Fixing an Air Conditioner GFCI Plug That Trips

Repairing a faulty air conditioner GFCI/circuit breaker plug that is tripping due to water inside.

[robertcollett]

All jokes aside…… I’m not going to complain about the long talk about the quick fix because….. it worked. My plug has a 2 prong safety screw that I did not have on hand. So I loosened all other screws and blasted it with a hair dryer and let it just sit over night. Next morning, we had a running GE window air unit. 4 🌟’s tyvm man.

[KevCoLabs]

7:07 On the GE type plug (that you mentioned you could never get working again after you took them apart), the trick is to pull back on the reset button's spring before putting that "reset" slider (that moves the 2 contacts) back in. The default position for those 2 contacts should be closed (connected/making contact) and that spring needs to be pulled back behind the stand-offs so it can push against them to hold the contacts closed.

When a fault is detected, that little solenoid in there pops up, hits a little brass button on the reset slider, releases the reset slider, and disconnects the contacts. Pressing the reset button resets that little brass button and allows the slider to move back to its original position (where the contacts are closed/making contact).

I wish I could describe it better in a comment, but you'll see what I mean once you open it up. I hope it helps somebody.

[dalibran]

Want to give a huge thank you. Cleaned my AC unit with a hose and afterward it wasn't working. Found your video and that fixed my problem. Thanks again!

[bill]

Just wanted to say thank you. I was about to get rid of my air conditioner than I found your video, tried your fix and it worked. Thank you

[cameronmason]

You just saved a 2 year old air conditioner from being cursed to death, the guy who said 15 minutes of boring is not to grateful for people that take the time to show someone who doesn’t know electricity. I am so thankful and cool now God Bless you for making this video.🎉😅😅

[myfireburns]

The 2nd plug you were talking about thats the one I have and was having the same problem. So I took all screws out except 1 and opened it just enough for air to get through I took the blow dryer to it put the screws back in and it worked.

[ChiefArrows]

Very good vid indeed. Just did a deep clean on my sons 240v 30a ac unit and the gfi plug was doing this very thing. Before pulling the (heavy) unit back out, I seen your trouble shooting vid and did what you suggested. We used a hair dryer on warm, and it did the fix. Thank you for the dyi tip. Very helpful indeed. A great day to ya sir.

[Jesusakajd]

I’m so glad I watch your video. I took mine apart and then put it back together and it wasn’t working and I noticed in your video I was missing the spring😂 Thank you sir.❤

[padyakerong_gutom]

Thank God He made you for this reason...thank you so much for your content! You are such a GENIUS! It worked!! God bless you man!

[Sparky-wwre]

On an air conditioner this is an LCDI (Leakage Current Detector Interrupter) and it's purpose is to detect any leakage current between the conductors inside the power, which would occur from a damaged or frayed cord and is was required in the early 2000s for portable air conditioners. A very similar looking plug is an Appliance Leakage Circuit Interrupter required on hair dryers since 1991 and works very much like a GFCI. To sum it up LCDI plugs address fire hazards, while ALCI plugs address shock hazards much like GFCI and AFCI protection required in all new homes.

[LM]

I year later and this worked for me! Thank You! I used the hair dryer where the reset button is and didn't take it apart. Been going all day!

[saabfast]

My sunbeam A/C was tripping when it was completely off, the plug got wet and corroded inside I had a old AC unit that still had a good cord and I was able to swap it out and it worked awesome🤩.
Awesome video thanks to you. My air conditioner is working again.

[TheBibleChurch]

Thanks! Worked for me!!! Took my AC out cleaned it and it would not turn back on then after this video and doing as you did it works perfectly! Must of got moisture in it cleaning it. Who would have known!!! Thanks…

[richardainsworth]

Thank you! I live in Mississippi and it gets kinda hot down here so Thanks a lot! My brother was making fun of me but now I rubbed it in his face LOL!!! Salute!!!

[TheDingpud]

Any idea if I switch my connector to a non-GFCI connector since the wall outlet is GFCI, do I need to keep that capacitor between the two legs?

[jessiej]

Bought a brand new Hisense portable 8k BTU A/C unit 2 weeks ago from Lowes and was never outside however been experiencing extreme humidity lately and just last night the CGFI kept popping every few seconds and turns out the CGFI housing was completely filled up with water so i took it off and put a regular 3 prong end on it and now it works flawlessly

[officialxavieralcaraz]

Thank you man it worked for me after cleaning my grandma window unit … check everything and it was okay then saw your video try and turned right on 🙏🏼

[eddie]

14:43 Thank you so much.😊 I need to dry mine out and I came across your video. It was very helpful I have one question? Can you put a regular three prong plug on the end of these air conditioner chords?😮 I could really use your help here. Where I live it's 120°the second hottest place in the United States.😮😮 Thank you so much.😊😊😊

[nmsidewinder]

I had a portable room AC that the breaker plug kept tripping, then finally stopped working. I just cut it off and replaced it with standard 3 prong 15 amp plug. Problem solved, unit ran for another 5 years until the plastic blower fan broke.

[kevinturner]

You saved me a lot of money and headache. I almost tossed my fairly new AC I’ve been using in my cold room. This was the issue!