Posted on 11/24/2024 5:02:37 PM PST by scrabblehack
It’s probably just getting too old to survive much longer. You’ll either be getting a newer one or going without soon.
Not true. Single phase induction motors (used in household appliances) typically require a run capacitor in addition to a start capacitor. You are right that if the motor won't start it's likely a blown start capacitor. I had that problem too once for a pump motor and luckily the tech had a spare one in his truck and it was an easy replacement.
Actually, I think the cheapest, first step is to plug it in somewhere else using an extension cord. Make sure to use a beefy cord and not a stupid lamp cord.
If the unit works fine and does not pop a breaker, then it’s probably an old GFI.
Since it’s just a bathroom, maybe you’ll like the extension cord more than replacing the GFI. ;-)
I would think the compressor start up would be a much higher load than the fan.
Amazon has replacement GFCIs for $13.50 to $15.00 depending on 15A or 20A. Get one with a WR (Weather Resistent) rating for use in a steamy bathroom.
If you are in the US you have several months to figure out how to change it. Turn off the circuit breaker to that circuit and it is easily within the skill set of even a beginning DIYer.
Hello?
There’s some bad advice in several of the threads that need clarification. The fact that your GFCI doesn’t trip with the heater, but trips with the AC indicates that it’s working OK. When it trips, it’s doing what it’s supposed to be doing: protecting you from being electrocuted.
GFCI means ground fault circuit interrupter. It senses when electricity is going places where it’s not supposed to go and then shuts off the power to the outlet. Your AC unit probably has a plugged drain hose and has wet wires inside after it runs for a while, or it has other problems. You may simply need to clean out the drain hose.
Compressor has a high resistance short to ground it sounds like or a capacitor going bad same reason. Those are the two most common. If it were a low resistance short to ground it would trip the GFCI as soon as you turned it on. Instead with a higher resistance to ground issue most likely as the compressor gets warmer from running it lowers the resistance to the tripping point. It doesn’t take much current to ground to trip the GFCI
What the BTU on the AC? Amazon has AC’s cheap and newer ones are often more energy efficient than older ones.
Saddle bag AC units.... looks like a much safer type of unit than most of the ones I’ve seen hanging out the sides of windows. If I’m ever walking down the street past apartment buildings and I see an AC unit hanging out a window, I’m heading to the other side. The idea of entrusting my life to some unknown and unqualified person installing one of those things above my head... I don’t think so. There have been too many reports of them crashing to the ground including a few people killed this past year.
I am curious about a high voltage electrical wire in my bathroom. I wouldn’t want to shower around that.
Most likely the insulation in the compressor motor windings has degraded over time. Heat and moisture will both cause this degradation. In this situation there is still enough resistance to ground that the current is small. The overall draw is slightly higher but you won’t trip a breaker. A GFCI will be sensitive enough to catch it (only needs 3-5 mA) and will trip.
This is actually pretty common and due to the gradual nature you would likely never know it if it were plugged into a regular outlet, it would just fail one day. My bet is changing the GFCI won’t work and a new window unit will keep working about as long as the old one has.
Can’t say for sure w/out some hands on diagnosis but I worked as a facilities engineer for several years and saw this phenomenon.
The fan is not the biggest draw, rather it is the compressor that does the biggest work.
We had such a air conditioner in our bedroom that was constantly tripping the breaker on its circuit. I changed out the breaker and it has had no more problems. It’s a fact that breakers get old and easier to trip. I have no problem changing a breaker.
Plus there’s less area to insulate/fill where the cheap-o accordion on each side of the older style units.
And the unit isn’t going to fall out of the window.
Oh, poop.
I would be nervous as well.
I cannot think of any reason for such a wire being located in the bathroom. Wonder if there was major renovation done prior to your purchasing or renting the property.
It’s downright scarey sometimes. In some parts of the country it was (and is!) the Wild-Wild-West in relation to renovations.
Dump the old one. They are very inefficient. You can get a deal on a new one right now.
Best answer on the thread so far.
Sometimes dirt builds up and causes more stress which ups the amps to get started.
Sometimes, motors get old - bearings can wear and become “stiff”
Sometimes (easiest/cheapest fix other than cleaning), the starting capacitor goes bad which means it doesn’t give the motor the initial jolt to start, which “lugs” the motor at start and ups the amp pull.
Clean it regardless and check to see the bearings aren’t bound up - then check the starting capacitor.
And - as others have mentioned, sometimes the GFIs get old, but I’d wager it’s the unit.....especially if plugging it into a regular outlet trips the breaker.
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