We replaced the breaker and still had the problem so called a/c man and he added a hard start and replaced bad circuits but we still have a problem. He said the next step is a condenser, of course I want to check that before I dish out his quoted $1900 since he swore the previous hundreds would solve the problem.

It only trips in the morning around 9 or 10 am. We keep the a/c set at 75, when I turned it down to 73, those 2 days it didn't trip at all but at 74 it tripped again this morning. It's a 9 yr old outside unit, the inside is on a separate breaker. a/c man thought it was from turning off and then turning back on so soon and the pressure not having a chance to go down first. He said the circuits would fix that and the hard start would furthur prevent it. I really don't have $1900 to spend so hoping there's an easier (iow cheaper) fix but will spend it if I have to and my family will just live on ramen

Keep after it. His suggestions although solid, still aren't getting it done it sounds like.

If it is intermittent like that - check the wiring

Look for a frayed wire anywhere downstream from the breaker.

Disconnect hook ups
Wire terminals, etc

If a hard start didn't do the trick than go after wires.

Ask him or the next competent tech what the amp draw at start up is on that compressor with the hard start kit on it. That should tell it all if it really is going bad