What would make the circuit breaker "trip" on a heat pump?

It's not the Christmas tree or the circuit breaker, it's your furnace. The circuit breaker is actually doing it's job by tripping and cutting the power before something worse happens. The furnace is drawing too much power (something is broken/working too hard) and in turn, overheats and trips the breaker. If you dont know anything about furnaces definitely call a HVAC tech to come out and see what's causing the breaker to trip. If you know someone who is handy and can open it up and check out the bearings, blower, compressor, etc. maybe you can fond out what's wrong that way.

Heat Pump Circuit Breaker

I'd put my bet on the christmas tree lights, they are thin Extension cords basically that are very inefficient ways to conduct electricity. You plugging your christmas tree light into a circuit with the heat pump. Just take out the christmas tree lights from that wall PLUG, I also don't recommend Extension cords with christmas lights. Christmas lights are lightweight extent ion cords that run a long time. They almost need a dedicated wall plug and breaker. At the least make sure they are in a wall plug with out blowing out things, Christmas lights are dangerous. If you use an Extension cord for running tools you are there if there are problems. Not so with christmas light, feel the wires sometimes. Best thing you can do is get another breaker if you can figure out how to split up the amps. But heat pumps are way too much. I've answered another question how to add breakers, but personally I'd rather you bought a book, or went on line. It is very easy, but also can be very deadly.

Also many people die in christmas tree fires every year. Biggest reason, is not enough amperage for the line, and the lines heat up to easily, turn them off at night.

The circuit breaker is blowing due to heavy amp draw, more then likely on a call for heat On a call for heat the compressor is probably flooded with refrigerant making it difficult to start up properly causing the heavy amp draw, So why is your compressor flooded with refrigerant? On the down time when the system is waiting for a call to heat the refrigerant looks for the coldest area of the system ... the unit outside your where the compressor is located. So some systems have a heating coil that warms the compressor making the refrigerant run from the compressor so the compressor is not flooded on a call for heat. So best bet ... call a HVAC company like ours if you are the Chicago land area and have the system serviced before it does any further damage, Best of luck in advance !!

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Could be a lot of things, but first I would check all connections. If you got a spark from the wire it might be that it has not been tightened securely. Or, it could be that the wire on the other end where it connects to the unit has not been tightened. If the thermostat was mis-wired, what's to say something else is mis-wired? If the loose connection does not solve the problem, I would get an electrician to have a look. This could be dangerous. It could cause a fire, and is not worth the risk.

Hi Superwoman22,

I'm an Industrial Machine Tech, but not an HVAC (heating, ventilation & air conditioning) tech, so I can only tell you what I'd do before looking for professional help.

I would try swapping the breakers (as long as they are the same) to see if the problem followed the breaker, or acted the same as before. My next step would be to suspect the fan motor bearings or brushes.

Please, please, please don't try to save a buck or three by trying any of this unless you are knowledgeable and qualified to do this type of troubleshooting.

If it's cold,set your unit on emergency heat.See if that will trip the breaker.Doubt it will.The compressor and such is not needed when emer heat is used.

Way too many things to check for a cause.Call for repairs Monday.

Could be breaker getting weak

Could be unit is pulling too many amps-compressor going bad, maybe needs a hard start kit

You need to get someone with a amp meter to diagnose it

While waiting for the heat and air tech to come to your house and repair the problem, you can turn your thermostat on emergency heat to obtain a partial amount of heat from the air handler.

How old is your unit? How often do you have your heat pump unit tune-up. Maybe your evaporator coil is dirty, maybe your blower motor too old pull too much current. Maybe your condenser motor is too old, over work. Maybe compressor itself over heat due to not enough freeze-on, antifreeze leaking. Maybe thermostat stuck close... maybe relay stuck close... maybe your fuse has more amperage than it requirement that why fuse is not up then cause your breaker to flip...