If your LG air conditioner trips breaker power as soon as it starts, treat it as an electrical fault, not a nuisance reset problem. On most window units, the first part to check is the power cord, since the LCDI circuit protector can trip if the cord is damaged or if a short is detected inside the unit. If the cord checks out, the next likely causes are a shorted condenser fan motor, dual shaft fan motor, or blower motor. A burned smell, seized fan, or motor windings that test shorted with a multimeter usually means the motor needs replacement. Less common, but still possible, are a damaged wire harness with loose or broken connections or a shorted control board with burn marks. Whether your LG window air conditioner trips circuit breaker at the cord or your home panel, unplug the unit before inspecting wiring or components. Enter your LG air conditioner model number on RepairClinic.com to find the exact power cord, fan motor, blower motor, wire harness, or control board that fits your specific unit.
01 - LG Air Conditioner Power Cord
Most window air conditioners have an LCDI circuit protector that will detect a short in the cord or a component in the unit. If the circuit breaker on the cord is damaged or any of the components in the unit are shorted the circuit breaker will trip. The circuit breaker on the cord is usually more sensitive and will trip before the main breaker.
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An air conditioner condenser fan motor is the component that spins both the condenser fan blade in the rear of the unit. If the fan motor is burned out or shorted it may trip the circuit breaker. You can use a multimeter to check if the motor windings are shorted. A shorted motor will usually have a burnt smell and will need to be replaced.
An air conditioner dual shaft fan motor is the component that spins both the condenser fan blade in the rear of the unit and the fan blade that forces the cooled air out the front vent. If the fan motor is burned out or shorted it may trip the circuit breaker. You can use a multimeter to check if the motor windings are shorted. A shorted motor will usually have a burnt smell and will need to be replaced.
If the blower motor windings are shorted out the breaker will likely trip when power is applied to the motor. You can try disconnecting the motor from the unit to see if the breaker will still trip. You can use a multimeter to check if the motor windings are shorted. A shorted motor will usually have a burnt smell and will need to be replaced.
A wire harness sends power and low voltage signals between the electrical components and the control board. If a wire harness becomes damaged, it can short out causing the circuit breaker to trip. Check the appropriate wire harnesses for breaks or loose connections. A damaged wire harness will need to be replaced.
The control board regulates the power supply to all of the components of the air conditioner. If the control board shorts out it can trip the circuit breaker. A shorted control board will usually have burn marks or smell burnt and will need to be replaced.