Heating unit kicks circuit breaker

imacowgirl

We have a Ducane heat pump unit. It was installed new 4 years ago. This year, we didn't use the air conditioning, just didn't get unbearable enough, so hadn't used it since last heating season. This heating season, the thermostat COVER get warm, making the temp. go up for room temp, so we had to kick the furnace temp "call" up to  make the furnace turn on.  The furnace will run a few minutes, then kick the circuit breaker. When the circuit breaker kicks, the temp on the thermostat will read the proper room temp and the thermostat cover is cool. we keep turning the circuit breaker back on until the house gets warmer, but when the furnace turns off "normally" then the thermostat cover heats up again, making a "false" room reading and the whole thing starts all over again. It usually goes up to upper 80's, when the house temp is really 60's to lower 70's.  What could be wrong?

Techman

Warm t'stat

Make & model of t'stat?

furnacefigher15

more than one problem

If breaker actually trips, the thermostat has no influence over that.



The thermostat being hot is odd, and is likely a secondary problem, unless it is causing the furnace to shot cycle somehow causing the breaker to trip.

richardplace

Triping Breaker

You need to post the thermostat # is it old or a new one installed with the heat pump.Is the heat pump a packaged unit (all equipment is outside and only duct work penetrates the wall) or a split system(air handler inside compressor outside). If the thermostat wasn't replaced when the HP was then the tstats heat anticipater setting may be incorrect. To trip the breaker for the air handler all the heat strips must be coming on all at once not sequenced on as usually done.Provide more info please