Help: dehumidifer fried?

[Al]

The circuit breaker that our basement dehumidifier is on tripped.
After we re-set the breaker and plugged the dehumidifier back
in, something happened and now the dehumidifier no longer
works.

A light on the dehumidifier's control panel comes on, but the
unit itself does not function: no fan, no motor.

Is this possibly a simple fix, or is it more likely that the motor
is fried?

Also, this was not the first time the circuit breaker tripped
while the dehumidifier was running. Any idea of what role
this may have played? Inquiring minds want to know...

Here are the specs:
White-Westinghouse 40 Dehumidifier
model MED40P3
7.5 amps
115 volts
40-pint capacity

 

[Al]

Update: I plugged the dehumidifier in and the circuit tripped.
So I re-set the breaker, plugged the dehumidifier in again...
and this time it works. Feeling like a dummy.

It's clear I'm going to have to move the dehumidifier to an
outlet on another circuit, but aside from that, I'm still
wondering why the unit would not have worked when the
light was on...

 

[William R. Walsh]

Hi!

It's clear I'm going to have to move the dehumidifier to an
outlet on another circuit, but aside from that, I'm still
wondering why the unit would not have worked when the
light was on...

I would move it to an outlet with a dedicated circuit if possible.

The light should indicate that the water container has filled up. If the
dehumidifier was moved, it could have caused the sensor to get stuck.

William

 

[lsmartino]

Al ha escrito:

Update: I plugged the dehumidifier in and the circuit tripped.
So I re-set the breaker, plugged the dehumidifier in again...
and this time it works. Feeling like a dummy.

It's clear I'm going to have to move the dehumidifier to an
outlet on another circuit, but aside from that, I'm still
wondering why the unit would not have worked when the
light was on...

I would try the dehumidifer in another outlet. It could be that the
dehumidifier itself is ok, but the circuit you are using is overloaded,
or the circuit breaker which feeds that branch is damaged.

In case of doubt, contact an electrician. A tripping circuit breaker is
a serious issue which must be investigated and corrected.

 

[JANA]

First, make sure that the water container is empty. Trying the unit in a
different outlet is a good idea. If the breaker trips in the new outlet
position, this can indicate that the humidifier has something in it that is
going shorted. You will then have to have it serviced.

If the breaker in the original outlet is tripping with the humidifier and
there are no faults with it, then an electrician should be called in to
verify the electrical connections, the outlet, the breaker, and the breaker
connections in the panel. Having a panel breaker trip for no known reason is
considered serious.



--

JANA
_____


Update: I plugged the dehumidifier in and the circuit tripped.
So I re-set the breaker, plugged the dehumidifier in again...
and this time it works. Feeling like a dummy.

It's clear I'm going to have to move the dehumidifier to an
outlet on another circuit, but aside from that, I'm still
wondering why the unit would not have worked when the
light was on...

 

[Fred McKenzie]

The circuit breaker that our basement dehumidifier is on tripped.
After we re-set the breaker and plugged the dehumidifier back
in, something happened and now the dehumidifier no longer
works.

A light on the dehumidifier's control panel comes on, but the
unit itself does not function: no fan, no motor.

Is this possibly a simple fix, or is it more likely that the motor
is fried?

Al-

It is possible that the compressor has low refrigerant. There might be an
internal pressure switch that turns off the compressor until pressure
equalizes. Afterwards, it may start again normally.

The high current added to other loads may be just enough to pop the
breaker, as others suggested.

The compressor might appear to cycle normally when it is actually going
until the pressure switch stops it, and then starting again when pressure
equalizes. It would be a good idea to check the refrigerant.

Fred

 

[Simoc]

Al ha escrito:

I would try the dehumidifer in another outlet. It could be that the
dehumidifier itself is ok, but the circuit you are using is overloaded,
or the circuit breaker which feeds that branch is damaged.

But Al mentioned that the light came on! (But not working) So that's
caused by the appliance itself.

But it may be just, like someone already mentioned, that if it's turned
on shortly after a power failure, the compressor may refuse to start
for a moment. Refrigerator does so as well. I dunno the reason as I'm
not familiar with these but it has something to do with pressures, like
mentioned.

 

[James Sweet]

But it may be just, like someone already mentioned, that if it's turned
on shortly after a power failure, the compressor may refuse to start
for a moment. Refrigerator does so as well. I dunno the reason as I'm
not familiar with these but it has something to do with pressures, like
mentioned.

It's done to allow the pressure in the system to equalize between the
high and low side. The compressors use PSC motors which have low
starting torque, if you turn it off and right back on chances are the
motor will stall against the high pressure.