by High Performance HVAC | Thermostats |
Two-Stage Furnace Air Conditioner Thermostat Control Problem | Hi I was wondering if you can help me with a two thermostat… because I don’t think my condenser is using the second stage…. I open the thermostat and see the jumpers, but is there a way you can illustrate my brain and the correct set up I have an Amana 16 seer 2 stage 5 ton units and no one seems to understand this unit,
I went into the attic. found my models my Condenser ASXC160601BC serial #1307225441 Is a two-stage scroll compressor cooling. my furnace is model AMVC950905CXBA serial #1307131781 two-stage gas furnace burner variable speed blowers… this is how is wired at this moment: (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Technical Reference |
International Fuel Gas Code Overview: Codes are used by contractors and inspectors as a guideline for the safe installation of appliances and piping. The International Fuel Gas Codebook is the basis of many installation practices, again, for safe installations. The code is written and agreed to by engineers.
With few exceptions, the code can be overlooked. However, usually, this is at the manufacturer’s request and must be signed off on by a competent person. This is an overview of the International Fuel Gas Code. Additionally, it is also a manual we recommend to HVAC technicians to further their knowledge in HVAC.
This is mainly applicable to the installation of gas furnaces, gas-fired boilers, and other HVAC appliances which an HVAC (or plumbing) contractor may install. Some codes are simply common sense while other codes are a result of some lessons learned.
Usually, those lessons were learned the hard way and some dangerous event occurred that resulted in the generation of the code. It is important that the codes are followed as closely as possible to prevent future problems or unsafe and dangerous events from occurring. Lastly, this code applies to Natural Gas and Propane installations. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Buyers Advice, Carrier HVAC Reviews, Lennox HVAC Reviews |
Carrier Versus Lennox Gas Furnaces. Both Lennox and Carrier are major brands that have many different HVAC products to offer. Here we will compare the Lennox gas furnace with a Carrier gas furnace. These are similar models with similar efficiency ratings. In our comparison matrix, we will highlight various components and features of each gas furnace.
Then we will explain these features and components below our comparison matrix. If you are deciding to purchase a Lennox or a Carrier gas furnace we hope this comparison guide will help you in making a wise decision. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Air Conditioning |
What do you do when the Air Conditioner Breaker Trips and it won’t reset? What to do if the breaker keeps tripping? Try to reset it. If that doesn’t work? What do you do when it trips again? I’ve been on several service calls where the problem was a tripped breaker. Of course, this causes the air conditioner not to function correctly. Sometimes the problem with the air conditioner breaker trips is simple. However, other times, they are complex and result in significant repair.
Here we’ll describe the two separate line voltage circuits for your split system air conditioner. Additionally, we will also describe the possible causes that will make your air conditioner trip the breaker. If you have a package unit, then you will have a single circuit for your air conditioner. Lastly, a package unit is an air conditioner or heat pump in one package (all in one air conditioner).
(more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Heat Pumps |
Heat Pump Breaker Trips - Richard, my breaker keeps tripping for my heat pump. It seems to be a nuisance trip on occasion, and it usually happens at the most inopportune time. I am wondering what you think could be the problem to prevent these nuisance trips. I want it fixed so my heat pump is reliable. Thanks!!
This is a question sent in by one of the site visitors and is in a series of articles for heat pump troubleshooting and repair.
In this article, you will learn about heat pump main power circuits, including the reasons why heat pumps trip the breaker.
Heat Pump Breaker Trips
The Heat Pump Condenser Circuit
This is likely something you cannot repair yourself, and it could be dangerous (high voltage), so I recommend calling an HVAC contractor to look at the problem.
The typical split system heat pump (the most common type) have two separate circuits. One for the air handler and one for the condensing unit. Consequently, this means you will have two separate breakers in the main power panel, one for the air handler and one for the heat pump condenser.
Based on electrical code, these breakers, as with each breaker in your panel, should be labeled for the appropriate circuit location/appliance. That is not always the case. That is, the panels are not always labeled, and when they are labeled, they are not always labeled properly. It may be necessary for your HVAC technician to troubleshoot this issue to figure which circuit is tripping, the air handler, or the heat pump condenser.
Heat Pump Breaker Trips
A breaker trip for any appliance including a heat pump is usually caused by a dead short in the wiring or a motor. I usually say because there are some cases where the breaker was found to be bad or defective and would give nuisance trips. Once the breaker was replaced, everything worked fine according to normal specifications. A bad breaker can easily be replaced. However, this should be done by a trained professional, and a basic check of other components needs to be done to make sure these components did not cause the breaker to go bad.
.
.
Heat Pump Breaker Trips - NEC
The panel in the photo is an open electrical panel with breakers. The breakers installed must be sized properly for the amp load and wires size. Consult the NEC tables for proper wire sizing based on ampacity. Every electrical component in your electrical system is designed for a specific load or a specific number of amps.
A common residential heat pump condenser will have a number 10 wire which terminates in the main electrical panel to a breaker specifically sized for the ampacity of the condenser. This ampacity calculation is generally on the heat pump condenser on a label provided by the manufacturer.
Components from the termination at the condenser to the termination in the main electrical panel need to be sized according to the listed ampacity rating. The ampacity rating is usually list by the manufacturer. That includes wire size, breaker size, and fuse sizes with the fuses being special-purpose slow-blow fuses to take into account locked rotor amps (LRA) or starting amps for the compressor.
Troubleshooting electrical breakers should only be done by someone trained in electrical safety. Breakers are inside a high voltage panel and are very hazardous.
Reasons Why the Breaker Trips for a Heat Pump
Here are the basic reasons that will cause your heat pump breaker to trip along with basic explanations:
- Bad breaker - this is described above. Can also be classified as a loose breaker (described below).
- A dead short - this is when two wires touch and this could be a bad motor or a bad compressor. The windings in the compressor could go bad and when they do they cause a dead short in the windings. A heat pump condenser contains the compressor. If the condenser is fused, it can blow before it trips the breaker. However, it can also trip the breaker depending on the sizing of the fuses and the breaker. A dead short can occur in the air handler or the heat pump condenser.
- Power supply. That can be caused by brown-outs in the summer or by a severe storm with lots of lightning. If some appliances in your home are working properly, then you need to call the power company to have them solve this issue for you.
- Poor maintenance. A dirty clogged air filter or clogged condenser coils will cause the motors and compressor to operate at higher than normal amp draws. That creates a lot of heat from the extra electrical energy used. This not causes a higher power bill but can also lead to heat pump breaker trips. Make sure you properly maintain your heat pump not only to prevent nuisance breaker trips but also to save energy. HVAC preventive maintenance goes a long way in comfort and energy savings.
Never reset the breaker more than a few times. When a breaker trips continuously, it means you have a serious problem that needs to be addressed before the breaker is reset.
Heat Pump Breaker Trips
- Mechanical lockup of a motor or compressor. A bad bearing or a rusted bearing can cause the motor or compressor not to start and run properly. That creates a lot of friction, keeping the motor or compressor from moving freely. That will cause the motor to work harder and create a higher amp draw and more heat.
- A bad capacitor including start and run capacitors - Capacitors are essential to single-phase motors. Start capacitors and run capacitors are designed to help the motor run more efficiently and in the case of a start capacitor designed to help the compressor start. A bad capacitor can cause heat pump breaker trips.
- Loose electrical connections - this can include connections to the heat pump itself or even a loose breaker. Loose connections cause a higher than normal power draw. That increases the heat and can lead to other problems that will eventually fail the heat pump.
- Short cycling - Short cycling of a compressor can cause heat pump breaker trips.
Additional questions from our readers:
My heat pump breaker won't reset?
If you have reset the heat pump breaker and it continues to trip then you have an electrical problem. It could be the breaker that is bad or an electrical problem causing the heat pump breaker to keep tripping. It’s difficult to definitively answer this question if it’s an electrical problem. See the above list for possible problems that would cause the heat pump breaker to keep tripping.
Can my thermostat cause the heat pump breaker to trip?
The answer is no. The thermostat operates on an independent low voltage circuit. The heat pump breaker operates on high voltage.
What to do if the heat pump breaker keeps tripping?
The first recommendation is to call for service after checking some basic things. We have a checklist here before calling for service. If, after checking the basics and your heat pump breaker keeps tripping, call a professional. Replacing a breaker or troubleshooting a breaker problem can be dangerous.
Conclusion
Remember, safety is very important, and doing any of these things on your own is dangerous. It is best to call a professional to this work and troubleshooting the problem for you. Some people reset the breaker only to have it trip again when the issue recurs. Resetting a tripped breaker over and over again will not solve the root of the problem. Consequently, this needs the attention of a professional.
Heat Pump Breaker Trips
by High Performance HVAC | Buyers Advice, Carrier HVAC Reviews, Trane HVAC Reviews |
Trane Versus Carrier Gas Furnaces. This is a close comparison of Trane and Carrier gas furnaces for specific models. We try to get as close to the same models as possible without getting exact models with the same features.
There really could be no review of the furnace if they were exactly the same except in name. In this case, Carrier has the edge for their Infinity model over the Trane XL model we chose to for the comparison matrix. They both get similar efficiency ratings but mechanically and electrically they are different furnaces. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Buyers Advice, Carrier HVAC Reviews, Rheem HVAC Reviews |
Carrier Versus Rheem Gas Furnaces. We compare the top-tier Rheem gas furnace to the top-tier Carrier gas furnace by comparing basic options and then describing these options for you. We receive tons of requests for these types of comparisons, and Rheem versus Carrier filtered to the top of the list for gas furnaces.
I always recommend when you replace and type of HVAC equipment, you get matching systems. For example, if your compressor goes bad and you need to replace the condenser, I recommend you also get the indoor units with the outdoor unit.
There are a few exceptions to this, and it depends on the age of the equipment and your budget. In the long run, getting a matching system will save you in energy cost as most manufacturers have equipment set up to give maximum efficiency for matched systems. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Gas Furnace Reviews Index, York HVAC Reviews |
York Gas Furnace Reviews | Consumer Ratings. York offers several gas furnaces from 80 AFUE to 98 AFUE. Their residential capacities offer between 40 BTUh and 130,000 BTUh (give or take for various models), making them ideal for most residential applications. On the higher-tier York offers the Affinity™ line of gas furnaces for those seeking high efficiency and bells and whistles.
York’s mid-grade models are called the LX series and offer low to mid-range efficiency with fewer options. And the economic model for York gas furnaces is called the Latitude™ Series, which also provides mid-range to low-range efficiency levels for those on a budget for initial installation cost. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Daikin HVAC Reviews, Package Unit Reviews |
Daikin Package Unit Reviews | Consumer Ratings. Daikin offers package units in the 2 to the 5-ton capacity range. They do have a few models that only go up to 4 tons so check with the dealer to see what is available. Of course, that depends on what you need and the capacity you need. Daikin package unit models offer air conditioners, heat pumps, gas packs, and a dual fuel package unit. Package units are ideal for installation where indoor space is undesirable or not existent for an air handler. Package units are an all-in-one package with everything you need all in one package. (more…)
by High Performance HVAC | Package Unit Reviews, Payne HVAC Reviews |
Payne Package Unit Reviews | Consumer Ratings. Payne offers package units in the 2 to the 5-ton range. Their line-up of package units includes gas packs, straight air conditioners, and heat pumps. Package units are ideal for specific applications in residential and light commercial applications. They are best used in places where installing an air handler is difficult or impossible.
While package units do not offer the best efficiency-wise from a conventional split system, there are situations where package units can only use for heating and cooling. Mobile homes and smaller houses where closet space is at a minimum. Rooftop installations make package units ideal for light commercial applications. A package unit can best be used in these applications. (more…)
