Why does my air compressor keep tripping the circuit breaker?

If your compressor’s air intake filter is clogged with dirt and dust, it can strain the motor, causing it to draw more amperage than normal. If this excess power draw exceeds the breaker’s capacity, it will trip the breaker.

What size breaker do I need for a 15 amp compressor?





A 12 wire and a 20A breaker is needed. 15A ends can be used on 20A circuits.

What size breaker is needed for an air compressor?

50 amp breaker should hold but you can use up to 70.

What size breaker do I need for a 5 hp air compressor?

A 5hp single phase AC motor has a load current of 28 Amps. So 10GA. wire with a 30 Amp breaker will work.

Can a bad compressor trip a breaker?

Unfortunately, as the compressor ages, it has trouble starting (called hard starting) and pulls even more electricity, causing the breaker to trip as a result. Solution: Have an AC technician install a “hard start kit” which is a capacitor that gives the compressor motor an extra electrical “jolt” to get it moving.

How do I stop my breaker from blowing?





Instead, follow these tips to keep from overloading your circuits:

  1. Unplug electrical appliances that are not in use. …
  2. Spread out heated styling tools. …
  3. Only use extension cords for added length. …
  4. Use LED Christmas lights. …
  5. Use multiple outdoor circuits. …
  6. Know your amp usage.


How many amps does a air compressor use?

The compressor, if designed for 240 volts, will have a running current draw of 23.23 amps.

How many amps does a 5 hp compressor draw?

around 21 amps



A 5 hp will be around 21 amps, and a 7.5 hp will be around 35 amps.

What wire is needed for 220v 15 amp?

Because the breaker for the circuit is rated for 15 amps, you may use 14-gauge wire. It is a good idea, however, to use 12-gauge wire, which is thicker and less prone to overheating.

How many amps is a 5 hp motor?

Example: A 5 HP motor at 230V, 3PH is12. 4 amps.

What size wire do I need for a 220V air compressor?



Use a 4-core gauge wire to supply 220 volts to the connection box for 50 amps. The wire color code will generally be red at a hot, black terminal at a hot, white terminal at a neutral and green or empty terminal on the ground.

How do you size a circuit breaker for a motor?

You must size the overloads no more than 115% to 125% of the motor nameplate current rating, depending on the conditions [430.32(A)(1)]. You must size the short-circuit ground-fault protection device from 150% to 300% of the motor FLC [Table 430.52].

How do I know if my compressor is grounded?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: So the copper tube is a great spot to check to make sure that you're not short of the ground you can check any one of these wires as long as you've already checked the pairs.

What happens when a compressor is grounded?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: That's a really common cause a compressor tripping a breaker you can also have a situation where you have a leg to leg short where the windings.

What is the most common cause of compressor failure?



AUTOPSY OF A COMPRESSOR: The two most common causes of compressor failure are loss of lubrication and slugging, according to Brainerd Compressor Inc.

What causes compressor overload?

An overload might open due to: A lack of maintenance. If the outdoor coil gets dirty it can raise the head pressure and make the unit run hot. A defective run or start capacitor.

How do I know if my compressor overload is bad?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: The overload will always have a slight rattle to it. Since the combination units have an overload built into them they will always have a slight rattle to them.

How do you check compressor overload?

Quote from the video:
Quote from Youtube video: Point zero ohms of resistance because you're reading across that little electric resistance heater. So we have our multimeter on resistance.