Electric Pressure Washer tripping Breaker

[Jsf721]

I have a 30 AMP dedicated outlet in my garage. I have used this pressure washer in this outlet before.

My pressure was flooded with Salt Water about a year ago after the Sandy Hurricane.

I removed the Plastic cover and flooded it with clear water within 5 days of the flood.

I let everything dry. turned it on and it worked about 3-4 months ago. It only ran for about 1/2 hour to clean out the garage. I went to powerwash over the weekend and it tripped the breaker in the garage. I tried another outlet and the same thing happened?

Should I check something or did the salt water just mess this up beyond repair?

Thanks as always.

 

[pattenp]

Is it tripping as soon as it's powered on or after running a short moment?

 

[Jsf721]

So fast there is no power delivered to the unit.

Is it tripping as soon as it's powered on or after running a short moment?

 

[pattenp]

I'm not following what you're saying. Are you saying it trips the breaker when you plug it in or when you flip on the power switch on the unit?

So fast there is no power delivered to the unit.

 

[Jsf721]

Sorry, as soon as I turn it on the breaker trips. It happens so fast that there is not (perceptible) power to the unit (it does not power up at all)

I'm not following what you're saying. Are you saying it trips the breaker when you plug it in or when you flip on the power switch on the unit?

 

[Speedy Petey]

I have a 30 AMP dedicated outlet in my garage. I have used this pressure washer in this outlet before.

Are you saying you have a "standard" 15 or 20A receptacle on a 30A circuit? That is NOT code legal.

 

[Jsf721]

You know I believe it is a 20AMP circut. I was just reading hte A/c post and mis remembered. I needed to have it installed beacuse I have a Metro-Vac and Blow that was blowing the 15amp cuircut. I had a licensed electrician fix the issue so I am sure it is to code.

Are you saying you have a "standard" 15 or 20A receptacle on a 30A circuit? That is NOT code legal.

 

[Aceman]

Have you opened the pressure washer up yet and had a look inside at the electrical connections?

 

[offroadsteve]

The breaker popping immediatly like that points to a dead short somewhere in the wiring on the pressure washer.

Based on it having been flooded with salt water... my money would be on corroded electrical connections somewhere in the motor conneciton box or possibly the pressure switch that controls the output.

More than likely something is, as they say, "kaput" internally. Is it too late to claim it as personal property on your homeowner's claim from Sandy?

 

[pattenp]

Yep.. some of the salt water and or the water you attempted to flush it out with has caused some corrosion that's shorted out some of the electrical connections. You will need to take the unit totally apart to even have a chance of seeing where the problem is. It could be fixable.

 

[Clik]

Are you relieving the pressure before starting? Are you using an outlet rated for the amps? Try plugging it into the outlet on the side of a droplight with the light on. The bulb provides a little resistance. If that doesn't work your pump may be locked up or your motor locked up.