Dryer tripping circuit breaker
#1
07-22-15, 04:05 PM
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Dryer tripping circuit breaker
I have a whirlpool dryer that recently started tripping the circuit breaker after about 5 minutes of use. Now this only happens when the heat is on the dryer. When it is air only it does not trip the breaker. I have replaced the thermal resistor, the high limit thermostat and the cycle thermostat. It tripped the breaker again. The breaker seems good. Not loose, functioning correctly. Does anyone have any ideas about what could be wrong here? Could it be a different part in the dryer or could it be electrical?
#2
07-22-15, 05:11 PM
Group Moderator
Welcome to the forums.
What size is the breaker that is tripping ? It should be a two pole 30A breaker.
If it is a 2P30A in place then you will need to visually check the heating element to see if it's touching ground. It won't be touching metal now but you should see burn marks if it was.
What size is the breaker that is tripping ? It should be a two pole 30A breaker.
If it is a 2P30A in place then you will need to visually check the heating element to see if it's touching ground. It won't be touching metal now but you should see burn marks if it was.
#3
07-22-15, 06:23 PM
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 2
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
It is a 30A breaker. But the thing is it worked fine for a year and a half before this started happening. And tonight it blew the breaker again and after half an hour on air only I switched it back to heat and it worked fine. This problem is intermittent.
#4
07-22-15, 06:27 PM
Group Moderator
In the picture below is a typical Whirlpool dryer heater element. The element could touch the metal and short out when it gets real hot.
#6
07-23-15, 05:39 PM
Group Moderator
The model number will be helpful to us.
If you use the dryer.... and the breaker trips again.... see if it feels warm.
If you use the dryer.... and the breaker trips again.... see if it feels warm.
