I think it is on it's own circuit. That is why I have been dragging my feet on this, it just hasn't happened that much. I will be checking these things out. Thanks Don ----- Original Message ----- From: John M To: [email protected] Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2007 11:31 PM Subject: [BlindHandyMan] Re: AC shutoff problem.
G'day Don, Is it possible that the air conditioner circuit breaker is doing exactly what it is designed to do? that is sensing current overload/excess heat and tripping to shut off the circuit to protect your household wiring against fire. If the circuit breaker has tripped off only 3 times in 2 years, it doesn't seem too big a problem. Is it possible the air conditioner unit is not on a dedicated circuit of its own? So when some other household electrical appliance coincidentally switches on with the AC compressor, say the refrigerator/freezer, the overall current drain is too large. Even if the excess current drain is only momentary the circuit breaker senses it and it trips off? I've recently been told to keep in mind that while a wire rated at 15amps should theoretically carry 15amps all day long, in practice 15amp breakers and fuses can only carry 12amps 80 percent of their rating on a continuous basis. Continuous basis is considered to be a circuit loaded to capacity for three hours or more. This 80 percent rule applies to all breakers and fuses. I don't know where you live, but I know that on a hot Summer's day here in Melbourne Australia, when the outside temperature is up around 42ºC (108ºF)my AC unit is running full bore for around 10 hours non-stop. Fortunately my external AC compressor is on its own dedicated circuit. Most electricians will suggest a dedicated circuit for any appliance that will draw more than half the capacity of a circuit. I'm sure Dave from Belfast, when his time zone wakes up, will have some more knowledgeable ideas on causes and remedies. Cheers, John Melbourne Australia. From: Don To: blind handy man Sent: Thursday, September 20, 2007 10:58 AM Subject: [BlindHandyMan] AC problem. HI list, twice this cooling season, the out side unit of my central AC system, has kicked a breaker. With city code we have a breaker box, write beside the unit out side. I simply walk out side and flip the breaker. The unit comes back on fine, and runs with know problems, for weeks are even a month are two. The only way I know the out side unit is not running, the air coming out of the vents in the house gets warm, grin. So I'm not in a bind, I'm just looking for some ideas, of why in the hell, this thing is throwing the circuit breaker, out side, from time to time? Regards Don [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
