Garbage Disposal Problems

[Rickus007]

Ok, I haven't seen this situation out there, so here it goes:
My disposal turns on, runs perfectly fine for about 5 seconds, then shuts down. After a few minutes I can hit the reset button to get it going again but it's still only goes for 5 seconds and then shuts down again. Any ideas?

[volts]

Rickus: Sounds like a "nervous" circuit breaker. If you can temporarily bridge the CB contacts and see if unit runs normally without tripping the panel breaker, chances are a change of the CB will be the fix. Be very careful, kill power when connecting jumper, etc.

[kactuskid]

I don't recommend you follow Volts advice, this is very dangerous to do and could cause a fire or worse. A circuit breaker is a protection device and you should not, under any circumstances bypass this device by placing a jumper across the contacts. If you suspect a bad breaker then buy a new one and replace it to see if that's your problem.

The motor could be at fault or you could have a loose wire connection where the power is connected under the small plate on the bottom of the disposer. Open the breaker before you work on it, never depend on a switch on the wall to protect you either. Check that the wire's are tight under the wirenuts by pulling on them.

You need to be very discreet in what advice you recieve on the net, not all folks who respond will give you sound safe advice.

[volts]

Kactuskid: It is laudable that you promote safety, but what I proposed is what troubleshooting is all about. Electrical work is not for the fainthearted nor the foolhardy. Remember that there remains the panel CB which will limit and protect the line. Obviously a replacement CB in the disposal is the best way to go and would confirm whether or not the motor is defective.

[Hawk]

Perhaps it's still under warranties. Make, model & serial number will help us determine. Symptomatic of the Thermal Overload protection going off.

[kactuskid]

quote:Originally posted by volts

Kactuskid: It is laudable that you promote safety, but what I proposed is what troubleshooting is all about. Electrical work is not for the fainthearted nor the foolhardy. Remember that there remains the panel CB which will limit and protect the line. Obviously a replacement CB in the disposal is the best way to go and would confirm whether or not the motor is defective.

quote:Remember that there remains the panel CB which will limit and protect the line. Obviously a replacement CB in the disposal is the best way to go and would confirm whether or not the motor is defective.

The main panel CB is 60 amps and up. The Garbage disposal "line" would be fryed before this large of a CB drops out. Jumpering out the circuit breaker to troubleshoot where it's working or not is probably the most unsafe way I could think of to troubleshoot the disposer moter. Electrical work can be very dangerous as it is, but giving advice to a homeowner to bypass a safety device to troubleshoot is not only dangerous but very unresponsible. You'd be wise-er to refrain from giving advice altogether than to give this type of advice.

[volts]

kactuskid: The disposal if set up properly is on a 20A CB, as I wire them, not 60A, which is absurd.