Air Conditioning - A/C unit tripping the breaker off.
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Kajima
05-09-08, 06:43 AM
This is my first post and I don't know anything about this subject so forgive me if i'm not entirely accurate in my descriptions...
The central A/C unit in my two story townhouse has recently started tripping a breaker in the fuse box about 5mins after cutting on. When it trips, the fan outside stops blowing and the air stops getting cold. Now i tested it more last night. I turned on the A/C, waited five mins until the breaker flipped off, and tried to turn the breaker back on right away. I heard a slight electrical sizzling noise and the outdoor light, which is near the A/C unit outside, began to flicker slightly. Then the breaker turned off almost immediatley, maybe 30secs instead of 5mins!
Is this somthing i can diagnose and fix myself thru the majesty of Home Depot products or do i need an elecrician? What do you guys think the problem is and if i need to hire a pro, how much am i going to be in for?
One sidenote, about two week before now, before the A/C power problem, the interior lights in the downstairs bath room flickered for about 30 seconds and went out. I went to check the breaker and none of them flipped off, but the plugs in the bathroom still worked so i put a small lamp in there. But now, and maybe this is because i was messing with the A/C breaker, all power in that bathroom is out. Maybe these two things are related?
thanks for your help.
The central A/C unit in my two story townhouse has recently started tripping a breaker in the fuse box about 5mins after cutting on. When it trips, the fan outside stops blowing and the air stops getting cold. Now i tested it more last night. I turned on the A/C, waited five mins until the breaker flipped off, and tried to turn the breaker back on right away. I heard a slight electrical sizzling noise and the outdoor light, which is near the A/C unit outside, began to flicker slightly. Then the breaker turned off almost immediatley, maybe 30secs instead of 5mins!
Is this somthing i can diagnose and fix myself thru the majesty of Home Depot products or do i need an elecrician? What do you guys think the problem is and if i need to hire a pro, how much am i going to be in for?
One sidenote, about two week before now, before the A/C power problem, the interior lights in the downstairs bath room flickered for about 30 seconds and went out. I went to check the breaker and none of them flipped off, but the plugs in the bathroom still worked so i put a small lamp in there. But now, and maybe this is because i was messing with the A/C breaker, all power in that bathroom is out. Maybe these two things are related?
thanks for your help.
Jay11J
05-09-08, 07:20 AM
I don't think the two is related. Sounds like you may be having trouble with the compressor.
I'd call in the pro and have them take alook at it.. It can be a numbers of things.
I'd call in the pro and have them take alook at it.. It can be a numbers of things.
pflor
05-09-08, 09:01 AM
High amps cause breakers to trip.
Seized motors cause higher amps
You may have defective capacitors, defective motors or both.
Tests that will need to be performed here are not for the uninitiated in electrical troubleshooting. You'd need to invest in testers, learn to use them, then learn about troubleshooting, and dare to tackle this yourself. Too steep a learning curve.
Seized motors cause higher amps
You may have defective capacitors, defective motors or both.
Tests that will need to be performed here are not for the uninitiated in electrical troubleshooting. You'd need to invest in testers, learn to use them, then learn about troubleshooting, and dare to tackle this yourself. Too steep a learning curve.