Breaker kicking..NOT GOOD FOR BUSINESS - tanTALK

tropicgirl · 07-07-2004, 12:45 PM

I have a Sundash 232 bed that likes to go on sprees of kicking the breaker. I also have a 20 minute Sunvision that likes to kick breakers occasionally. None of my other beds give me any problems. I do not have any buckboosters, is this what they are for? As you can imagine, customers get testy when they have to yell at you that the bed has kicked off and wait a whole 45 seconds for you to reset the breaker! Thanks!

engfant · 07-07-2004, 01:04 PM

Yes, you should have buck/booster on EVERY piece you have.

West Side Tanner · 07-07-2004, 02:50 PM

Breakers do get "WEAK", and have to be changed.

tanfixr · 07-07-2004, 05:20 PM

NOOOOOO!! You DO NOT need buck-boost transformers on beds that use magnetic ballasts instead of choke start ballast. You probably need one for your Sunvision though. But it depends on what your actual voltage is. If your store is on a high leg delta system with a fairly full load, your actual voltage may already be in the mid 230's.

Buck-boost transformers will INCREASE the amperage draw from your service panel if you are boosting from 208. So that IS NOT what buck-boost transformers are for. You may have some old breakers like West Side said, or your breakers, or wire, may be slightly undersized. Or, if you have plugs, the plugs or receptacles may be going bad.

The first thing you need to do is test your current draw and make sure you have good breakers.

tropicgirl · 07-08-2004, 08:25 AM

These breakers and plugs were all installed new for the beds last summer when I opened. I am assuming they would not get "weak" or bad and need to be changed so soon. So if that is not the problem, then where do I go from there?

engfant · 07-08-2004, 10:11 AM

replace them anyway. They may not even be the correct size breakers. Need to be 10amps over the bed draw in case of a small spike when the bed starts. Don't EVER assume the person doing the install has ANY CLUE. It'll set you back.

Sarge · 07-08-2004, 12:50 PM

Buy the sounds of your beds, you should have #10wire and a 30amp breaker. Do you shut you breakers off every night? If so, quit doing that, it can wear out you breakers. I would check your wire size and breaker and make sure the connections are tight on your plugs and the breakers.

Neon Beach · 07-08-2004, 09:08 PM

Go 10 amps over what the bed maker recommends? That's how fires start! Just when I was starting to like you. Breakers are designed to kick out when an appliance begins to draw too much. Spike be darned, the breaker should kick out when it's supposed to.

tropicgirl · 07-09-2004, 08:09 AM

No, I do not turn the breakers off on the beds ever. I understand that breakers kick as a matter of protecting, but a breaker should not go on a kicking spree and kick 5-7 times a day! It often goes weeks without kicking, but when it starts, it does it several times. I know they are 30 am breakers, but I will check the wire size.

tanu01 · 07-11-2004, 08:28 PM

Some beds do need breakers a little higher than recommened.My 32's say 30 amp, But when in season they need a 35amp.
If this bed is being used constantly and the wire is a #10 and there is nothing shorting out in the bed,up the breaker by 5,but first I would inspect the unit for loose wires or over heating.
Flick

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07-07-2004, 12:45 PM	#1 (permalink)
tropicgirl I love Derf!! Join Date: Jul 13 2003 Location: middle america Posts: 409 Rep Power: 23	I have a Sundash 232 bed that likes to go on sprees of kicking the breaker. I also have a 20 minute Sunvision that likes to kick breakers occasionally. None of my other beds give me any problems. I do not have any buckboosters, is this what they are for? As you can imagine, customers get testy when they have to yell at you that the bed has kicked off and wait a whole 45 seconds for you to reset the breaker! Thanks!

07-07-2004, 01:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
engfant Join Date: May 20 2003 Posts: 9,301 Rep Power: 29	Yes, you should have buck/booster on EVERY piece you have.

07-07-2004, 02:50 PM	#3 (permalink)
West Side Tanner Join Date: Dec 27 2003 Location: Florida Posts: 1,818 Rep Power: 21	Breakers do get "WEAK", and have to be changed.

07-07-2004, 05:20 PM	#4 (permalink)
tanfixr Join Date: Aug 12 2002 Location: Michigan Age: 60 Posts: 338 Rep Power: 22	NOOOOOO!! You DO NOT need buck-boost transformers on beds that use magnetic ballasts instead of choke start ballast. You probably need one for your Sunvision though. But it depends on what your actual voltage is. If your store is on a high leg delta system with a fairly full load, your actual voltage may already be in the mid 230's. Buck-boost transformers will INCREASE the amperage draw from your service panel if you are boosting from 208. So that IS NOT what buck-boost transformers are for. You may have some old breakers like West Side said, or your breakers, or wire, may be slightly undersized. Or, if you have plugs, the plugs or receptacles may be going bad. The first thing you need to do is test your current draw and make sure you have good breakers.

07-08-2004, 08:25 AM	#5 (permalink)
tropicgirl I love Derf!! Join Date: Jul 13 2003 Location: middle america Posts: 409 Rep Power: 23	These breakers and plugs were all installed new for the beds last summer when I opened. I am assuming they would not get "weak" or bad and need to be changed so soon. So if that is not the problem, then where do I go from there?

07-08-2004, 10:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
engfant Join Date: May 20 2003 Posts: 9,301 Rep Power: 29	replace them anyway. They may not even be the correct size breakers. Need to be 10amps over the bed draw in case of a small spike when the bed starts. Don't EVER assume the person doing the install has ANY CLUE. It'll set you back.

07-08-2004, 12:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
Sarge Join Date: Feb 22 2003 Location: Michigan Age: 59 Posts: 1,389 Rep Power: 25	Buy the sounds of your beds, you should have #10wire and a 30amp breaker. Do you shut you breakers off every night? If so, quit doing that, it can wear out you breakers. I would check your wire size and breaker and make sure the connections are tight on your plugs and the breakers.

07-08-2004, 09:08 PM	#8 (permalink)
Neon Beach Join Date: Nov 30 2000 Location: Ontario Age: 61 Posts: 38,594 Rep Power: 107	Go 10 amps over what the bed maker recommends? That's how fires start! Just when I was starting to like you. Breakers are designed to kick out when an appliance begins to draw too much. Spike be darned, the breaker should kick out when it's supposed to.

07-09-2004, 08:09 AM	#9 (permalink)
tropicgirl I love Derf!! Join Date: Jul 13 2003 Location: middle america Posts: 409 Rep Power: 23	No, I do not turn the breakers off on the beds ever. I understand that breakers kick as a matter of protecting, but a breaker should not go on a kicking spree and kick 5-7 times a day! It often goes weeks without kicking, but when it starts, it does it several times. I know they are 30 am breakers, but I will check the wire size.

07-11-2004, 08:28 PM	#10 (permalink)
tanu01 "The Man" Join Date: Mar 4 2003 Location: ohio Posts: 4,015 Rep Power: 23	Some beds do need breakers a little higher than recommened.My 32's say 30 amp, But when in season they need a 35amp. If this bed is being used constantly and the wire is a #10 and there is nothing shorting out in the bed,up the breaker by 5,but first I would inspect the unit for loose wires or over heating. Flick

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