Electrical problem

[Anonymous]

hello members

I am having a problem with one row of my machienes. I have 8 top loaders and 4 maytag stack dryers on one circuit. Recently
the circuits breaker started tripping several times creating a problem for my customers.

Has anyone experienced this kind of problem. Any suggestions from any members ?

Thanks
Tsaj

[Anonymous]

I feel someone tugging at my leg, you are kidding right? There is no way you can expect such a setup to work. You really want each machine to be on its own breaker.

[Anonymous]

Add a 50lb washer to the circuit and you should be fine.

[MSKLAUNDRY.]

I think (I hope) he means one branch circuit. Probably has a 60 amp breaker or something like that.

Well what has changed in your setup. What is the size of the breaker, ETC... Three pole breaker?

[BWJR]

I have used 15 amp breakers for two washers for over 10 years with minimal problems.

BWJR

[pete f]

This has to be a sub panel setup. ?

[CharlieS]

Tsaj -

What is the capacity of the circuit you are having problems with? Is it the subpanel breaker, or just a regular circuit breaker (20amp).

As your machines age, the motors will start to draw more power. If you have all of these machines on a single 20 amp circuit, the circuit is way overloaded. You need to create more branch circuits.

Assuming that you have several branch circuits with breakers, and it is the main breaker, than the total load is exceeding the capacity of the main breaker, or it is an old main breaker and is worn out. Use an amp meter on each machine to determine the load. If one machine is out of whack, that is a problem. If your total load exceeds the breaker capacity, you need more circuit capacity. If the total load is OK, then your breaker is probably bad.

Charlie

[Anonymous]

There is another possible problem here. This "circuit" may have been close to capacity in the past but the voltage may have dropped. This can be caused by the utility company changing a transformer setting or by higher load on a shared transformer. In either case, when voltage drops amperage goes up to supply the same power. The higher amperage will trip that marginal circuit.

[Anonymous]

Hi
Thanks for all the replies. I have several circuites,which are set up the same way. I will have some one check the amp etc and let you know. My knowledge is very limited in this area. Time to call a good electrician.

Tsaj