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  • Mike_from_Texas

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    All the a/c breakers I have seen are in their own dedicated box next to a/c unit.

    If the a/c breaker was in the main panel, I stand corrected and you are definitely right.

    That is not a breaker. That is merely a pull out disconnect. Only provides a safe means to work on the unit without turning the breaker off if the panel cannot be accessed.


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    Nightwatch

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    It can be a disconnect-pull out type. It can be a throw lever disconnect. It can be fused, and it can be a circuit breaker. I've seen all types outside at the unit-and often. A lot of A/C men and a lot of electricians use whatever's on the truck when the customer's yammering it's hot in the house and it's 6pm. Proper goes out the window, and making that sucker run is all they care about. Test every time, and don't take anything for granted. Sizzle and pop's only a good thing with bacon.
     

    oldag

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    That is not a breaker. That is merely a pull out disconnect. Only provides a safe means to work on the unit without turning the breaker off if the panel cannot be accessed.


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    Please don't tell me what I saw was not a breaker. I know the difference in a breaker and a disconnect.
     

    F350-6

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    Please don't tell me what I saw was not a breaker. I know the difference in a breaker and a disconnect.

    It may be a circuit breaker, but it's in the disconnect box, not the main panel. When referring to a breaker, it's typically assumed it's in the panel. The disconnect is just an easy means, required by code now, to be able to kill the power to the condenser or package unit at the source.

    Where you say the breaker, is that the only location in your house that has a breaker, or are most of them in the main electrical panel?
     

    oldag

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    Where you say the breaker, is that the only location in your house that has a breaker, or are most of them in the main electrical panel?

    Really??? What kind of stupid question is that? The a/c compressor has a breaker in the outside box near the unit. Of course there are also breakers for the rest of the house circuits in the main panel.

    How long has it been since a house was built with no breakers?
     

    Nightwatch

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    Really??? What kind of stupid question is that? The a/c compressor has a breaker in the outside box near the unit. Of course there are also breakers for the rest of the house circuits in the main panel.

    How long has it been since a house was built with no breakers?
    It's not at all uncommon to see a main breaker box outside. It's not uncommon to find two breaker boxes, in older houses. It's very much not a stupid question-one can't take things for granted.
     

    oldag

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    It's not at all uncommon to see a main breaker box outside. It's not uncommon to find two breaker boxes, in older houses. It's very much not a stupid question-one can't take things for granted.

    I do not believe that was not the question asked (e.g., "is the main outside or are there more than one breaker boxes"), from what was written.

    Perhaps that was the intent. If so, statement retracted.

    What counts is to open the breaker upstream from where you are working. Regardless of where that breaker is located or how many breaker boxes exist. Then verify the circuit is dead before starting work.
     

    F350-6

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    What counts is to open the breaker upstream from where you are working. Regardless of where that breaker is located or how many breaker boxes exist. Then verify the circuit is dead before starting work.

    No, that's not actually what you said. You said

    First, only need to kill the breaker that goes to the a/c rather than the main breaker that cuts power to everything in the house.

    If the box (main panel or disconnect box) still has power going to it, then it's possible to shock yourself or worse by changing out a breaker. If the breaker is in the main panel, then the main breaker is what takes care of that. If it's in the disconnect box, then the breaker in the main panel will suffice.

    Just because the breaker has no power coming out of it, does not mean you cannot get shocked, or worse changing out a breaker.
     

    oldag

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    No, that's not actually what you said. You said



    If the box (main panel or disconnect box) still has power going to it, then it's possible to shock yourself or worse by changing out a breaker. If the breaker is in the main panel, then the main breaker is what takes care of that. If it's in the disconnect box, then the breaker in the main panel will suffice.

    Just because the breaker has no power coming out of it, does not mean you cannot get shocked, or worse changing out a breaker.

    We are beating a dead horse here.

    Let's get real specific one last time.

    If the bad breaker was the breaker located in the external box next to the a/c compressor (which was my assumption originally based on what was posted):

    Open the breaker in the main panel that provides power to the a/c circuit. This will cut power to the external box next to the a/c compressor. Thus de-energizing the bad breaker in the external box next to the a/c compressor.

    Before going further or touching anything after removing the panel:
    Test your voltmeter on a live circuit (e.g, a 110 V outlet not on the same circuit as the a/c) to make sure it works.
    Then check the wires to the circuit breaker to make sure no voltage present.
    Go back to the live circuit and verity your voltmeter is still working.

    Then proceed with removing and replacing the old breaker.

    Verifying a circuit is dead will reveal if the circuit has been properly isolated, regardless of all else.


    Bottom line - in your first post you neglected to tell the OP to verify that the circuit was dead after opening the breaker. And THAT is what can get someone hurt. Since then you have just been parsing words trying to find some way to show your superior knowledge and distract from your original screwup.
     
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