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    diverse's Avatar
    diverse Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #1

    Oct 17, 2011, 12:29 PM
    30 amp fuse in breaker box keeps tripping
    The installer said it could be that the box is weak and I should go to a 40 amp breaker
    But my heat strips are 10mk
    And 30 amps should be enough
    I am wondering if he miswired the thermostat or should I go to a 40 amp breaker?
    JonesHVAC's Avatar
    JonesHVAC Posts: 173, Reputation: 12
    Junior Member
    		  
    #2

    Oct 17, 2011, 01:14 PM
    Try responding within your question by scrolling down. To answer you though... your A/C calls for a certain AMP size... you should be able to locate this on the side of the outdoor condensing unit. If it is below 30 then use a 30 if it is above 30 then you need to step up to a 40. If it is sized properly then you have a grounding issue. If it only pops when the compressor kicks on it could be that your windings in the compressor are grounding themselves. Let me know what it calls for and let me know if the later part of my response about when the compressor runs is correct.
    diverse's Avatar
    diverse Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
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    #3

    Oct 19, 2011, 02:43 AM
    The problem seems to be that the installer purchased the wrong heat strips
    The heat wiring and whip and breaker are all 30 amp
    But the installer purchased 60 amp heat strips 10kw rating
    My house is only 1000 sqft so I don't need this much especially since I am running a heat pump in tandem with my air handler
    Despite the fact that my electrician told him that we needed 5 kw heat strips the installer felt he knew better and took it upon himself to purchase 10kw heat strips


    Thank you for your answer.
    JonesHVAC's Avatar
    JonesHVAC Posts: 173, Reputation: 12
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    #4

    Oct 19, 2011, 05:06 AM
    Maybe the heat loss ratio vs equipment truly called for the larger strips... an electrician is hardly qualified to do a Manual J rating on a home. May want to purchase a 60amp breaker... Good luck and your welcome.
    diverse's Avatar
    diverse Posts: 3, Reputation: 1
    New Member
    		  
    #5

    Oct 19, 2011, 10:20 AM
    Hmmm good point on the electrician not being qualified
    However the electrician is the one who did the wiring and they had a discussion as to what wire the electrician should install vs what was necessary in the house
    The heat installer was actually the one who first agreed that we could get away with 30 amp
    Even though he recommended higher
    So we all agreed on 30 amp
    So the electrician wired up the whip the box and the breaker for 30 amp then the installer changed his mind

    So now my option is to either buy a 5kw heast strip or disconnect one of the strips to make the 10k a 5 k

    Thanks for your response much appreciated
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