It’s quite aggravating when your air conditioner keeps blowing fuse in circuit board. If it’s just a one-time thing, you may not think much about it. But, if it happens quite frequently, you have a problem on hand. Electrical problems can be overwhelming, especially when you don’t know why they are happening and what to do. So, in our bid to make you more knowledgeable in this context, we shall explain a bit more about the fuse, why your AC keeps blowing it, and what is the most probable solution – armed with this information you can take quick and competent decisions in regards to your AC.
What Is A Fuse And How Does It Work?
A fuse is an electrical safety device which is made of metal filament or wire. It is usually in a cover or casing. The purpose of a fuse is to provide safety to the electrical device from overload or high voltage. The fuse is in the disconnect box or the trip box, connected to your AC.
While your AC is working, if there is a power surge or a short circuit, the filament in the fuse melts. This stops the flow of electricity and thus acts as a circuit breaker. Often this occurrence is also referred to as a blown fuse.
On its own, the fuse cannot be a problem because it is just a part of the safety mechanism. Fuses are very sensitive to overload, and so they overheat extremely fast. Consequently, if the fuse has blown, it means you have a problem on hand for which you may require professional assistance.
Why Air conditioner Keeps Blowing Fuse In Circuit Board?
There could be several reasons why air conditioner keeps blowing fuse in circuit board. The most probable of these are –
1. Loose Electrical Cables – There could be loose electrical cables inside the circuit box or somewhere in your AC which could be causing a short circuit. Only a thorough check by a trained technician will reveal where these loose wires are. Once they are discovered, you will just have to tighten them so that they do not cause repeated short-circuiting, which results in a blown fuse.
2. A Faulty Capacitor – The work of a capacitor is to regulate the flow of electricity inside the AC. When the capacitor develops a fault, it is unable to work properly. This can cause the fuse to blow repetitively. To solve this problem, the capacitor will have to be replaced. Sometimes an old or blocked motor will force the capacitor to work over-time. This puts a lot of strain on the ac capacitor, which in turn can continuously blow the fuse. The perfect solution for this problem is to get the motor checked and take action as advised by the HVAC technician.
3. Problem In Condenser – Dirty coils on your ACs or HVACs condenser can also cause strain on the capacitor, making it run overtime. Consequently, the fuse may blow. Similarly, if the condenser fan has to work harder to cool your home, it may cause electrical problems, one of which is a fuse blowing often. The solution lies in getting regular maintenance of your AC done so that these issues can be found at the very beginning and addressed ASAP before they turn into before troubles.
4. Low Refrigerant Level – When the air conditioner is low on refrigerant, the unit must work harder to cool the home. The extra work which the AC has to perform can trip your circuit breaker or result in a blown fuse. If the refrigerant level is not topped to adequate, the blowing of fuse becomes a regular occurrence. As is clear from the discussion, the solution lies in maintaining an optimum refrigerant level in the AC. A technician can come and check the refrigerant level in your AC and also, if they recommend replacing the coils that carry the refrigerant, pay heed to their advice and take quick action.
5. Dirty Air Filters – Anything that puts continuous pressure on the AC will subsequently result in a blown fuse. For that matter, it can be something as inconsequential as a dirty air filter. Especially on hot sunny days when the AC works overtime, hours of operation under tremendous strain can take its toll in the form of a blown fuse in the circuit board. Replace the air filters every month in summers to prevent this from happening occasionally.
6. Small Fuse – Somewhere down the line, someone replaced the fuse in the AC circuit board with a smaller capacity one which was inadequate to bear the load of your AC. Whenever the fuse blows, you replace with the fuse with a similar capacity one without realizing the folly of this action. Consult an HVAC technician about this and replace the fuse with one that has an adequate load-bearing capacity. Once done, this should solve the problem.
Strong Recommendation
As you can concur, most times it is small things which cause big problems. These small factors can be addressed well in time through periodic maintenance of the AC by a professionally trained technician. Time and again, we have stressed upon the benefits of maintenance for the longevity of your AC. However, this does not mean that no further problems will arise ever again. Problems will arise due to basic wear and tear and also due to things not in your control. At such times, the best you can do is be attentive towards even the smallest untoward sound that your AC makes.
When it comes to an air conditioner that keeps blowing a fuse in the circuit board, it is necessary that you let a trained technician check it out. A thorough inspection of your system, by them, will bring to light any additional issues that might be compounding the problem. If you are a resident of Plam Springs, Florida, the answer to your prayers is Aztil Air Conditioning. We are forever prepared to serve you better.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
There are several reasons why your AC could be blowing a fuse, like:
1. A dirty or clogged air filter.
2. electrical connections.
3. Low level of refrigerant.
4. A faulty condenser fan.
5. Fault in the capacitor.
6. Damaged breaker.
When the AC blows a fuse, it is essential to figure out why it has happened. If it is a simple matter of a dirty air filter, replace it with a new one. If that is not the case, call your trusted HVAC technician for troubleshooting and fix the issue. Once the problem is fixed, the fuse should blow no more.
The blowing of an AC fuse is a precautionary measure. It ensures no significant damage happens to the system. Typically, the fuse blows when the unit is operating under excessive strain. A couple of reasons for it could be a damaged motor, clogged air filter, malfunctioning capacitor, low refrigerant, etc.
To stop your air conditioner from blowing fuses:
1. Change the air filters every month.
2. Ensure annual maintenance of the AC.
3. Keep the area around the outdoor unit clean and free of obstructions.
4. Do not overlook any sign of malfunction in the AC.
When the AC blows a fuse, the first thing you will notice is the outdoor unit will stop working. You will hear a humming noise, but nothing else will happen. Nevertheless, the best way to make sure of the same is by using a voltmeter.
