To determine the right circuit breaker size for an air conditioner we look at both the minimum and maximum size allowable.
Air conditioning outside circuit breaker.
Well an air conditioner usually trips the breaker because it s pulling in more amps than the breaker is rated for.
Circuit breakers can get overloaded and when they do they trip.
The maximum size will be clearly labeled on the compressor label.
Wires connected to the breaker may be loose or the breaker itself may be bad and needs replacing.
Flip the air conditioning service and furnace circuit breakers in your main electrical panel to the off position.
There s a good chance that the problem is a tripped breaker if the circuit was overloaded.
Be sure that the thermostat remains off so that your air conditioner s internal circuit breaker can reset.
This can t happen if the thermostat is signaling for cooling.
However it is also possible that a power surge caused your air conditioner to blow a fuse or trip a breaker.
Wait 30 minutes with the air conditioner off.
A tripped circuit breaker is an easy fix.
Reset it once and only once and see if your unit runs normally.
That s why breakers trip.
Then yank the disconnect block photo 1 and clean the condenser coils photo 2.
This is especially common during the summer months when temperatures rise and your air conditioner unit is working hard to keep you cool.
Look for tripped circuit breakers in the main electric panel most homes have.
Because air conditioners only advertise the type of voltage and wattage they require you might run into some confusion when thinking about what kind of strength your circuit breaker should have.
If it keeps tripping then something is wrong.
To protect you from overcurrents that can damage equipment and cause fires yikes.
That is if you have a 20 amp breaker and the ac pulls 30 amps the breaker trips.
This is a relatively inexpensive fix.
Next turn off the power switch right at the furnace or air handler.
You only need to move it back into place.
3 problems with the circuit breaker.
If you reset the air conditioner unit due to it not running and it still does not run after the reset check the main building circuit breaker.
Have a tech tighten connections to the ac s breaker or replace the breaker.
This is particularly common following a power surge.
Air conditioner circuit breaker keeps tripping reset your air conditioner s circuit breaker once and only once.
At your electrical panel turn the ac circuit breaker switch to the on position.
Since circuit breakers measure their capacity in amps you must do a bit of math before coming to a suitable conclusion.
How to handle this situation.
Outside ac unit tripping breaker.