breaker on controller keeps tripping.

[Eminem]

I have a CHHC-1 controller that keeps tripping its internal breaker (15A). I have a Santa Fe DH (6.5A), water pump for CO2 unit (<2A), and a contactor to run the A/C (.1A) This shuts down the whole controller and I loose AC, DH and Co2

So in total I am around 8-9 amps.

I put a clamp meter on the hot wire feeding the controller and got 9.xx amps. seemed a little high because I dont think the CO2 was running. But even then, I should have been at 11A.

It seemed to shut off when the A/C came on so I figured something was wrong. The A/C outlet is only powering a contactor/relay. The contactor works fine when plugged into a regular A/C outlet

So I took another controller which was removed from another op I just shut down. COntroller was working fine for over a year. This controller seems to be doing the same thing.

Heres the kicker. I am running two rooms exactly the same. Same controller, same DH, same pumps for Co2, yet one room has issues with 2 controllers, while the other is fine


Any ideas?

 

[Blowstrees]

Two rooms at same location or diff places?

How is the power being suppplied to the rooms?...and the main power to the controller?

 

[Eminem]

two rooms at same location.

Each controller is wired to a dedicated 20 amp circuit with a 20 amp breaker, and 12/3 romex.

The pumps are plugged into the Co2 controller output and are wired with 50' extension cord. The DH is romexed to the DH output and a outlet is installed near the DH. The AC contactor is wired using # 16 or 18 wire directly to the contactor. The contactor itself is wired to a DP20A breaker with 12/3. The contactor draws very little power from the controller.

I am going by this afternoon to check it out. I am wondering if the DH is defective and drawing more amps than the DH in the other room

Two rooms side by side, same exact setup, same wiring, etc. Only difference is one controller is controlling a window A/C through a contactor.

 

[Ganoderma]

it sounds as if you are having a power spike when your DH or window A/C unit first turns on (which is common when stuff first powers up), which could be causing your problem. which if your close to a breakers limit just might be enough to trip it, some breakers can be a little sensitive, where others are not sensitive.

Have you tried unplugging everything else from the controller to see if it does it with just the device that your having problems with tripping the breaker?

 

[Chunkybuddha]

Remember breakers may say 15A but they are actually trip at 80% because of the risk the load may be continuous. So really you are playing with 12A and as you said it may be closer to 11amps.

The power spike is not like a large motor, but since you are pretty close already it may be a large enough temporary increase to trip a very sensitive breaker..

 

[Philosophelon]

Is there a GFCI on the circuit/receptacle? Sometimes those trip when they shouldn't. Certain types of loads (inductive? idk, I'm not an electrician) can trip them, because they measure tiny differences in current between the energized and neutral conductors.

 

[blowwhole]

Try switching items from room to room one at a time to eliminate the problem, ie the extension cord,etc. Also could be one of your devices is failing and drawing a larger current as it heats up, triping your breaker. Good luck.

 

[Eminem]

Well I looked into things a little more and no luck. I metered each DH and they each seem to be pulling 7 amps. The pump is rated at .74A. The contactor only pulls .01 amp. So I am at 8 or 9 max.

I have been running the CO2 pump and A/C contactor off the controller for a couple days w/o issue. The DH is now plugged directly into an outlet. The DH runs 24/7 so theres really no need to keep it connected to the controller anyway

I still need to check the wiring to the DH to see if there is a bad connection. My BIL told me a bad connection would increase resistance, thus increasing current.

 

[DiscoBiscuit]

blowwhole is right. If you haven't maxed your draw, it might be time to check for faulty component(s).

 

[Philosophelon]

This won't be a very helpful post, but I can commiserate -- electrical problems are the worst. Honestly, I'd rather have a flood. I can fix that with a Shop Vac.

 

[badugi]

What's the full load amperage (FLA, not RLA) of the Santa Fe Classic?