Air Conditioner Tripping Boat main breaker

U

Unwinder

.
May 23, 2005
16
Hunter Legend 37.5 Mobile, AL
My reverse cycle cooling/heating unit (with 2 blowers) has worked great since I bought the 1994 Legend 37.5 in 1997. I have always left it on, with thermostat set way high for cooling and way low for heating so the boat stays fresh, and it has worked. I have often gone to the boat to find the main 30A breaker tripped as of recent 1-2 years. It has gotten more frequent this winter and I always blamed it on the aging A/C system, so I turned it off and installed a small electric heater.
Now, I turn on the A/C and it immediately trips the boat's main 30A breaker. The fans turn on, the water pumps, and the compressor hits then the breaker trips. It does not trip the 20A breaker to the system, but I think it is the special HVAC type breaker, so it does not trip easily.
I did years ago replace the capacitor, then 1-2 years ago I found grease type liquid below the control box. I found the capacitor cracked. Replaced it with one from a local HVAC supply house. Seemed to work OK but still occasional tripping.
I guess I'll check the capacitor, but does anyone seem to think the compressor gone, or hopefully a capacitor?
Thanks,
 
uncledom

uncledom

.
Jun 11, 2011
1,243
Hunter 41 Lewes
If the breakers were both working correctly the 20 would trip before the 30. I would but an ammeter on it as it started up to see if the load was sufficient to trip a properly working 30A breaker. But off the cuff I'm thinking the main might have gone bad.
 
D

Donnybrook

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Apr 2, 2011
185
Catalina 27 Niceville, FL
What other AC loads do you have when running the cooling/heating system? I am sure you know that you can't run water heater and the cooling/heating at the same time.
 
Don S/V ILLusion

Don S/V ILLusion

.
Sep 25, 2008
7,374
Alden 50 Sarasota, Florida
Rather than start by replacing components, check the current draw and eliminate all the guessing.

If the start and run current draw is nominal, it could be a bad breaker or bad connections.
 
B

bmjpv

.
Oct 3, 2014
14
Hunter 37c' Vonore Tn
A/C breaker

I've had a intermitant A/C tripping the Main 30amp breaker . I had bought a new breaker as I was getting ready for this repair. Marine Air 16k unit is what I have that I bought New back in the late 90's. When the unit's compressor would trip on, that's when the load went up (amps) and intermittently trip. I know maybe just enough to get in trouble on ac diagnoses but went ahead in buying a Fluke amp load tester. Long story short I found a loose ac connector at the fuse panel. Gave a harder look at the panel and found a burnt wire load end because the connector had been loose, High resistance creates heat. Poor connections as you know create higher resistance ,popping my 30amp breaker. I always use die-electric grease when I come across a dry connector. Using the Fluke meter again ,all was within the range of my Marine Air. I finally have myself some piece of mind knowing a little more about my Hunter 37c boat. I use a stand alone heater in the winter ,$25 at walmart ,Oil filled radiator does a great job. The last thing I want to add is KISS, I was a auto shop owner for 30 years and always told my techs to Keep It Simple . My fix was back to Basic's. Hope this might help . Joe
 
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