AC blowing the Generator Circuit Braker

[Quest]

Hello.
Our AC for some reason lately keeps blowing the generator circuit braker.
AC is drawing about 11 to 13 amps when starts and the with the time is going up to 18amps. What's is the normal range of amps to be drawn?
Generator is a Briggs & Stratton 8550 starting watts and 5550 Running
AC is: Carrier Model 88RV14102A Part 99-00489-00 Serial 250Y70391
Tried to google it and no specs or info. Went to Carrier's website and they don't make them anymore.
Any idea?
Thanks

[poppatello]

What size is the circuit breaker that is blowing? It could be a couple of things.

One, it could be a bad or weak breaker that is tripping. If you are watching the amp meter and it's peaking @ 18 amps and you have a 20 amp breaker, my bet is the breaker is weak and your having nuisance trips.

Two, is the A/C compressor is going bad and drawing higher then normal amps and the warmer it gets the higher the amps, it will tripping the breaker.

Three, is just like option two but the system is low on freon which in turn will cause the compressor to get hot and draw higher amps. Not sure on the older units but the newer ones should have high temp switches to prevent the compressor from drawing higher amps which would kill it much quicker. As the compressor cools it would cycle again. Which doesn't seem to be the issue if it's popping the breaker.

Another thing it could be is the generator may not be putting out the correct electric for the load. If this is the case, it would act like a lost leg so to speak to a 240 system and cause the amps to spike causing it to trip the breaker...

[poppatello]

Originally Posted by Quest

Hello.
Our AC for some reason lately keeps blowing the generator circuit braker.
AC is drawing about 11 to 13 amps when starts and the with the time is going up to 18amps. What's is the normal range of amps to be drawn?
Generator is a Briggs & Stratton 8550 starting watts and 5550 Running
AC is: Carrier Model 88RV14102A Part 99-00489-00 Serial 250Y70391
Tried to google it and no specs or info. Went to Carrier's website and they don't make them anymore.
Any idea?
Thanks

The reason your amps is low @ start up is there is a time delay for the compressor to kick in. When you first turn on the A/C just the fan blows. Than the compressor kicks in about 5 minutes later. Again, depends on the demand will determine the amp draw. If you have the temp set like 60 and it's 90 outside with the fan on high the amp draw will be on the high end of the specs. Then again if you have the temp set on 75 and it's 90 out but have it on low the amp draw should be down the low end of the spec. Some of the specs I've seen is 13.5 amps. Then again this is a new unit. There should be some info on the unit somewhere you got the model number and such...