AC units tripping surge protectors

Rich Iowa · Jun 16, 2013

I have two AC window units that I'm having issues with. They both worked great last year, but when I installed them this morning they trip their built-in surge protectors the moment I plugged the cords in. They instantly trip when I try to reset them as well. Plugged back into same outlets as last year with nothing else using those outlets. No breakers have tripped, and outlets tested correct on my outlet tester. They were stored out in the garage til now.

Possible they just need to sit and let the breeze dry the dampness out of them? Any other ideas?

John T · Jun 16, 2013

Are what you call "surge protectors" the over current and overheat thermal protectors (what I suspect, maybe a red push to reset button???) or some sort of voltage spike (maybe from lightning) supressors or some sort of GFCI protectors???????

If its really the overcurrent thermal protectors (I suspect) and trip that fast, Id guess the compressors are seized up. Perhaps the fans may be stuck which manually turning may help but Id guees it would take a bit of time before they (low current draw) kicked any protectors

Darn if I know not being there

John T

Dean · Jun 16, 2013

Low line voltage?

Dean

M-MAN · Jun 16, 2013

A couple more possibilities to add to John T's probability. Could be moisture in the unit & there is alway's the possibility of a tad too much oil getting inside the compressor when moving around a window shaker. Let it sit a while and try it again. Bumping the compressor would help but that's kind of hard to do without taking it apart. One of mine did that last year when I first plugged it up but worked perfect the next day.

spacecadet9 · Jun 16, 2013

(quoted from post at 10:42:29 06/16/13) I have two AC window units that I'm having issues with. They both worked great last year, but when I installed them this morning they trip their built-in surge protectors the moment I plugged the cords in. They instantly trip when I try to reset them as well.

According to UL specs you have a LCDI (Leakage Current Detector Interrupter) on the AC power cords: "LCDI power supply cord assemblies use a special cord employing a shield around the individual conductors, and are designed to interrupt the circuit when leakage current occurs between a conductor
and the shield."

They have been required since 2002. Look for shorted wiring or moisture buildup.

John T · Jun 16, 2013

My window AC may have such a device I suspect from its location (on end of cord as part of plug) and appearance, add that to the three other possibilities I mentioned below of what he calls "surge protector" and we may be able to help???

Fun sparky chat

John T

Geo-TH,In · Jun 17, 2013

I have a very old craftsman drill press, 60 years old. It won't work on a GFCI, but works fine without.

Don't most electricians wire a refrigerator on a single circuit without using a GFCI, because ref like my drill press sometimes motors don't get along with GFCI.

So, what would happen if the LCDI were removed and A/C wired like they were before 2002 and properly grounded? Capacitors can become leaky and still work. Could capacitors be the problem here? Could the wires have gotten pinched while in storage?
George

John T · Jun 17, 2013

"Don't most electricians wire a refrigerator on a single circuit without using a GFCI"

Of course the code may have changed since I retired from practice, but in my day there was a GFCI "Exception" if it was required otherwise in cases such as for example where a fridge or freezer was in the garage and there was a fear the GFCI would "nuisance trip" and ruin all the stored food. THAT EXCPETION required the receptacle for such an appliance BE IN AN INACCESSIBLE LOCATION such as behind the unit and hidden away where Johnny couldnt plug something into it AND ALSO THE RECEPTACLE WAS A SINGLE NOTTTTTTTTTTTTT A DUPLEX, i.e. ONLY the fridge was plugged into that GFCI exception outlet.

When I was a design engineer (though more commercial and industrial verus home) I would always run a seperate decicated branch circuit for items such as a fridge or freezer or microwave, and, of course, any outlet within 6 ft. as I best recall from the sink had to be GFCI protected.

Best wishes

John T

Mel in SW Iowa · Jun 17, 2013

Electrolytic capacitors deteriorate with age, some much more than others. IDK if this is a contributing factor in this case, but has occasionally caused problems that I have encountered.

Rich Iowa · Jun 17, 2013

Tried again today with no luck. As someone said earlier, this is a LCDI, on the end of the cord. Looks like I will be pulling at least one of the units out and taking the cover off to see if I can"t find out what is making them not work.

Geo-TH,In · Jun 17, 2013

JohnT,
I never wire a ref to a GFCI. I use GFCI in kitchen, garage, basement, outside, any place they will get along with motors.

What amazes me is that I have 2 wells wired to a GFCI. One well the pump is above ground and the other the pump is in the well. Both pumps get along with the GFCI.

You may be wondering why I have them wired up to a GFCI? I'm using the GFCI as a disconnect. I have a water alarm that shorts ground to common if it detects water on basement floor. Shorting ground to common on the GFCI will trip it, disconnecting power to the pump. It really works, prevented my basement from a flood when the water softner decided to spring a leak.

Back to the AC problem. #1 Why not remove the power cord, install an old power without protection, connect it to a grounded outlet and see what happens? #2 Or plug in the old style 3 prong cord from A/C in to an extension cord with a GFCI?

I would do #1 first while measuring the current on both the power and ground wire. I like to live on the edge. Love to see sparks fly, don't you? Stimulates the heart. If A/c works, then move to #2.

George

John T · Jun 17, 2013

Nor did I wire or design any fridges to GFCI circuits and it was all legal and NEC proper due to the "Exception" I cited.

There are all sorts of ways (NEC and home made, perhaps safe and proper perhaps not) to shut off a branch circuit for safety reasons, in my practice days I specified shunt trip breakers controlled by a remote sensor circuit.

I'm like you, Id consider in my own home rewiring the AC BUT AS AN ATTORNEY AND ENGINEER I'm naturally reluctant to give such advice to others, Do as I say NOT as I do lol lol

Nooooooooooooo I dont like to see sparks FLYyyyyyyyyyyyy Im a chicken when it comes to electricity

Take care, fun chattin

John T

Dusty MI · Jun 17, 2013

I helped build a restaurant once. It had fire suppressant system. If that system went off all the exhaust fans shut down. Those fans were single and 3 phase. They all had an extra breaker tied/riveted to there breaker, that's the only time I've seen a 4 pole breaker. That extra breaker was only 5 or 10 amp. The fire suppressant system shorted that extra breaker to ground, and because of the tie handle it shut down the fans.

Sorry about getting side tracked.
Dusty

Russ from MN · Jun 18, 2013

My drill press did that with a gfci a couple of years ago, it was extra humid. I plugged it in without a gfci and used it awhile and it dried out, after that it was fine on a gfci. I understand your safety device is different but it works similar.

AC units tripping surge protectors

Rich Iowa

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John T

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Dean

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M-MAN

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spacecadet9

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John T

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Geo-TH,In

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John T

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Mel in SW Iowa

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Rich Iowa

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Geo-TH,In

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John T

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Dusty MI

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Russ from MN

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