Another HVAC question

chiefjason

chiefjason

Vendor and Leather Hack
2A Bourbon Hound 2024
2A Bourbon Hound OG
Vendor
Joined
Dec 18, 2016
Messages
10,789
Location
Longview, NC
Rating - 100%
12   0   0
Woke up and the house was cold. Nothing working. Looked around. Found the breaker was tripped. Turned the system off and threw the breaker back on. About 40 minutes later it tripped again. Thoughts? Quick google fu search is saying old pump might be drawing to much power at start up. 16 YO Train unit. So I'm already on borrowed time. Thanks.
 
Last edited:
Jeppo said:
I’m no expert but I have had breakers fail due to age.
Click to expand...
Possible and the easiest place to start.
FWIW, the fan on the outdoor unit is working and seems to be fine. A little leaf debris around but nothing crazy.
 
If you’re lucky enough to have another in the panel, swap ‘em.
 
Have you had your unit cleaned(panel taken off) and hosed/sweep? Sometime debris get into it and causes an overload. Easy to do just a few screws on the panel.
 
teamglock2002 said:
Have you had your unit cleaned(panel taken off) and hosed/sweep? Sometime debris get into it and causes an overload. Easy to do just a few screws on the panel.
Click to expand...

Threw the breaker. Disconnected the unit. Removed the panels and I was certainly nasty. Vacuumed and brushed the boards and connections. Peeked under the fan and the inside wasn’t too bad. Capacitors look good, not swollen.

It was on for an hour or so before I cleaned it. Heard the unit running at least once. Breaker didn’t trip. Temp inside is up and holding.

Fingers crossed.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I'm sure the cleaning helped, but Find someone with an amp meter.
Do a check to see what's going on. You don't want to keep running up against full amp draw breaker tripping. Things can get hot and stick together go boom...
 
split system or package unit ? if it is a split system which breaker is it ? might wanna feel the breaker after it has run a while to see if the breaker feels hot to the touch .
 
jjwestbrook said:
split system or package unit ? if it is a split system which breaker is it ? might wanna feel the breaker after it has run a while to see if the breaker feels hot to the touch .
Click to expand...

Assuming split? It's the outdoor unit that was shutting off, again assuming that's where the problem is. Air mover is in the attic and did not check on that. Last time I had a capacitor fail upstairs it stunk up the whole house.

Unit has been powered up several hours. Running intermittently as normal. Breaker that tripped is not hot at all. It was tripped when I got up. Tripped again shortly after resetting. Has not tripped since.
 
chiefjason said:
Assuming split? It's the outdoor unit that was shutting off, again assuming that's where the problem is. Air mover is in the attic and did not check on that. Last time I had a capacitor fail upstairs it stunk up the whole house.

Unit has been powered up several hours. Running intermittently as normal. Breaker that tripped is not hot at all. It was tripped when I got up. Tripped again shortly after resetting. Has not tripped since.
Click to expand...
ok might wanna turn the breaker off and check the wire connections to make sure they are tight. could be a weak capacitor also they arent always visibly bloated
 
jjwestbrook said:
ok might wanna turn the breaker off and check the wire connections to make sure they are tight. could be a weak capacitor also they arent always visibly bloated
Click to expand...

Might have something. Replaced the breaker since it’s the cheapest/ easiest thing.

While it was off I took the panel off again and started checking connections. The circled connection on the start up capacitor is loose where it attaches to the top of the capacitor. Not the wire. The body connection wiggles. I’m assuming that’s either causing a short or if the capacitor isn’t discharging correctly it’s causing more draw and throwing the breaker.

Sounds like a replacement is needed. What say you JJ?

ba8871a5c69199d414b40a53700e5b9f.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
chiefjason said:
Might have something. Replaced the breaker since it’s the cheapest/ easiest thing.

While it was off I took the panel off again and started checking connections. The circled connection on the start up capacitor is loose where it attaches to the top of the capacitor. Not the wire. The body connection wiggles. I’m assuming that’s either causing a short or if the capacitor isn’t discharging correctly it’s causing more draw and throwing the breaker.

Sounds like a replacement is needed. What say you JJ?

ba8871a5c69199d414b40a53700e5b9f.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Could be , that is the start capacitor shouldnt cost a lot. If you cant find one let me know and ill get you one as cheap as they are i would go ahead and replace the run capacitor as well
 
@jjwestbrook

Sir, I think I found your problem. Thanks for the help.

It didn’t even discharge after I removed it. Either not enough juice or not enough post left.


b9fdcb9e9ea946a2c733975e8acd1e8e.jpg

f3bbdffd2a30cf03e8b6ead21dfdcddb.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Loose connections build up heat. Breakers are thermal. Bad breaker or loose connections would be the first things to check. Then go from there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom