Central Air A.C. unit

[bowser]

Last summer I had a 2 ton A.C. unit installed. The name plate requires a 19.4 amp circuit minimum. I put a 20 amp breaker with 12/2 wire in for the service, approx. 10 ft. run. Occasionally on start-up, the breaker will trip. Reset it, and away she goes! What do you pros think it could be? Undersized service or something to do with a capacitor? Thanks for the help!!

[fishhook8]

Run 10 ga wire if that doesnt do it install a hard start kit

[bowser]

Would you upgrade to a 30 amp breaker then also? What is a hard start kit? I am pretty electrically inclined, so I should be able to handle the "fix" myself with some guidance.

[sparcebag]

I'm no electrician,but I've never seen air on 20 A breaker takes lots a juice to get that unit started.30 A wont need any other fixtures!It'll supply whats needed w/10Ga.wire ??? Do you have air service box on exterior of house??If not is that safe? legal?

[bowser]

Yes, I do have an outdoor fused disconnect on the outside of my house. What do you mean by it won't need any other fixtures?

[sparcebag]

The hard srart kit,

[Lindy Lee]

It is always best to install the max fuss size recommended. Some guys try to install the min size but as the unit gets older it will trip the breaker even more. If you do change the breaker make sure you use the right size wire as stated earlier. Typicaly hard start kits are only put on older units.

[Enids Hubby]

about 1 1/2 years ago my a/c would trip out when started and could not get to go on. I call s service company and he came out and said it was most likely this part , i can't remember the name of it , but was mounted in the outside unit . that was a faily common item , he had one with thinking it was just what i needed but ended up the compressser was shorted and ended getting a whole new unit . but what your describing sound like what that part was could fix sorry i don't know the namwe of it but it was a small part

[eurolarva]

Quote:

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about 1 1/2 years ago my a/c would trip out when started and could not get to go on. I call s service company and he came out and said it was most likely this part , i can't remember the name of it , but was mounted in the outside unit . that was a faily common item , he had one with thinking it was just what i needed but ended up the compressser was shorted and ended getting a whole new unit . but what your describing sound like what that part was could fix sorry i don't know the namwe of it but it was a small part

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Probably the capacitor for a capacitor start motor