Electrical problem. Breaker pops but not consistently after adding ac

[spunger1]

Hey guys. I have a random problem and thought I’d ask here. I have an older home with pushmatic breakers and 100 amp service. It’s a small 3 bedroom 2 bath home here in Southern CA. I have all gas appliances and the only big items we have are is the microwave, washer and dryer, and the furnace and ac. Home was built in the 60’s so I’m positive it’s original electrical.

Recently we added ac (carrier 2 ton unit) and they had to make room in our box by adding a 220 20 amp breaker. To make space they added “cheater” breakers which in theory should have been fine. Everything was up and running as it should.

Now a couple weeks after the install at random times and sometimes with nothing at all on a breaker pops to power of our 2 bedrooms. I know our breakers are probably original to the panel so that could be a problem. Is it possible that after all these years and never really having one trip that it’s so weak that given the right load it just pops? We have been here for 10 years and never had any issues until having the AC put in but odd that it’s not consistent when it pops. I turned everything in the house on the max load it and it was fine. Only way I got the 2 rooms to come back on was to start at the main and go one by one until the rooms came back on. I then turned the AC back on and it’s been fine since.

I know I’ll take flack for the crusty old panel. We were in talks to just upgrade service and change it out but was assured we were fine by just making space in the panel.

I just wanted to ask and see if my thinking’s correct that the breaker could just be old and tripping prematurely (as if it’s weak). I have no problem changing out an old breaker if it’s the problem but since it doesn’t happen consistently it’s hard to pinpoint.

Any ideas or suggestions I’d really appreciate

 

[Bert_]

Need more information. What loads are in the bedroom? Is the bedroom on one of the new cheater breakers or an original that hasn't been changed?

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Can you post pics of the panel with the covers on and off

 

[spunger1]

That is a good question. Yes. The cheater ones are where the bedrooms were before. They are on what looks like to be 2 20 amp breakers. I’ll attach a picture.

Is it possible they are just crappy breakers that were put in? I guess in theory it should work fine but it’s beyond me. I have a feeling these are Chinese junk breakers as they feel about that.

The interesting thing is twice now those rooms have popped and even when I reset them I can’t tell if they’re on or off (even though that’s what they say”. We had no problems or issues until those cheater breakers were installed.

A while ago our ceiling fan in our master kept blowing bulbs & my wife brought up a point as maybe it’s got a problem. I bought some led bulbs and it’s been fine for months but that’s about the only thing that I can think of that’s in those rooms that could be causing something funny to trip. It’s just not consistent.

 

[spunger1]

Here’s a pic of the outside. I know it’s just the one screw to take the cover off but let me see what I can do.

That plug that’s empty has always been there. The only new additions are those dual breakers and the one for the ac

 

[Norcal]

The twin breakers are ChiCom sourced UBI classified breakers, Siemens no longer makes breakers for ITE Pushmatic panels, so your stuck with NOS breakers if they can be found, or used, or in your case new UL classified ChiCom breakers made for a obsolete Pushmatic panel, UBI also makes breakers for Zinsco, & FPE, panels, but the ITE Pushmatic was the only one of the 3 that was ever worth a ****, one place to start is to check the connections, Pushmatic breakers are bolt on & to do it absolutely correct a torque screwdriver is required, but those are few & far between, then check the load connections, a clamp on meter would be nice to check the load on the circuit, that would be a couple places to start.

 

[fitter30]

What is minimum amps on name plate of unit, wire size used. What type of ac unit? If its a window unit might be short cycling and tripping breaker.

 

[SGKent]

I would hire an electrician if you aren't familiar with electrical circuits. They can be dangerous.

It could be a bad breaker - or it could be a wire that is close to shorting, and does. There can be many reasons and places a wire grounds out. Also these guys were in your attic or under the house pulling refrigerant lines and wire, correct? Maybe they disturbed something there.