Help! - Compressor is a carlyle 15 HP - Carrier Heat Pump

HOMEOWNER CRIES FOR HELP...

posted: September 8th, 2008 - 2:04pm

QUESTION:
Compressor is a carlyle 15 HP - Carrier Heat Pump - This unit contains an internal unit 40 HAC Breaker (34 close tolerance type). It keeps tripping even when the amps on each phase are as follows : 29.6 - 30.4 - 31.0 RLA= 29.6 The charge/Superheat/Subcooling are textbook.
Question is: If the contactor is pitted but no voltage drop across any contact(no abnormal resistance added) - could it (The pitted contactor)cause the breaker to heat and trip? * I obviously called the breaker bad. *Another (very qualified tech within my company) believes the pitted contactor could cause this. ...I find it hard to believe (No VD at any contact) which would (if there was a VD)cause a voltage imbalance which the close tolerance CB would catch and heat up. Wouldn't the voltage drop be reflected in the amp draw? The Amp draw is textbook RLA. I dont agree that a pitted contactor with no VD can cause this overheating of the breaker. I believe it is solo a breaker problem Please give me some input on this - If it is possible -could a pitted contact cause the breaker to trip? - Explain (technically)exactly how this could cause a fault such as this.

ANSWER: If you are taking an amp draw on that breaker over an extended period of time and not getting a reading within 10 amps of trip the breaker is bad, if this other guy is so confident let him go out and replace the contactor then when he is out there again to replace the breaker you will both know for sure.