air con tripping main breaker

Can anyone help with solving the problem of a 12,000BTU AIRRR conditioning unit which trips the mains power breaker when switched to heating cycle. It seems that the inrush current is high causing breaker to trip ???

Dave

Re: air con tripping main breaker

dave crooks said:

Can anyone help with solving the problem of a 12,000BTU AIRRR conditioning unit which trips the mains power breaker when switched to heating cycle. It seems that the inrush current is high causing breaker to trip ???

Dave

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Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard,... Is the breaker large enough to supply the demands of the heating element,..??

My guess is, it ain't...

Re: air con tripping main breaker

as asked, what size breaker .... also, what other appliances are being operated at the same time ?

Jim

Re: air con tripping main breaker

or turn it off then switch

Re: air con tripping main breaker

Need more info on what system (reverse cycle or resistance heating) and control (three knob or digital) you have. You’re A/C owners manual will answer your questions – have you read it?

If it is an older unit with the 3 knob control, when switching from cool to heat you must shut it down for 5 minutes before switching to heat cycle to allow pressures to equalize.

If it is a newer model with digital control the equalize function is programmed into the control --- it’s possible somebody might have changed the program.

Or it’s possible the start capacitor on the compressor is getting weak. Or the circuit breaker is starting to go bad.

There are some more possibilities but the above are the most common.

Re: air con tripping main breaker

JEBar said:

as asked, what size breaker .... also, what other appliances are being operated at the same time ?

Jim

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Hi Jim
the breaker is a B curve 16A 230volt , there is no other load at the time of starting. I am not certain of the total load of air con unit. The cooling water pump is 230v, 2pole 0.68kW Other than that I can not give much more info ??

Re: air con tripping main breaker

muc said:

Need more info on what system (reverse cycle or resistance heating) and control (three knob or digital) you have. You?re A/C owners manual will answer your questions ? have you read it?

If it is an older unit with the 3 knob control, when switching from cool to heat you must shut it down for 5 minutes before switching to heat cycle to allow pressures to equalize.

If it is a newer model with digital control the equalize function is programmed into the control --- it?s possible somebody might have changed the program.

Or it?s possible the start capacitor on the compressor is getting weak. Or the circuit breaker is starting to go bad.

There are some more possibilities but the above are the most common.

Click to expand...

Hi muc
the unit was made around 1989, the gas has been checked and changed, there is no manual for the unit? but thanks for reply

Re: air con tripping main breaker

Bubba1235 said:

Still need to know if it uses resistance heaters. With that said;

How old is the breaker? As they age they often start to break down and NOT handle their rated ampacity. An amp probe on the power leads during start up would tell the story and send you on the right path to solving the problem.

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Exactly! Replace the breaker - then begin the quest for a deeper problem. Breakers get weak and trip prematurely.