Electric Power problem

[Ronzo915]

I have an electric problem that I cannot figure out, hopefully someone here can help. I start my show each evening at 4:45. The show plays continuos with no issues. The show lasts for 45 minutes, then starts over again, and so on. Each night between 8:45 and 9:15 one breaker trips. Forgot to mention, my setup is 5 controllers, but each night the show has cycled 7 or 8 times then the breaker pops. I don't get it. There are times during the show when all lights are on. That is when I would expect a problem if I had a controller overloaded. But I can keep all lights on for more than 3 hours. Haven't tested longer yet. But I don't see why a breaker would trip after the same show has been playing for over 4 hours. Any ideas are appreciated.

 

Ron

 

 

[neuschww]

Have you checked to see if you have anything else that comes on about the same time as the breaker blows, possibly the furnace, refrigerator, dusk to dawn light, etc....

[Santas Helper]

Ron,

I'm guessing your pushing the threshold as soon as the show starts and after a few hours, that threshold gives up and finally pops the breaker.

Have you measured what your total draw on that circuit is?

That would be my first check. Check the power draw on the circuit/wire to that breaker while the show is running with a Kill-a-watt meter.

Google it for more info and where to buy it.

[Marty Spain]

Ron,

Check your suspect circuit breaker while the show is running, see how warm it is, as Santa's Helper mentioned it could be near full load. If the breaker is not dedicated to your controllers then another appliance  could be sending the breaker to trip. I use amp probes to measure current on the line. I also use dedicated breakers for the 13 controllers I run. I also balance each breaker for current draw. You should not exceed 75 percent of the breakers capacity.

Marty

[Ronzo915]

Thanks for the tips. I am going to check it. I am thinking I am over 75% on that one circuit. I say that because all of my controllers plug into 2 dedicated circuits, and when I switched some plugs to change circuits, the problem followed one controller. Therefore I know the problem is with that particular circuit so I will use my amp meter to see how much draw I am getting at peak.

[chandalen]

I had a similar problem.  My 20a breakers were slowly heating up and they finally get to the thermal cut off point and trip.  It takes a couple of hours because you are probably at 90% max cap. for the breaker, and they sloly heat up... cool off a bit when not fully engaged and the cycle continues until the breaker says...  nope.

[Ronzo915]

Thanks to all. Problem fixed. I was pushing the limit on that breaker. I measured the draw and I was hitting about 90% threshold. I reconfigured a couple of channels to other controllers and problem resolved itself. Thankfully, I have one channel dedicated on each controller to be an all lights on channel for my animation sequence so it was easy for me to distribute the load. This community is the best. Merry Christmas to all!

[Santas Helper]

Glad to hear all is well.

 

Merry Christmas