Amana air conditioner keeps popping its cord breaker

I think you've gotton your moneys worth with ten trouble free years. The power cords safety device is a bit more sensitive to a high resistive short to ground than your breaker is. I would suggest that there is exactly that: a high resistive short to ground within the cabinet of the PTAC. It has been years since I have been on a PTAC call and am unable to suggest specifics. But if you are competent and capable of using a DVOM, open up the unit and begin a systematic approach of determining the problem.

The FIRST thing I'd do is check the motor and the compressor with a digital megohmeter. Sometimes their problem will only show up with this sensitive device.

You have a direct short in the A/C unit probably at the compressor or your condenser fan motor. You can disconnect one component at a time to identify where it is shorting. turn power off unwire condenser fan motor secure wires so they dont touch anything plug unit in if it still pops breaker your compressor is probably bad.

Hi,
If you reset the GFCI button and then when you go to turn it on the button pops again, then you have a short inside the units probably in the fan motor or the compressor..

heatman101

Inspect the wiring and the terminals. There may be a short circuit somewhere. If you have a tester, you may check the continuity of the two wires. Test the wires after the breaker, the part that goes to the unit.

Sounds like you have a short or a groud in a fan motor or compressor motor. You can unhook one component at a time and turn it on after each component is disconnected to figure out which one is grounded.

Is this kicking the ground fault on the cord or the breaker. If it trips breaker could be bad breaker. If it trips quickly it is a short in the unit. Russ

What size breaker?  Is there an air conditioner, toaster or microwave on the same breaker?

use larger extention cord with thicker wiring,as short as possiable!

Sounds as though the power cord reset switch might be bad and need to be replaced. If not, then there is a short somewhere in the system. Do an ohms test on the switch to determine if it is bad.

ngfam1
Happy to assist,

HOW MANY BTU IS THE AIR CONDITIONER?
And is it 110 or 220 line!

If it is using 110 or 115 volts like normal house current and it throws circuit breakers in your electric box,then you need to run a dedicated line just for the Air Conditioner!
Usually this happens to 110 -115 volt air-conditioners that are more than 12,000 BTU and do not have a dedicated electric line in the wall only for the air conditioner!

New air conditioners have a circuit breaker built into the units plug!
And I have seen some that throw that breaker to off frequently even if it's only an electric surge! Which it should not do!
if its the case and it's new, take it back to the store and ask for a different model, size, or brand!
Fedders had an 18,000 BTU/ 110-115 volt unit that did this with every single unit last year! I stopped selling that unit only!!

Ngfam1
PLEASE GIVE ME A GOOD RATING HERE FIXYA.COM BEFORE YOU SIGN OFF!
you can just use it as is as long as it survives!