Breaker Keeps Tripping
#1
07-12-03, 09:00 PM
Breaker Keeps Tripping
Help, we have a breaker to our back bedroom and bath that also has a window AC unit too, normal plug(110) it has always tripped if to many things were plugged in, but we learned not to over load it so it won't trip.
OK the problem now is that it won't stay on with just the normal stuff or even less than the normal! We figured maybe the breaker was bad so we replaced it. But the first day it did not trip, now it is tripping again. I have a small fan on the bathroom counter and I noticed once that it was kinda surging like a low power surge and then the breaker tripped, maybe that was just a coincidence.
Thanks for any info! Diane
OK the problem now is that it won't stay on with just the normal stuff or even less than the normal! We figured maybe the breaker was bad so we replaced it. But the first day it did not trip, now it is tripping again. I have a small fan on the bathroom counter and I noticed once that it was kinda surging like a low power surge and then the breaker tripped, maybe that was just a coincidence.
Thanks for any info! Diane
#2
07-13-03, 08:54 AM
Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Indiana
Posts: 317
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
you do not specifically say:is the air conditioner running when the breaker trips? isthe fan always on when the breaker trips ? what else is on at the time. Also what is the amperage on the nameplate of the airconditioner and what is the amperage of the breaker that is tripping?
#3
07-13-03, 10:48 AM
Breaker Keeps Tripping
Yes, the air conditioner is usually on and the fan too.
It has normally run with this on. Also, a ceiling fan, another small fan,and two alarm clocks.
AC/Info:
BTU/HR AHAM-12000
AMPS AHAM-12.0
Watts-1330
The ac recommends to connect to a 15amp breaker, written on botton of ac under the front cover.
Breaker Info:
20 amps
Before all this ran fine together, but now it all run ok with the ac on fan but when we kick it up to cool, it will run for a little while then the breaker trips.
Thanks so much for your time and advice.
Diane
It has normally run with this on. Also, a ceiling fan, another small fan,and two alarm clocks.
AC/Info:
BTU/HR AHAM-12000
AMPS AHAM-12.0
Watts-1330
The ac recommends to connect to a 15amp breaker, written on botton of ac under the front cover.
Breaker Info:
20 amps
Before all this ran fine together, but now it all run ok with the ac on fan but when we kick it up to cool, it will run for a little while then the breaker trips.
Thanks so much for your time and advice.
Diane
Last edited by Dyeane; 07-13-03 at 11:23 AM.
#4
07-13-03, 01:42 PM
Could a bad plug kick breaker off!
Our breaker keeps popping off, and we replaced the breaker, when we were checking the outlet, we found that the plug ( on our window unit A/C) was pretty damaged, were the cord was just barely long enough to plug it in, it is a 3 ground plug and the prongs are kinda lose and crooked.
The a/c unit is about 8yrs old.
Could this plug be our problem?
Thanks, Diane
The a/c unit is about 8yrs old.
Could this plug be our problem?
Thanks, Diane
#5
07-13-03, 04:58 PM
Member
Dyeane, I'm sorry we haven't been able to come up with much on your problem yet. I would assume that most people who have read your posts, including me, are somewhat perplexed and are hoping that somebody else will know the answer.
There are a number of possible answers, although none seem very likely. It is possible that a breaker can get weak, although this is very rare and you've already replaced it. It is also possible that an appliance can begin to use more current as it gets older. It is also possible that you have some new loads on this circuit that you just don't realize are on the same circuit. Air conditioners also use more power when the weather gets hotter or more humid, so it's possible that the weather is at fault.
Just to let you know that sometimes there are peculiar causes and effects, read this thread about a guy who had a similar problem. He resolved it to his satisfaction by enhancing the grounding, although nobody here could even understand why his solution worked at all.
Whether or not your plug is causing your current problem, you should replace any damaged plug.
P.S. There are two things in your browser window that you should make note of. One is the refresh button on the tool bar (if you are using Internet Explorer, it's that button with the two arrows on it). This will help keep you from posting the same thing more than once. The other button is on this page, the Post a Reply button. Use this button to reply so that this discussion is all linked together in the same thread.
There are a number of possible answers, although none seem very likely. It is possible that a breaker can get weak, although this is very rare and you've already replaced it. It is also possible that an appliance can begin to use more current as it gets older. It is also possible that you have some new loads on this circuit that you just don't realize are on the same circuit. Air conditioners also use more power when the weather gets hotter or more humid, so it's possible that the weather is at fault.
Just to let you know that sometimes there are peculiar causes and effects, read this thread about a guy who had a similar problem. He resolved it to his satisfaction by enhancing the grounding, although nobody here could even understand why his solution worked at all.
Whether or not your plug is causing your current problem, you should replace any damaged plug.
P.S. There are two things in your browser window that you should make note of. One is the refresh button on the tool bar (if you are using Internet Explorer, it's that button with the two arrows on it). This will help keep you from posting the same thing more than once. The other button is on this page, the Post a Reply button. Use this button to reply so that this discussion is all linked together in the same thread.
#6
07-14-03, 08:43 AM
Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Indiana
Posts: 317
Upvotes: 0
Received 0 Upvotes
on
0 Posts
Dyeane
When was the last time this A/C unit was cleaned and recharged? It sounds as though the compressor is the guilty party here. If an air conditioner is low on freon, dirty or getting old it will draw more power causing the breaker to trip after it has been on awhile. A circuit breaker will trip when it becomes overheated and I believe the compressor is struggling and causing your problems. Have the airconditioner checked out.
hope this helped.
When was the last time this A/C unit was cleaned and recharged? It sounds as though the compressor is the guilty party here. If an air conditioner is low on freon, dirty or getting old it will draw more power causing the breaker to trip after it has been on awhile. A circuit breaker will trip when it becomes overheated and I believe the compressor is struggling and causing your problems. Have the airconditioner checked out.
hope this helped.
#7
07-14-03, 03:01 PM
Possibly there is a low-voltage problem. The window AC unit must operate at it's rated voltage. If you have only 100 volts at the AC when it's running , there's a problem which may result in an overload on the circuit.I suggest accurate voltage-readings at two points---at the circuit-breaker terminals and at the terminals of the receptacle with the AC unit running at Maximum Cool. The readings should be near-equal.
If you have 2 Ohms of resistance in the circuit-a low value- for a 12 amp AC load the voltage-drop is 2 X 12 = 24 volts. Because this is not an Individual Branch-Circuit you could have many connections between the AC and the breaker, and one or more could be defective.
If you have 2 Ohms of resistance in the circuit-a low value- for a 12 amp AC load the voltage-drop is 2 X 12 = 24 volts. Because this is not an Individual Branch-Circuit you could have many connections between the AC and the breaker, and one or more could be defective.
