HOw to fix my home central AC that keeps tripping the breaker?

Question

finally had to replace a 40amp with a 30amp an electrian said would work. also had to replace 10g wiring with 8g. the wiring still gets extremely hot and tripped the breaker once. I have washed down both coils, checked the operation of my compressor and condenser fan. all appear to be doing great. I seem to have it running ok now, but wonder if there still could be a problem I haven't located. any help would be extremely appreaciated since its very hot this time of year already

Answer 1

It is probably the capacitor in the unit that's bad. You need to get an AC tech to check it out. They can put what's called a "hard start kit" on it to knock down the start up amps. It shouldn't pull more than 15-20 Amps after start up on the hottest of days.
They will also check the rest of the unit. It shouldn't cost more than 75 bucks for a diagnostic/tune-up. (in AZ anyways). Not including any parts.

Don't keep reseting the breaker. It is doing its job. There is something wrong with the AC unit, not with the wiring. Breakers generally don't just "go bad"; however, overloading them over and over isn't that good for them.

Answer 2

The lines carry 230 volts, so if you aren't trained to do this, it is best to get a trained technician to check it out.
If you have training in this area, turn the breaker off and check the tightness of each electrical connection down the line. If the wires are not tight, the current will have difficulty flowing, and draw higher amperage and produce heat. If you have aluminum wiring, it can expand when warm, then contract when it cools off. This causes loose connections. Check the terminal connections, and wire nuts.
If you have access to an amp meter, and know how to use it, test the amps being drawn at the unit during operation, and the amps being drawn at the load center.
Check your voltage at the load center, and the volts at the A/C unit. If you have a drop of 5% or higher, there is a problem with the wire somewhere; it could be a kinked line that has seperated and only a few of the strands are carrying current, or a loose connection as mentioned above.
Again, if you aren't trained to do this, hire someone who is. A $150 visit from a tech is lots less painful than a $10,000 visit to the emergency room or boneyard.

Answer 3

10ga uses 30amp breaker 8ga uses 40amp, you need to look at the rating plate on the unit it will show you start up amps and run amps and your breaker should match your start up amps, it sounds like you found the problem as for cleaning the coils and now the wires are not hot which would have cause your problems as dirty coils will build high pressure and make the compressor pull more amps to run resulting in over heating the wiring.

Answer 4

i might get a 2nd opinion. If the compressor wires seem burned off which may be the reason for the breaker tripping and not the compressor itself. i've got had many the place a single cord from the compressor burned off inflicting a short tripping the breaker and as quickly as I placed a clean terminal on the cord it worked superb. a good tech might continuously fix the cord earlier determining the compressor grew to become into undesirable.

Answer 5

Your wiring should never get hot to the touch - something is wrong. I think you need the services of an A/C Tech. I can't imagine a residential unit (at least none I have seen) requiring more than 8awg wire.

Could lead to a fire - as you said "extremely hot".

Answer 6

compressor having issues. it is drawing way too much if it is heating up wire. how does your condensor fan sound? any screeching? could be bad bearings. could u have short in wire someplace? i am not knowledgable enough to know how to test the amperage draw on either but that woudl be my next test. i wouldnt screw around with this. burn down the house.

Answer 7

Have a dedicated socket for just the AC. you will probably have to get an electrician in and check wiring to your breaker and have that one line from your AC to one switch to the breaker.

Answer 8

Don't wait until its to late call an electrician or HVAC/R Tech. This is VERY SERIOUS!!!