Circuit Breaker issue?

[RitSim]

Recent trouble with air conditioning unit solenoid chattering (constant buzzing). Voltage at unit is 111 VAC. Solenoid acts correctly when powered with 120 VAC directly. Voltage at panel input is 119 V. Voltage across first main breaker drops to 117 V. Contacts look good and clean. Voltage after individual breaker is 115 V. Do breaker internals go bad?

 

[kappykaplan]

Do breaker internals go bad?

Yes, but I don't know enough to tell you that those are the symptoms you're experiencing.

 

[JoeWhite]

Bypass the circuit breaker temporarily by removing the wires from circuit breaker and connecting them to each other and see if the trouble goes away. If yes, then buy a new circuit breaker and connect wires to it and test the problem. This will answer the question.

 

[RitSim]

I like it. Will try next trip and post results.

 

[Hello Below]

Remembering of course to isolate the AC and always use a volt meter to confirm there is no AC (power) at the breakers before working on the wires.

 

[Stu Jackson]

. Contacts look good and clean

Looks? Did you remove, clean and reinstall? Or just look?

 

[RitSim]

Yes voltage is disconnected. But it is harder to check voltages with power off - LOL

 

[RitSim]

UPDATE.
Removed all connections on both sides of each circuit breaker, neutral buss and ground buss. Measured incoming voltage at power post (119.6)
Line side of circuit breaker (119.6), Load side of breaker was 117.9 +/- until i operated it several times and voltage came up to 118. Jumper across breaker as well for further testing. Voltage at A/C input is 116 (kinda low for no current draw). Opposite side of A/C junction box ( i assume is the voltage control outlet) is 114.9 Voltage at solenoid is 114.

There is a control plug that I will look at next.
Considering replacing the cable from the circuit breaker to the A/C since there is no reason for a 3 volt drop with no load.

 

[Davidasailor26]

Voltage drop when there’s no load is strange, but not as telling as how large the drop is under load. Any bad connections will be easier to narrow down when there’s more current flowing through the circuit than just the minimal amount causing the drop now.