Fuse in circuit breaker is warm when window A/C unit is running?

Question

I have a 12,000 BTU window A/C unit running right now on a semi dedicated line. The refrigerator is also on the line, and in this older house there is no other way to run the wires. An electrician already checked it out.

The wire is 12 gague and the fuses are 20 AMP. The fuse is getting warm in the breaker, not too hot to touch or blowing, but warm. (Last year we had an 8500 BTU unit running with the fridge, a/c, mic. and washing machine and a 30 amp fuse. That blew, and talk about an unknown fire hazard!)

It's very hot out and the A/C is needed for our child. Is a warm fuse unsafe or pushing it too far? I turn the unit off and let it cool for 15 minutes every hour.

Answer 1

Your pulling to much power for that line . You need a bigger line for your AC . Home Depot or Lowe's can help you with putting in a bigger one so you don't have that problem.

Answer 2

When any electrical circuit is under load heat is produced. The fact that the fuse is warm is an indication of this. The fact that you are concerned is normal. In an ideal application the fuse would probably not produce noticeable heat. However, in your application the circuit is being loaded to the point where the wires and the fuse are at their optimum load capacity. The purpose of the fuse is to open the circuit in the event that the circuit is pushed beyond its capacity. If the fuse is not blowing then the circuit is operating within its rated capacity. If a qualified electrician has inspected the circuit and deemed it OK then you have no need to worry. I can for see a problem if the AC and Fridge are not maintained properly. This will cause them to have to work harder and may overload the circuit. To avoid this keep the filters cleaned, along with the condenser coils. Make sure the fridge is far enough away from the wall to allow for good air flow around the condenser coils on the rear. I don't think that turning the AC off periodically is necessarily a good Idea. By turning it off it will certainly decrease the load. However, the current surge when it is turned back on might cause the fuse to blow. It might be a good idea to set it a few degrees warmer to lessen the average load of the circuit. If the wires are becoming hot to the touch then there is reason for concern.

Answer 3

Don't panic. Running two major appliances off one circuit is not good but before all the latest safety rules came in many psople didso and some still do. I have done much wiring. The most probable cause for this likely isn't the load or the fuse/ breaker would blow. Since it isn't (blowing) I suspect that the breker connection screws arent tight enough. This would cause a resistance at the beaker connection which in turn would heat up the breaker. Try yightening (with the breaker off) and then if that doesn't work (unlikely) have the breaker checked. In the meantime there should be no safety issue because any fault including over heating would be isolated to the power pannel. The worst case the breaker would destroy itself and power would be interupted. All this is assuming that the wiring has been done correctly. Incorrect wiring would not change my diagnosis but would affect my statement on safety.

Answer 4

Your situation is a disaster waiting to happen.

You are drawing too much current through the existing circuit. Turing it off periodically is not the answer.

You need a dedicated line for the A.C. unit - and I would run a separately fused 20 amp line using 12 American Wire Gauge wire. If your electrician said there is no way to run such wiring find a qualified electrician. There are ways to do this.

You are putting your family in danger and I cannot over emphasize this.

If I could not afford to fix this, I would live with the heat and do without the a.c. because as you now have it you are equivalent to sitting on a barrel of gasoline, with the barel open and you are striking a match. You are likely to end up with an electric fire that can kill the entire family.

Sorry to be so blunt but YOU AND YOUR FAMILY ARE IN SERIOUS DANGER as is. If it has not burned down yet, you are lucky. Luck is not what you should depend on.

Answer 5

turning it off for 15 minutes every hour is worse
have an electrician check the total amount of amps drawn
having the frig and ac on the same circuit is not good! why not get the electrician to run a dedicated line out for the ac or get a double breaker and rewire the circuit for twin operation , in other words get a new circuit breaker that acts like a twin and runs the ac and refrigerator on the same circuit but wired different like a dishwasher/disposer circuit.what he will do is split the circuit to where one half is running the refrige and the other half is on the ac. he will bust the plug and run them both seperate. no extra wire needed.you need an electrician to do this.

Answer 6

I would recommend looking into a breaker box. steer away from fuse boxes. thus eliminating fire hazards. Yes it may cost a little money to have it changed over but it beats loosing all you belongings in a fire.I had this done & years ago and Im glad i did. We also have a very old house with very old elec.wire. I saved on money not haveing to buy fuses everytime i turned around also. Also you might try cleaning the unit real good.

Answer 7

you are taking you family's life in your hands. you should only load up a circuit 80%. there is always a way to make the problem better
.. you can set a new panel next to the existing panel and take 2 single pole breakers out of the old panel and put them into the new panel, and use the 2 now vacant spaces in the old panel to supply power to the new panel. and then run a DEDICATED line to your ac unit, any real electrician can do this !

electrician for 25 yrs!

Answer 8

get a new line...

im sure you wont gamble the life of your child, any time now it may cause fire.

your 12 awg wire cannot handle that much current as to what you are havbing right now in your system.

you will need 10 awg and 30 amp circuit breaker for that.

or, if you dont want to have a new line, at least, make it a dedicated line just for you AC. disconnect your fridge and look for any other line that can supply it.

hope this helps

Answer 9

You hired a professional electrician to inspect your fuse box, but you would rather take advice from strangers on an internet bulletin board?

Call child protective services and have them take your child now, before s/he is harmed.

Answer 10

sounds to me you need to upgrade your service that would be the safest route you have to much on 1 breaker