Heat pump breakers

[mivie]

A 3100 sq foot home. 200 amp box with 2 100 amp breakers for the heat pump. Is this normal?

[James E. Braun, CMI]

No, I would get your amp ratings off the unit or get the model number and pull up the specs. The biggest breakers I have seen on a residential HVAC unit was 60 amps and that is for electric heating elements

[mivie]

I told him the same thing. This is not from an inspection it is a friend that lives in another town. He called and said the breaker was hot. Wanted to know if it needed replaced.

[James E. Braun, CMI]

If the breaker is hot than there is something drawing way too much current such as an electrical short.

[mivie]

He told me he has been running the heat strips for over a week.

[James E. Braun, CMI]

I have never seen heat strips on a residential furnace pull that much current. A lose connection somewhere could cause excessive amp draw, or a maybe even a field grounding out in a motor. Just pull the amp load on each wire until you find it.

[mivie]

Thanks James. I will pass this information along.