slcpd6469
join:2003-09-25
Saint Louis, MO | reply to scooper
Re: Tripped Main Breaker
I don't have anything set to turn on besides the furnace in question. |
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scooper
join:2000-07-11
Youngsville, NC
| reply to slcpd6469
said by slcpd6469  :It is a electroic thermostat. Its set to let the temp get down to 67 overnight then warm up to 72 starting at 5:15. The multistage element makes sense since it only trips in the morning. I dont know if this is the case as the unit was installed before I moved in. I will have to find a model number and research it. I am keeping the unit off until a professional can look at it. Bingo - our smoking gun !
Apparently, it's fine as long as you aren't asking for full power (the minor through the day stuff) - it's that "5 degree warmup at 0515" that pulls enough power that it trips the main breaker.
Safest thing to do is indeed not use the electric furnace until the electrician has fixed the issue. If you aren't asking for full power (i.e. set it and leave it - don't use the setback / warmup feature of the thermostat) - you can "probably" get by for awhile (until it gets colder and the furnaces are being used more). But this really needs to be looked at and corrected ASAP. |
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mattmag
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-04-09
NW Illinois
clubs:
 ·Mediacom
| reply to slcpd6469
There is still something amiss, since you noted the furnace is supplied via a 60-Amp breaker. If the furnace is indeed the problem, you should be seeing a trip at that point, not the main, if what you have noted to be the associated load at that time of the day is correct.
The furnace load has to be under the trip-point of the 60-Amp breaker, (unless it is faulty) and I seriously doubt you have another 40-50 amps of draw from a fridge and the few other things that were on. Not even close...
Get an electrician in there and find out for sure, because I still don't see why you are tripping a 100 amp main in this scenario. |
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scooper
join:2000-07-11
Youngsville, NC | I think they said the furnace had it's own 60 AMP breaker. The OP never said what size breaker the furnace is being fed from. |
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mattmag
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-04-09
NW Illinois
clubs:
·Mediacom
| said by scooper :I think they said the furnace had it's own 60 AMP breaker. The OP never said what size breaker the furnace is being fed from. If the furnace has a 60 amp breaker, then that is the current-limiting device for the furnace, unless for some odd reason it is fed by a *smaller* rated breaker which would make his scenario even MORE unlikely. I don't understand your point I guess? |
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scooper
join:2000-07-11
Youngsville, NC | I'm saying we don't know what is in his circuit breaker panel. |
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mattmag
Premium,ExMod 2000-03
join:2000-04-09
NW Illinois
clubs:
·Mediacom
| said by scooper :I'm saying we don't know what is in his circuit breaker panel. Again, it makes no difference. We know there is a 100 amp main, and a 60 amp on the furnace. That means if the furnace is to be blamed for the main tripping, then the load of the furnace has to be below the trip rating of the 60 amp breaker, and its load is additive to the remaining load in the house which is causing the trip rating of the 100 amp main to be exceeded.
However, he provided the other items that are drawing current at the time the trip occurred, and they are not enough to provide the additional current load over the furnace load to make the main trip.
There is either something else on that the OP is missing, or as a more significant issue, the furnace is in fact exceeding the rating of the 60 amp breaker which would indicate it is faulty, or even not connected at all, which is why an electrician needs to find out what the actual problem is. |
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scooper
join:2000-07-11
Youngsville, NC
| said by mattmag :said by scooper :I'm saying we don't know what is in his circuit breaker panel. There is either something else on that the OP is missing, or as a more significant issue, the furnace is in fact exceeding the rating of the 60 amp breaker which would indicate it is faulty, or even not connected at all, which is why an electrician needs to find out what the actual problem is. On that I completely agree. |
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nunya
SEE ROCK CITY 475 MILES
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
clubs:
 ·AT&T CallVantage
| reply to slcpd6469
Are you sure the furnace doesn't also have another 30 amp or 60 amp breaker? Most of the electric furnaces I've met around here are 90 amp or 120 amp.
Also, some people have a much larger "idle" load than they realize. I've found most residential homes in the 1000-2000 sf range have an idle load between 20 and 40 amps. This is with no A/C, range, heat, dryer, or other heavy loads on line.
--
Looks like Reverend Wright got his wish - God Damn America. |
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slcpd6469
join:2003-09-25
Saint Louis, MO
·Charter Pipeline
| I dont know for sure if it has another breaker. The only reason I say it has a 60 amp is that on the unit itself there is a 60 amp breaker and then in the breaker box is a new 60 amp breaker. I talked with the seller of the house and he is going to send the installer over in the next few days to see whats going on. |
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scooper
join:2000-07-11
Youngsville, NC | reply to slcpd6469
Any news ? |
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slcpd6469
join:2003-09-25
Saint Louis, MO | No updates yet. I have an electrician coming this Monday. I've been able to do with out the unit for awhile but a sudden drop in temps in making me wish I hadn't waited. |
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jack b
Gone Fishing
Premium,MVM
join:2000-09-08
Cape Cod
clubs: | Leave it at one temperature and don't use a night set-back until it gets checked out. |
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nunya
SEE ROCK CITY 475 MILES
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
clubs: | reply to slcpd6469
I'll bet you anything they try to disconnect a coil bank and run. |
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cowboyro
join:2000-10-11
Shelton, CT
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| reply to slcpd6469
It can be as simple as a bad breaker that trips below the rated ampacity. If the electrician tries to sell you a service upgrade ask him to first replace the breaker and measure the current that the house actually draws with full load for furnace.
If you have a heat pump make sure you wait few minutes from the last start, most systems have a built-in protection to not allow the compressor to start again sooner than N minutes. |
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
1 edit | reply to JimmySask
Post deleted as was rendered moot.  |
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KrK
Heavy Artillery For The Little Guy
Premium
join:2000-01-17
Tulsa, OK
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| reply to slcpd6469
said by slcpd6469 :It is a electroic thermostat. Its set to let the temp get down to 67 overnight then warm up to 72 starting at 5:15. The multistage element makes sense since it only trips in the morning. I dont know if this is the case as the unit was installed before I moved in. I will have to find a model number and research it. I am keeping the unit off until a professional can look at it. Bingo. Cause/symptoms have been nailed.
--
"Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." -- Benito Mussolini
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scooper
join:2000-07-11
Youngsville, NC | reply to slcpd6469
And the verdict is ? |
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slcpd6469
join:2003-09-25
Saint Louis, MO
·Charter Pipeline
| I just had 2 companies do estimates today for a service upgrade. My real estate agent is going to fight it out with the seller because the 2nd furnace was supposed to be installed and working according to my contract. Hopefully I'll have it all done in the next few days. |
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nunya
SEE ROCK CITY 475 MILES
Premium,MVM
join:2000-12-23
O Fallon, MO
clubs: | How much? |
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