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AC compressor intermittently tripping breaker.

AC compressor intermittently tripping breaker.

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by: ZMAN Active Indicator LED Icon 10 OP 
~ 7 years ago   Sep 25, '16 6:49pm  
So, the past couple days my AC compressor has been intermittently tripping the breaker. Outside unit was a little dirty do I cleaned coils on Sat. Thought that my fix it, but no luck. Tripped again tonight. It's only happening about once a day.
Air filters are clean, 30amp breaker in panel is only about a year old, compressor fan motor was replaced about 2 years ago. Havnt cleaned coils in the attic unit in a while, but would that even cause this?
 
I was thinking, possibly a weak start run capacitor issue? I don't know.
 
Anyone have any ideas?
 
Thanks!! 4951
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squirtismyboy Active Indicator LED Icon 16
~ 7 years ago   Sep 25, '16 6:54pm  
Sounds like there's a short somewhere. But I'm sure you know that by now. Justin over at Madd Air changed something electrical on my unit but I won't even try to explain what he did because ay the time I was just happy to have my unit up & running. Cost me right at about $200 parts & labor. 4951
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donnatella Active Indicator LED Icon 13 Forum Moderator
~ 7 years ago   Sep 25, '16 6:54pm  
Same thing happened to us. We called Deerwood AC, local KW company. Honest, reliable, great service.
 
4951
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ET Active Indicator LED Icon 17
~ 7 years ago   Sep 25, '16 7:00pm  
Might have a weak breaker but probably something going south on the compressor. 4951
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ZMAN Active Indicator LED Icon 10 OP 
~ 7 years ago   Sep 25, '16 7:02pm  
Sounds like there's a short somewhere. But I'm sure you know that by now. Justin over at Madd Air changed something electrical on my unit but I won't even try to explain what he did because ay the time I was just happy to have my unit up & running. Cost me right at about $200 parts & labor.
 
@squirtismyboy:
 
Cool, yeah, I'm generally a fix it myself kind of guy. I'm pretty proficient with electronics and electrical stuff but ACs are certainly not by specialty. If I don't figure it out in a day or 2 I'll certainly call someone, I just get miffed when I have to pay someone to install a $15 part that I could have done myself in half an hour. It's working for now, but yeah, 90s all week is going to tax it for sure. 4951
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bp2018 Active Indicator LED Icon 10
~ 7 years ago   Sep 25, '16 7:09pm  
It sounds like a short. I'm far from a professional, though, so please take my opinion with a grain of salt.
 
Edited to add: have you lost power or anything recently? If so, you might jus need a reset. That happens to us a few times, especially since my neighborhood loses power all the time. We are thinking of installing a whole house surge protector for that very reason. 4951
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Sniper12 Active Indicator LED Icon 12
~ 7 years ago   Sep 25, '16 7:52pm  
Check your run/ start capacitor that the connections our good and the capacitor is not bulging or discolored. Also check electrical wire going to main relay. 4951
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analogkid Active Indicator LED Icon 3
~ 7 years ago   Sep 25, '16 8:17pm  

- - - - - - - -
>> Sounds like there's a short somewhere. But I'm sure you know that by now. Justin over at Madd Air changed something electrical on my unit but I won't even try to explain what he did because ay the time I was just happy to have my unit up & running. Cost me right at about $200 parts & labor.
 
@squirtismyboy:
 
Cool, yeah, I'm generally a fix it myself kind of guy. I'm pretty proficient with electronics and electrical stuff but ACs are certainly not by specialty. If I don't figure it out in a day or 2 I'll certainly call someone, I just get miffed when I have to pay someone to install a $15 part that I could have done myself in half an hour. It's working for now, but yeah, 90s all week is going to tax it for sure.
 
@ZMAN: Fortunately, at least, the weather will be somewhat more on your side as we will see a moderate cool down this week. Warm and humid for the next 36 hours or so though.
4951
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SwaggyG Active Indicator LED Icon 8
~ 7 years ago   Sep 25, '16 8:30pm  
Removed By Request 4951
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ZMAN Active Indicator LED Icon 10 OP 
~ 7 years ago   Sep 26, '16 6:46am  
Put a 40 amp breaker in. Cost you 8bucks at lowes. If it still trips get an ac company out.
 
@SwaggyG: Not a terrible idea, but I will have to see what gauge wire its using. I don't think 10 gauge wire can take more than 30 amps, hence the breaker for 30. Putting more load on the wire than it can handle really inst safe and could start a fire. 
4951
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ZMAN Active Indicator LED Icon 10 OP 
~ 7 years ago   Sep 26, '16 6:51am  
It sounds like a short. I'm far from a professional, though, so please take my opinion with a grain of salt.
 
Edited to add: have you lost power or anything recently? If so, you might jus need a reset. That happens to us a few times, especially since my neighborhood loses power all the time. We are thinking of installing a whole house surge protector for that very reason.
 
@bp2018: Thanks. I don't think its a short. Usually if there is a short the breaker wont reset as long as the short is present. Unless maybe its making the short when it kicks on, I've looked the wiring over in the compressor and I cant see anything that looks suspect.
4951
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FoFa Active Indicator LED Icon 17
~ 7 years ago   Sep 26, '16 7:06am  
Well if it was a short, most likely it would break as soon as you tripped it back on. Most likely it is pulling power near the breaker limit, and as the breaker heats up, it finally trips.Now since you said it is the compressor breaker, I assume it is not  a blower problem.Usually there are actually two breakers, I have a main breaker in my fuse panel, and one out by the compressor.If you have two, and the one outside is the one tripping off, it could be normal degradation by being outside, and it could be the breaker itself.That happened to me once.There could be other things that cause the compressor/external blower to draw too much power also.There is a big capacitor that assists the motor kick on also. If that goes bad it can draw too much power on startup and trip the breaker.Happened to me once also.Just some things to think about. 4951
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ZMAN Active Indicator LED Icon 10 OP 
~ 7 years ago   Sep 26, '16 7:22am  
Now since you said it is the compressor breaker, I assume it is not  a blower problem.Usually there are actually two breakers, I have a main breaker in my fuse panel, and one out by the compressor.There is a big capacitor that assists the motor kick on also. If that goes bad it can draw too much power on startup and trip the breaker.Happened to me once also.
 
@FoFa: Thanks, mine is also set up with 2 breakers. And only the compressor is tripping (at the panel), The inside will keep blowing air  (just not cold air), while the compressor is tripped.I'm leaning toward it being a failed Hard Start Capacitor (I feel like that would explain it doing it intermittently). They don't last forever and I don't know when the last time it was changed (would be before I owned the house). They are only 20$-30$ shipped on amazon so I ordered one this morning.I figured why not. I'll install it when it comes in and let y'all know if this fixed it.Thanks for your help.
4951
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buffaloglenn Active Indicator LED Icon 11
~ 7 years ago   Sep 26, '16 7:38am  
It's going to be the capacitor.  You can replace it yourself or call someone out.  Just make sure your breaker is off and then take the panel cover off your outside unit, and look in there.  They are easy to find, and you can get the number off it and order online or pick one up locally.  It will save you the callout fee for the AC man.  Or you can just call them out and pay more but save yourself the hassle.  4951
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ZMAN Active Indicator LED Icon 10 OP 
~ 7 years ago   Sep 26, '16 7:46am  
It's going to be the capacitor.  You can replace it yourself or call someone out.  Just make sure your breaker is off and then take the panel cover off your outside unit, and look in there.  They are easy to find, and you can get the number off it and order online or pick one up locally.  It will save you the callout fee for the AC man.  Or you can just call them out and pay more but save yourself the hassle. 
 
@buffaloglenn:
 
Thanks. I think so too. I ordered one on Amazon this morning, so it should be here Wednesday. I'll put it in myself for sure, this type of part swap is easy peasy. And don't you worry, I know the AC has enough juice to kill me, lol, it will be fully disconnected before I mess with it. I'm also aware I have to discharge the caps to be extra safe. It will be great if this sorts it out. I love $25 dollar solutions. 4951
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buffaloglenn Active Indicator LED Icon 11
~ 7 years ago   Sep 26, '16 7:50am  

- - - - - - - -
>> It's going to be the capacitor.  You can replace it yourself or call someone out.  Just make sure your breaker is off and then take the panel cover off your outside unit, and look in there.  They are easy to find, and you can get the number off it and order online or pick one up locally.  It will save you the callout fee for the AC man.  Or you can just call them out and pay more but save yourself the hassle. 
 
@buffaloglenn:
 
Thanks. I think so too. I ordered one on Amazon this morning, so it should be here Wednesday. I'll put it in myself for sure, this type of part swap is easy peasy. And don't you worry, I know the AC has enough juice to kill me, lol, it will be fully disconnected before I mess with it. I'm also aware I have to discharge the caps to be extra safe. It will be great if this sorts it out. I love $25 dollar solutions.
 
@ZMAN: Good call.  It is a super easy switch.  Eventually, what would likely happen is that your compressor would hum and not start, as the capacitor just isn't delivering enough amps to start the compressor.  You are supposed to discharge it, but I haven't on the two I switched.  It's probably something easy to do and youtube shows you how I'm sure.  Mine was more like $65 so maybe it was a larger model capacitor or something. 
4951
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