Air Conditioning - A/C tripping breaker(s)
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Chiefron
10-10-08, 11:31 PM
My A/C compressor unit tripped the circuit breaker (one of two 50A breakers in the inside panel). It had been offline for a while. I reset the C/B, but after trying to restart at the thermostat, only the inside fan would run ... the compressor/condenser unit would not. I checked outside, and found that the outside C/Bs had also tripped ... and one of them seems weak when resetting it (not "snapping" into place, like expected). When I manage to got it to where it appeared to stay up/"ON" again, then tried restarting again in Manual "FAN ONLY" mode, the inside fan comes on, but it will not work in "AUTO" ... as soon as I tried setting the system to "Cool", one of the breakers (either inside or out) tripped off.
At the moment, all C/Bs are reset, but now I cannot get even the fan to run, much less the compressor. The termostat switch makes an audible "click", but nothing else happens.
Could a faulty/worn outside breaker cause this? I would rather try replacing it first. If that doesn't work, I expect I'm looking at a bad motor, capacitor, compressor/condenser. Or, could it be a combination of C/B and the unit?
Thanks in advance, for any positive help and suggestions!
At the moment, all C/Bs are reset, but now I cannot get even the fan to run, much less the compressor. The termostat switch makes an audible "click", but nothing else happens.
Could a faulty/worn outside breaker cause this? I would rather try replacing it first. If that doesn't work, I expect I'm looking at a bad motor, capacitor, compressor/condenser. Or, could it be a combination of C/B and the unit?
Thanks in advance, for any positive help and suggestions!
Navysnipe
10-11-08, 05:09 AM
I would check all the wiring up to and inside the condensing unit to see if an animal or something damaged it while the unit was shutdown. More than likely, if there is damage, it would be on the load (compressor) side of the contactor. If that's not it, just let us know and we'll work through this problem. Also, it wouldn't hurt to change out that weak breaker.
sminker
10-11-08, 05:22 AM
compressor is the biggest load out there in the condenser,if you tripping the outside and inside for the condenser sounds like the compresor is shot.the supply fan situation with the stat ......is it won't run in AUTO unless the cooling is set,and calling in the compressor.do you get at least a turn on the condenser fan before the breaker(s) trip out at the condenser..do a visual on the compressor contactor.if it is arc'd/black thats the compressor trying to start,and the amperage is going over the contactor rating causing the heavy sparking on a close.pinch the shradder on the insulated line burp a little gas out onto your fingers and sniff it if it smells burnt/stinky:eek: the compressor is burnt out.:coffee: