Blowing transformer in air handler

[2sac]

Get some fuses and get your post count up

[micsand]

Is it blowing on the primary or secondary side?

Blowing the primary.

[acguytx]

use a resettable in line fuse until you find the issue and make sure you check anything and everything related to the low volt system, sounds like a bare 24 v wire that is rubbing on metal or another bare wire next to it that goes common..Ive found many outside in the condenser cabinet especially on heat pumps where the wires have been tied to copper pipes eventually rubbing through.. keep looking and you should find it , id say look at running new aire from stat to AH as its happening in heat and cool or its in the Tstat itself..

[socotech]

You have a direct short. Ohm out all wires and isolate.

[jledford382]

Yep sounds like a direct short as already stated. I had the same problem a few months back. I put a Lil' Popper in and blew probably 12 fuses before I found it. It was an older house with terrible wiring. When I finally found the problem, someone had spliced wires about 15 feet from the panel and just taped it up with electrical tape. I assume they didn't have enough wire to finish the run, but that didn't make me any less upset. The house could've very easily burnt to the ground.

[lash61101]

I had this issue, in ny a rat chewed on the tstat wire and shorted every time. Just need to ohm wires.

[micsand]

Thanks everyone for the suggestion. Ohmed out all the wires and couldn't find a short. Going to run new wire to the thermostat. Had tried a new thermostat, thought that may have been the problem, but it didn't solve it.

[ryan1088]

I like in situations like this to start wiggling wires while the power is off. Especially where it penetrates thru walls and the unit cabinet.

[SgtBone]

did you disconnect the t stat wires and check for shorts? I'd ohm out some the components you haven't changed i.e coils

[micsand]

did you disconnect the t stat wires and check for shorts? I'd ohm out some the components you haven't changed i.e coils

Very last thing I checked was the t-wire. Isolated it from the system. Nothing. Replaced thermostat. changed the control box with one rebuilt with all new components (I work in a apartment community so I have the spares ready to swap-out). Got to be the wire. It's the only thing that hasn't been changed. I have another apartment's air handler doing the same thing. Fortunately, it's vacant and I suspect whatever is causing this issue is going to be the same problem.

[beenthere]

Hope your not using doorbell transformers.

[timjimbob]

Think this out. Older systems do not usually have a "common" wire run to the stat. Short the wires, what do you have?

CU wire short, blows only on cool call.

Did poster say primary is blown, check 208/230 volt tap is correct. Is "common" conductor in stat cable run?

[54regcab]

Is it blowing on the primary or secondary side?

Transformers ALWAYS blow the primary. The wires are fine and more turns. The secondary has fewer turns of thick wire and never blows.

[54regcab]

Had one where the tstat wire was ran across a roof w/o conduit. The sun dryrotted the insulation and it shorted when it rained.

[timjimbob]

It is possible that "R" is grounding to a water pipe, but transformer winding has to be connected to ground on "C" side.

[SgtBone]

Ohm out all your coils inside and out, if one has low resistance that may be it. Low resistance through a coil is basically a short since there is little to no load

[welling service]

Is this a heat pump? I have had contactor 24 v coils in the heat pump or condenser do this. They are just beginning to go to ground and are very erratic. Some of them would run for a while before blowing the fuse.

[micsand]

Is this a heat pump? I have had contactor 24 v coils in the heat pump or condenser do this. They are just beginning to go to ground and are very erratic. Some of them would run for a while before blowing the fuse.

Turns out that this was the problem, along with a lot of other spaghetti wiring that the previous maintenance tech had done. Had the thermostat wired for a heat pump. Had to call out the original contractors to come out and look at it. Thanks every one for your help. I am new to the game and learning. BTW, it turns out the the blower motor was wired to run 240v for both cooling and heating, he fixed that as well. You guys rock. Have a blessed thanksgiving...

[welling service]

miscand the blower uses 240VAC in both modes. The difference is motor speeds. It is lower in heating mode.