Heat pump wiring help

[jacobg]

I think I’m doing this correctly but flipping the breaker causes main panel 200A service disconnect to trip, indicating a short or I’m overloading the panel (I’m not)

I had electricians run 50ft of 6 AWG wire from main panel and they installed a 50A breaker. Heat pump hadn’t arrived yet which is why it’s not wired.

Plumber got the plumbing working but now have to wait a week or two for electricians to come back and wire the heat pump. I thought maybe I could do this myself.

They brought four wires from main panel, two blacks, a white and a green. I installed a 60A non fusible disconnect and connected the two black wires. I connected green to the disconnect ground. I ran a whip from heat pump with 6 AWG red and black to disconnect and 8 AWG green. Connected red and black to HP L1 and L2 and green to ground. Connected other end to service disconnect.
I’m thinking I did all I could and should wait for them to come back, but just wanted to throw this out in case someone spots something easy I can try.

thoughts?

 

[JamesW]

they installed a 50A breaker

That doesn't look like a new breaker.

If it's tripping right away, it's a short.

Overloads are a thermal trip caused by heat. That takes time.

Short circuit trips are magnetic and happen very fast.

You can check for short circuits, but you have to know exactly what you're doing or it can be very hazardous.

 

[JamesW]

What is the circuit breaker part number?

 

[jacobg]

It’s tripping immediately. I tested continuity on the two black wires at the service disconnect and no tones with breaker off.

The electricians said they had to drive 40 minutes away to find that breaker but I’m with you, it looks completely old and busted even though they just installed it last week.

Part No is DPX-075

Cant read the X.

 

[JamesW]

I don't think that the disconnect is wired correctly.

Double check the wiring and the instructions.

 

[JamesW]

I installed a 60A non fusible disconnect and connected the two black wires.

What is the part number for the disconnect?

Why did they run a neutral?

 

[JamesW]

The way the you have the disconnect wired is creating the short when the pullout is in.

 

[JamesW]

The wires from the house are the "Line" wires and they go to the Line terminals.

 

[jacobg]

Doh that would do it haha - I’ll try it again tomorrow.

 

[JamesW]

Is the 50 amp breaker tripping when the 200 amp breaker is tripping?

If not, I would be concerned if it's working correctly.

Maybe it's just a little bit slower than the 200 amp breaker, but with how it looks old, you might want to replace it.

I think that the breaker is the below if the two single breakers are 20 amps each.

Square D Homeline 2-20 Amp Single-Pole 1-50 Amp 2-Pole Quad Tandem Circuit Breaker HOMT2020250CP - The Home Depot

The Square D by Schneider Electric Homeline Quad-Pole Tandem Circuit Breaker consists of (2) single-pole, 20 Amp and (1) double-pole, 50 Amp breakers. Requiring only 2 pole spaces, it is used for overload

www.homedepot.com

The Square D by Schneider Electric Homeline Quad-Pole Tandem Circuit Breaker consists of (2) single-pole, 20 Amp and (1) double-pole, 50 Amp breakers. Requiring only 2 pole spaces, it is used for overload and short-circuit protection of your electrical system.

 

[JamesW]

Maybe it's this one if the outer breakers are 15 amp.

Square D Homeline (2) 15 Amp Single-Pole (1) 50 Amp 2-Pole Quad Tandem Circuit Breaker HOMT1515250CP - The Home Depot

The Square D by Schneider Electric Homeline Quad-Pole Tandem Circuit Breaker consists of (2) single-pole, 15 Amp and (1) double-pole, 50 Amp breakers. Requiring only 2-pole spaces, it is used for overload

www.homedepot.com

 

[jacobg]

The 50 was not tripping at the same time as the 200. I found one of these 50/20 at a Home Depot an hour away and bought it for in store pickup. I’ll have the option for a new one tomorrow if wiring correctly doesn’t work.

 

[JamesW]

Are the two single pole breakers 15 amp or 20 amp?

It looks like your panel is old and overcrowded.

Probably time to consider replacing the whole panel.

 

[jacobg]

The two singles are 20. It is old and overcrowded but the solar PV company I’m going with said it doesn’t need to be upgraded

 

[JamesW]

In my opinion, it's time for an upgrade, but it's not "necessary".

You're already trying to fit more circuits in the panel than it was designed for.

 

[jacobg]

@JamesW thanks for your eagle eyes spotting my disconnect mistake. Works like a champ now!

 

[JamesW]

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