Our air conditioner recently stopped blowing out cold air. When I went to check on it, I noticed that the outside unit wasn't coming on. We had had problems with ants in the contacter in the past, and so I went to take off the lid and check it out. I noticed that the circuit breaker marked "AC" was tripped. Like a good DIYer, I turned it all the way off and back on. It immediately tripped again. In an effort to isolate the problem, I went to the outside unit and pulled the safety connection to disconnect the main power of the outside unit. When I went back and reset the circuit breaker as before, the breaker didn't trip. Reconnecting the outside safety switch caused the breaker to immediately trip again. Later, we tried turning off the air conditioning in the house, resetting the circuit breaker, and turning the AC back on. The circuit breaker didn't trip as soon as it was reset, but when the AC was turned back on inside, it immediately tripped as before. My question is what should I check in this situation?

This seems like it can't be an uncommon problem, so I'm sure HVAC professionals encounter this frequently and have a checklist of things to try. What are the possible causes, remedies, and safety precautions I should consider in this situation? Answers to some comments: No, I didn't see any obvious damage to the wiring near the outside unit. I did look pretty carefully, since I had already taken the panel off to check for ants in the contacter. I didn't try to spin the fan with my hand, and I'm not in a place that I can try this right now. I will try it later today; perhaps in the meantime that could be a step in the diagnosis of the problem if anyone gives an answer between now and then? Likely, future readers of this question will encounter the same problem and some will have a fan that spins by hand and some will have one that is stuck. electrical repair hvac air-conditioning circuit-breaker Start by turning off the breaker, and pulling the serviceman disconnect, which will typically look something like this.

This will insure no electricity is flowing to the condenser unit while you're working. Next you'll want to disassemble the unit, to allow access to the electrical parts. This will vary from unit to unit, so check the owners manual for the procedure for your unit. 2 ton rooftop ac unitOnce you have the unit opened up, make sure to discharge the capacitors.split unit ac prices in uae These things store enough power to kill you, so you don't want them to discharge accidentally.btu per ton ac unit Resistance is not futile Once the power is completely removed from the unit, it's safe to start poking around (electrically speaking, don't go busting the refrigerant lines). Start by tracing the wires from the condenser fan motor, back to where they connect in the electrical box.

There should be 3 or 4 wires. In my unit, I had Black, White, Brown, and Brown with a White stripe (your model may vary). To determine if the motor is good, you'll measure the resistance across each coil. To do this, you'll have to disconnect the wires, so the motor is no longer part of the circuit (make note of where the wires connected). Typically you'll have 3 wires, start, run, and common (we'll ignore my 4th wire in this answer). Set your multimeter to measure Ohms, and start measuring. You're going to measure the resistance between each combination of two wires to determine what each wire is, and if the motor is still good. Let's start with Black and White... Black -> White = 15.9 Black -> Brown = 35.4 Brown -> White = 51.2 Common -> Run = Lowest resistance Common -> Start = Medium resistance Start -> Run = Highest resistance We can determine that... If we also know that the two lower readings should always add up to the larger reading, we can safely say this motor is still good.

If you measure 0 or infinity between any pair, that means you have a shorted or an open winding and the motor should be replaced. Repeat the same procedure for the compressor motor. Shorts on the ground The other thing you'll want to check for, is shorts to ground. Set your multimeter up to test impedance. Put one probe on the equipment grounding conductor of the feeder, and the use the other to find a solid ground on the motor. You may have to scratch some of the paint off, especially on the compressor. Once you've found a solid ground, measure from each motor wire to your ground spot. If the meter beeps or give a low resistance reading, you have a short to ground. As with the resistance test above, the motor should be isolated from the circuit when doing this test (once a solid ground is located).Browse other questions tagged electrical repair hvac air-conditioning circuit-breaker or ask your own question. Determining the cause of the overload of the electrical circuit is essential.

This guide is about circuit breaker keeps tripping.All ArticlesSolutionsGuidesQuestionsArchivesNewestOldestMost HelpfulLeast HelpfulMost AnswersFewest AnswersBest AnswersRelevanceQuestion: FlagBy Carlyon M.0I live in an RV that has a double pole 15 amp breaker that's tripping. The load is 8 plugs and 2 110 volt AC window units. The breaker box is full, so can I install another breaker box and split up the load? Answer By Bruce S Flag0Another box would probably require another feed, maybe another generator or power source.The breakers is protecting the wire within the walls. It does not allow more current to flow through them than what they are rated for. This is to prevent overheating.volts times amps equals watts. 240 volts times 15 amps equals 3600 watts. This is where your breaker will start tripping. If each A/C unit is less than 2880 watts (12 amps) (80%) then they can be run individually but not together.An electrician is always your best bet. Reply By Bruce S Flag0I apologizeI missed that the AC units were 120 VAC.

This means that they must be less than 1440 (120 x 15 x 0.8) watts and not run on the same leg at the same time.Again, please consult an electrician. Reply Question: FlagBy dierdorffm0We live in a 10 year old home. The main breaker in our box has shut down our power two days in a row. We have been able to re-set it and get power back, but we are concerned. We haven't been operating anything new in our home, so our usage should be the same as it's always been. Answer By frances Flag0To be safe, call an electrician. This could potentially be a serious problem. Reply By Louise B. Flag0Breakers don't just shut off without a reason. Please call an electrician to help you figure out what the problem is. This could be a serious issue that could cause a fire. Reply Question: FlagBy Kim0We have a 15 amp breaker that keeps tripping. This is something that just started happening. This is what feeds off that breaker: livingroom lights, 2 TVs, kitchen lights, fridge, washer, dryer, master bedroom, guest bathroom, laundryroom lights, all porch lights, and a new gas heater with an electronic ignition and fan.

This is a 1977 doublewide mobile home. What could suddenly cause this to happen and is it dangerous? By Kim from Silver Springs, NV Answer Flag0Best AnswerYou bet your bippy that's dangerous! Unplug everything and get an electrician out there today to help you sort out what is overloading that particular breaker. My guess is that whomever installed the new gas heater didn't 'add' a new breaker for it exclusively. Reply By Mary Flag0Best Answer1) the circuit breaker has gone bad (they do that)2) you have way, way too much on that breaker!I would bet that the breaker trips when the heater comes on. The heater should be on its own breaker. I agree with everyone else, call the electrician... Reply Question: Flag0I just moved into a brand new apartment, we are the first tenants to live here. In my bedroom I have a 47 inch TV, Xbox, surround sound system, alarm clock, cable box, laptop, desktop computer, and monitor (for the desktop), a total of 8 things plugged in. My 20 amp breaker would pop all the time, so I unplugged everything except my Xbox, cable box, TV, and my surround sound.

It still tripped the breaker. So I thought it might be the surge protector I have so I got another one and it still tripped. Now I have used two surge protectors and two separate outlets and it still trips all the time. I currently have only three things plugged into two different surge protectors on two different outlets and it pops a lot less often, but I shouldn't have to do this. The breaker should easily be able to handle everything. I had an electrician come and check it out and they said everything was fine and it was probably something I had plugged in, but with my Xbox, TV, and surround it doesn't trip. If I add anything else no matter what, alarm clock, laptop charger, anything it trips. It's really getting old. The breaker only runs the outlets, nothing else, no lights or anything. By Tyler H. Answer By Deanj Flag0Best AnswerIn order to decide how big of an electrical service is needed in your home, one has to do a little math homework. Calculating how much power both you and your electrical appliances use is necessary to calculate this number.

I'm often asked how to figure this load. It really is pretty simple if you know what to look for and how to add up the loads.Answer: The first thing to know is that circuits should only be loaded at 80% of the total circuit load. To help you understand the concept, if you have a 15-amp circuit, the safe operating amperage would be no greater than 12 amps. The total wattage would be 1,800 watts, meaning the safe wattage usage would be 1,440 watts.If you have a 20-amp circuit, the safe operating amperage would be no greater than 16 amps. The total wattage would be 2,400 watts, meaning the safe wattage usage would be 1,920 watts.On a 30-amp circuit, the safe operating amperage would be no greater than 24 amps. The total wattage would be 3,600 watts, meaning the safe wattage usage would be 2,880 watts.To determine the wattage, you take the voltage times the amperage. Check the tags on all of your appliances for the required amperage rating. Add all of the lighting load by adding the total wattage of the light bulbs in your home.

Look at the light bulbs and read the wattage that is printed on them.Your home will likely also have 240-volt appliances like water heaters, air conditioners, electric dryers and electric ranges. These too will have an amperage rating label and the wattage can be calculated. The voltage, 240 volts, times the amperage, say 30 amps, will equal the wattage requirements. Reply Flag0That's an awful lot of things to power through a 20 amp breaker and in most bedrooms in apartments 20 amp is standard for a bedroom. Have you asked your landlord if they would mind upping the breaker to higher amps? If he/she says no then consider placing... Reply Question: Flag0My breaker keeps tripping. My air conditioner is on a 15 amp circuit and it goes out every 6-19 minutes, and then I will have to reset. It also takes out the living room, kitchen, and bathroom lights. This is in a one bedroom apartment. I have unplugged everything in the bedroom, bathroom, and kitchen except for the fridge, but it still goes out.

By Tameka Answer By Joan Flag0Best AnswerActually contact your apartment manager and he should have maintenance check it out for you. Unless you own the apartment, instead of renting it is his responsibility. Reply By binitnotinit Flag0I'm not an electrician but I own my place and I have at least one 20amp breaker per room and two for my kitchen. There's way too much electric hooked to a 15amp breaker. Reply Question: Flag0I have girls and they keep tripping the 20 amp breaker. I made sure there is 12 gauge wire and there are only two receptacles on this circuit. But when the girls plug in both hair dryers and curling irons it blows the breaker. Will I have to run a dedicated line for each receptacle? By Troy Answer By Cajun Flag0Best AnswerA hairdryer is nominally rated 1500watts; according to the NEC, the breaker has to be rated at least 80% greater than the load. Hence, 1500w divided by 120vac = 12.5 amps x 125% = 15.63 Amps (minimum rating for the circuit breaker) Now if you have TWO hairdryers (12.5A x 2 = 25 Amps) on the one 20A circuit breaker, you'll trip every time.

If you don't, then you really have problems.You could run #10 Romex and change out to a 30A circuit breaker but that will put the breaker at maximum capacity. It may make more sense to leave the #12awg, change the circuit breaker to a 25amp rating and run an identical separate circuit of the same. Otherwise you will keep having issues. Reply By gbk Flag0The bottom line is not how many outlets are on your 20amp breaker but what else is attached to it. I kept having the problem in our brand new house and found out that we had so much other stuff ex: living room etc. on the same breaker. If there was only these... Reply Question: Flag0We have a circuit breaker that all of a sudden keeps tripping. The breaker box goes directly to the power pole and the only thing on the problem circuit breaker is the pump for our well. We've had this pump on this breaker for 15 years and just started having a problem in the last few days. We already tried replacing the circuit breaker. We replaced it with a 15 amp breaker because that's what was in there before.