Why does the power to the AC occasionally kick off?

Question

Here's the situation: every now and then, generally in the middle of the day, the breaker that handles the air conditioning condenser will automatically flick off. I go outside, and I'll see that the breaker switch is orange. I flick it back on, and the AC condenser will instantly kick right back on. The air will run fine, and then, oh, once a week this will happen again, generally middle of the day.

Anyhow, an electrician checked this out, and he determined that the breaker for the AC needed to be replaced. He took out the old one (which was RED HOT) and put in a new one. The problem was resolved for a month.

Then, just today, this new breaker shut off again. I flipped the switch, and the AC kicked right back on again/ Any idea what is going on here?

(I'm looking at the old black breaker now, that was replaced, and it says "interrupting rating 10,000 amps max rms sym 40 C", if that helps.)

Thanks.

The numbers on each of the switches is 15.

Answer 1

Wow...15 amp ac unit.....and the electrician replaced them with like type means the wiring is probably only rated for such.

Your unit is probably getting on in years and drawing too much power on start up (compressor the usual villain here).
Have the start capacitor checked - inspected - or just plain replaced. But, more importantly have load test done on unit while running... any electrician can easily do this by snapping a tester around the lines.
Should be equal to or just a little above what the outside unit is rated at.
And --- Check those filters! also check the evap coils inside Make Sure They Are Clean..... dirty ones put huge loads on system - Really!

Answer 2

Daniel K is right. If he only replaced them with 15 amp circuits it is probably only rated at that. Sounds like the A/C is drawing too much. It has been extremely hot the past few days.

There is an outside chance that the circuit breaker that you had installed to replace the old one is faulty but I doubt it. Try the things Daniel K recommends.

Good Luck.

Answer 3

I had same problem when I lived in a mobile home. Too many things running at the same time caused it to flip off. We had to get a bigger breaker box and it fixed the problem. Repairman probably thought it was due to being old but really needs to big bigger amps. hope it helps.

Answer 4

you may need to clean your condenser coil(the outside one)as the temp outside increases,the condensing pressure increases.a dirty coil will have a reduced condensing capacity and will therefore have an increased condensing pressure.that is why the a/c trips out in the afternoon and not in the cooler part of the day.to clean,first try a water hose with a strong flow nozzle,Just start at the top of the coil and wash side to side with the water flow staying perpendicular to the face of the coil and work your way down.if the coil is extremely dirty,it will need to be chemically cleaned by a tech.

Answer 5

compressor is overworked and is overworking breaker capacity, just try a new breaker if it fails then a new a/c unit is needed or at least a new compressor that will not have to work as hard to keep cool enough to work properly, also cooling fan motor or sensor may not be operating to capacity causing unit to overheat compressor!

Answer 6

i'm thinking that the breaker is under sized......for sure ur unit is over loading the breaker.....what size is the breaker, the # on the end of the little switch?