Why would an air conditioner trip a breaker?
Well, an air conditioner usually trips the breaker because it’s pulling in more amps than the breaker is rated for. That is, if you have a 20-amp breaker and the AC pulls 30 amps, the breaker trips. That’s why breakers trip: to protect you from over currents that can damage equipment and cause fires (yikes).
How do I stop my AC from tripping the breaker?
AC circuit breaker tripping: WHAT TO DO FIRST
- Turn the air conditioning system OFF at the thermostat(s).
- At your electrical panel, turn the AC circuit breaker switch to the ON position.
- IMPORTANT: wait 30 minutes with the air conditioner OFF. …
- After 30 minutes, set your air conditioner back to COOL.
How do you know if your AC breaker is bad?
Key Indicators to Tell if You Have a Bad Circuit Breaker
- Breaker Doesn’t Stay in “Reset” Mode.
- Burning smell.
- Hot to the touch.
- Visible damage to the box or outlets.
- Breaker trips frequently.
- Old Age.
How do I test my AC breaker?
Do It Correctly
- Make sure the thermostat is set to cool.
- Go to your home’s breaker box.
- Locate the breakers for the air conditioner. …
- The breaker may not appear to be “OFF” or tripped. …
- Using the same amount of force that you used to turn the breakers off, flip the switches to the “ON” position.
Where is the reset button on outside AC unit?
Look for it first around on the exterior of your machine, especially along the bottom edge near the ground. An AC’s reset button is typically red and visible, so it should be easy to spot. If you don’t see a reset button on the outside, it could be located inside the unit behind the service panel.
How do you reset an air conditioner?
How to Reset an Air Conditioner
- Power down your AC. Start at your circuit breaker panel and flip the breaker that powers your AC. …
- Find the button. Most air conditioning units are equipped with a reset button. …
- Hold down the reset button for 3 to 5 seconds and then release.
- Restore power to your AC.
