Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => Electronics => Topic started by: newmod on January 02, 2015, 06:24:22 PM

Title: 20 amp breaker keeps tripping
Post by: newmod on January 02, 2015, 06:24:22 PM
I just hooked up and and started the first burn in my new owb.  It is a homemade (2nd one I have built)  taco 009 pump. Ranco aquatat. And normal solenoid for draft door.   Aquastat set at 190 and 160.  Was running fine, up to about 120 deg.  And the 20 amp breaker started tripping.  Only thing on the circuit is the owb with 12-2 wire.  Switched breaker and keeps tripping.  Ran good for about 4 hours without problem now breaker trips in about 3 seconds.  ANY IDEAS OUT THERE ?????.I am gonna take apart the pump totomorrow and see if it has locked up or something.  Also have my buddy (electricalengineer) coming over in the morning. 

Newmod
Title: Re: 20 amp breaker keeps tripping
Post by: fireboss on January 02, 2015, 06:38:04 PM
Un plug the pump and you will no rite away if its the pump or not!
Title: Re: 20 amp breaker keeps tripping
Post by: newmod on January 02, 2015, 06:56:00 PM
The pump and aqua state are ran thru a normal switch next to aquastat.  With the breaker off I have the switch off.  Unplugged the solonoid. Switched on the switch and the breaker tripped in a couple seconds.  Maybe the pump locked up for some reason.  I have no idea.  It is such a simple system, I shouldn't have this problem.  Never had any problems with previous build.  Ugh.
newmod
Title: Re: 20 amp breaker keeps tripping
Post by: fireboss on January 02, 2015, 07:17:17 PM
If the switch for the pump is off you have a short perhaps a bare wire touching metal  maybe in the switch box
Title: Re: 20 amp breaker keeps tripping
Post by: newmod on January 02, 2015, 07:21:33 PM
When the switch is off everything is fine and breaker doesn't trip. Once the switch is flipped on it trips in a couple seconds
Title: Re: 20 amp breaker keeps tripping
Post by: Jwood on January 02, 2015, 07:25:51 PM
Try a new switch maybe
Title: Re: 20 amp breaker keeps tripping
Post by: fireboss on January 02, 2015, 07:33:15 PM
SO you no its good from the breaker to the switch then  try un hooking the pump and if it doesn't trip the breaker then you no its the pump!
Title: Re: 20 amp breaker keeps tripping
Post by: newmod on January 02, 2015, 07:34:46 PM
Ya. I am gonna just wire nut everything together in the morning.  And then pinpoint it that way.  Gonna disconnect 1 at a time to find the problem.  That pump only draws about 5 amps. So it shouldn't  be that unless jammed or a short somewhere.  I will let you all know what I find in the morning.  Hope it is a simple fix.  It's gonna get real cold here and the freestanding  stove ain't gonna cut it. 
Title: Re: 20 amp breaker keeps tripping
Post by: fireboss on January 02, 2015, 07:38:25 PM
Good luck ! That's why most of us keep a extra pump on the shelf they always go out on on the coldest nights and nothing is open!
Title: Re: 20 amp breaker keeps tripping
Post by: Jwood on January 02, 2015, 07:41:48 PM
I have a spare Alpha for that reason also.
Title: Re: 20 amp breaker keeps tripping
Post by: Shrek1112 on January 02, 2015, 07:50:07 PM
I think Fireboss hit the nail on the head.  When I installed my Hawken the breaker kept tripping. Troubleshooting revealed a wire in the service light was pinched from the factory.  Quick and easy fix, double check to make sure your switch is not wired incorrectly also.
Title: Re: 20 amp breaker keeps tripping
Post by: mlappin on January 02, 2015, 10:02:17 PM
The Grundfoss 26-99 only pulls 1.8 amps and that is a hell of a pump, are you sure about the five amps part?

Maybe go the other way, unhook everything and hook em up one at a time?
Title: Re: 20 amp breaker keeps tripping
Post by: Roger2561 on January 03, 2015, 02:30:19 AM
Don't rule out that the breaker may be faulty.  Just because it's new doesn't mean it ain't bad... Good luck.  Roger
Title: Re: 20 amp breaker keeps tripping
Post by: slimjim on January 03, 2015, 04:15:00 AM
Mlappin is right on the Amp draw on the 26-99, unless you are running a commercial pump for industrial use then your Amp draw will be less that 2 Amps, I would bet that it is either a short or if you have a blower such as on a hot air unit that is getting hot and pulling lots of Amps, They are typically drawing 5-6 Amps but when they get hot, the Amp draw will skyrocket, They also should have a thermal overload that shuts them down when they get hot!
Title: Re: 20 amp breaker keeps tripping
Post by: newmod on January 03, 2015, 07:49:35 AM
Ok guys, we figured it out.  The pump and solenoid is only drawing 1.8 amps. No problem.  Pulled the wired off the solenoid. Still tripped.  Pulled the solenoid wire out of the aquastat. Didnt trip.  Installed a temporary hot wire from aquastat. Everything works fine.  IT WAS A BAD WIRE. UGH.  .   Cheap and simple fix.  Just glad I dont have to wait a week to get it in the mail.  The wife is happy now..   thanks guys

Newmod
Title: Re: 20 amp breaker keeps tripping
Post by: Shrek1112 on January 03, 2015, 08:18:46 AM
 :post: