complaint #10160978 — 2005 AIRSTREAM SPRINTER WESTFALIA

POSSIBLE ROOT CAUSE: USE OF A 13 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER (TOO SMALL) IN A LINE FOR A PART THAT SPECIFIES A 15 AMPS LINE. DESCRIPTION: INTERMITTENT BUT FREQUENT TRIPPING OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER IN THE 2005 AIRSTREAM (DODGE SPRINTER WESTFALIA MODEL) ELECTRICAL LINE DEDICATED TO SOLE USE BY THE TAPPAN MICROWAVE OVEN, WHEN THE OVEN FIRST TURNS ON OR CYCLES ON (WHEN AT POWER LEVELS LESS THAN 10). THE PROBLEM OCCURRED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT DATES. SUPPLY VOLTAGE WAS MEASURED IN THE AIRSTREAM ON TWO OF THESE DATES AND FOUND TO BE 120 VOLTS AC (WITHIN SPECIFICATION). TAPPAN'S WRITTEN REQUIREMENTS SPECIFY A 15A LINE, BUT THE AIRSTREAM'S CIRCUIT BREAKER IS RATED FOR ONLY 13 AMPS. NOTE THAT AIRSTREAM SUPPLIED THE CIRCUIT BREAKER, OVEN AND WIRING IN THE NEW VEHICLE. POSSIBLE EXPLANATION: IF THE MICROWAVE OVEN CAUSES CURRENT SURGES GREATER THAN 13 AMPS WHEN IT FIRST TURNS ON AND/OR CYCLES ON (AT POWER SETTINGS LESS THAN 10), THEN THE CURRENT WOULD EXCEED THE SPECIFICATION FOR THE CIRCUIT BREAKER, CAUSING IT TO TRIP.*JB *NM *AK *NM