[Tony Van Helden]

Could a failed capacitor cause the breaker to consistently trip and what would be some cause for such a failure?  I've chasing  a cumulative series of no pump action.  The shaft turns, replaced the pressure switch, and no evidence of air in the system.  Pump is a 3yr old half price replacement from HH.

[bikestuff]

Is the AC breaker tripping? Or the protection circuit on the HH? I had a circuit going to HH that would trip. Turned out to be a screw rubbed a whole in the AC going HH. If the protection on HH is tripping… that is from the HH cycling. Sometimes this is caused by slow draws like the ice maker.

[Tony Van Helden]

Bill, the only breaker that trips is the HH.  When I put power back to the pump, the breaker immediately trips without attempting a draw.  This all started with the pressure switch and replacing that which worked fine for about a week.  I've been using my Shur Flow most of the summer as we are full time half the year.

[bikestuff]

Tony,

On 653, there is a union that is right above the control board inside the pump. At least once, the union leaked and let water seep onto the control board. (I believe that the entire pump got changed out).

Look on the top of your pump and see if you see any remnants of water sitting. That may give you a clue.

Bill

[Tony Van Helden]

Thanks Bill for your responses!  I took the board out over the weekend and it was dry and saw no evidence dark or burn spots.  I'm still stumped.

[hypoxia]

I have not had any experience with the Headhunter pump but as for capacitor symptoms, yes they can cause a breaker to trip. They can leak the oil, become distorted, have a change in capacitance etc. Some symptoms are intermittent but eventually fail totally. I've seen capacitors that have blown up leaving quite the mess of oil.

Three must haves, IMHO, volt meter, DC amp meter, capacitance checker. You can get one meter that does all of those functions.

[Richard]

Hmmmmm.

I just don’t recall seeing a capacitor during my one and only HH autopsy. That doesn’t mean there isn’t one, just that I don’t recall seeing one.

Here is what I would do to cut the problem in half. I would unwire the pump and cap the wires coming from the coach. If the breaker still trips, then the problem is not the pump.

[Tony Van Helden]

HH offered to sell me a capacitor for $25. They said that if the motor turned rough, I would need the capacitor, but if it turned smooth, I would need a new pump. Sounds like reverse logic to me. I also have not seen one on the pump.
Richard, I'll try your division option next.

[Richard]

The other thing you can do while you have the pump unwired is to measure the resistance between the hot leg (black) and the neutral (white), you should also measure the resistance between the hot and the ground. If you have a dead short in the system you will get very low or no resistance between those legs. A dead short would explain what you are describing.

[Tony Van Helden]

We have bifurcated the power source and the pump and the breaker did not trip.  Thus, issue is with the pump.  With power on we noticed a momentary hum, all light indicators on, and a quick trip of the breaker.  Sounds like an internal pump issue.  Any other ideas out there?