Electric Heater Tripping Main Breaker
#1
04-15-18, 07:09 PM
Electric Heater Tripping Main Breaker
Details
Lennox Air Handler: CBX32M-048
with electric heater: ECB29-15CB-2P (15.0/11.3 KW @ 240/208)
AMPS: CKT 1 20.8/18.1 CKT 2 41.7/36.2
On the unit are two breakers, a 30 amp and a 60 amp. They have not tripped.
The breaker at the main breaker box in the garage trips intermittently during the heat cycle. It is a 40 Amp Double-Pole BR breaker.
Question
Should this be a at least a 60 amp breaker if not an 80 amp breaker? And, if so, can I change out the breaker as long as the wires are the correct gauge?
Lennox Air Handler: CBX32M-048
with electric heater: ECB29-15CB-2P (15.0/11.3 KW @ 240/208)
AMPS: CKT 1 20.8/18.1 CKT 2 41.7/36.2
On the unit are two breakers, a 30 amp and a 60 amp. They have not tripped.
The breaker at the main breaker box in the garage trips intermittently during the heat cycle. It is a 40 Amp Double-Pole BR breaker.
Question
Should this be a at least a 60 amp breaker if not an 80 amp breaker? And, if so, can I change out the breaker as long as the wires are the correct gauge?
#2
04-15-18, 08:13 PM
Group Moderator
Welcome to the forums.
Normally two cables would be run to the power panel. You can only increase the breaker size in the panel if the wire can support the increase. Check at the air handler end or the panel end for the wire size. It should be on the jacket. Let us know what it says.
Normally two cables would be run to the power panel. You can only increase the breaker size in the panel if the wire can support the increase. Check at the air handler end or the panel end for the wire size. It should be on the jacket. Let us know what it says.
#4
04-16-18, 08:25 AM
I could not find the wire gauge size on the jacket but here are pictures of what I've described.
Heat label
https://www.doityourself.com/forum/a...1&d=1523901707
Breaker for electric heater at air handler
https://www.doityourself.com/forum/a...1&d=1523901707
A closer look at the wires coming into the breaker for the heater at the air handler.
https://www.doityourself.com/forum/a...1&d=1523901707
Breaker located in the garage that keeps tripping. This is the breaker I believe should be at least a 60 amp if not an 80 amp breaker. Just checking to see with those that have experience (since I don't).
https://www.doityourself.com/forum/a...1&d=1523901707
Heat label
https://www.doityourself.com/forum/a...1&d=1523901707
Breaker for electric heater at air handler
https://www.doityourself.com/forum/a...1&d=1523901707
A closer look at the wires coming into the breaker for the heater at the air handler.
https://www.doityourself.com/forum/a...1&d=1523901707
Breaker located in the garage that keeps tripping. This is the breaker I believe should be at least a 60 amp if not an 80 amp breaker. Just checking to see with those that have experience (since I don't).
https://www.doityourself.com/forum/a...1&d=1523901707
Last edited by DYI45; 04-16-18 at 11:03 AM.
#5
04-16-18, 08:36 AM
This is not a new install. We purchased this house last July and the inspector noticed the breaker tripped during the heat cycle. I questioned it at the time and the previous owner had an HVAC guy come take a look. He noted on the invoice that the 40 amp circuit was OK. We went through with the purchase and haven't had trouble until our latest colder weather. I got to checking things out on the internet and based on what I'm reading (if I understand correctly) a 15 KW @ 240 volts should be 62.5 amps. So I believe the circuit breaker in the garage needs to be at least a 60 amp if not an 80 amp. Then let the internal circuit breakers take it from there. I would definitely verify the wire gauge before changing the breaker though.
#6
04-16-18, 01:12 PM
I found the install instructions for my heater. It looks like I should install a 90 amp circuit. Correct??
https://www.doityourself.com/forum/a...1&d=1523910120
https://www.doityourself.com/forum/a...1&d=1523910120
#7
04-16-18, 04:38 PM
Group Moderator
It is hard to tell what you have by the pictures, Is the heater unit fed with conduit or a cable? If it is a cable, the wires size will be marked on that.
The 60 amp breaker appears to have some of the strands cut off to get the wire to fit. Also, it appears that there is another set of wires coming of the left side of the breaker. Is that feeding the 30 amp breaker?
The 60 amp breaker appears to have some of the strands cut off to get the wire to fit. Also, it appears that there is another set of wires coming of the left side of the breaker. Is that feeding the 30 amp breaker?
#8
04-16-18, 04:53 PM
Group Moderator
There are multiple problems here.
1) that looks like some type of #8 copper service cable. Could be confirmed with a picture of where it enters the unit,
2) only one set of wires is allowed to be connected into a breaker. There you have the 30A breaker bridged to the 60A breaker with what looks like #10 wire.
That air handler is setup for two circuits to the main panel. From what I see you cannot increase the main breaker size on that cable.
1) that looks like some type of #8 copper service cable. Could be confirmed with a picture of where it enters the unit,
2) only one set of wires is allowed to be connected into a breaker. There you have the 30A breaker bridged to the 60A breaker with what looks like #10 wire.
That air handler is setup for two circuits to the main panel. From what I see you cannot increase the main breaker size on that cable.
#9
04-16-18, 05:15 PM
Group Moderator
That air handler is setup for two circuits to the main panel. From what I see you cannot increase the main breaker size on that cable.
I would agree, and that is how I have always done it, but the chart the OP posted says "single point power feed" which confuses me a bit. If it was me, I would run a single feeder to a small sub panel and then feed the heater with separate branch circuits.
#10
04-16-18, 05:24 PM
Group Moderator
