Does breaker tripping always mean the compressor is faulty?

No. Breaker trips can come from power-path issues, damaged connections, or other electrical faults. The fault path should be checked before the compressor is blamed.

What should I do if I smell something hot or electrical?

Stop using the unit and switch it off. A hot electrical smell is a safety sign and should be checked before further use.

Why is a short external check not enough for trip cases?

Trip cases can look like major failure from the symptom alone. A proper check needs the electrical path and load behavior reviewed in order.

Breaker Trips, Not Compressor Short

Breaker trips can make people fear compressor failure. In this case, the power path outside the unit explained the trips before any major work was needed.

Case Details

LocationToa Payoh, Singapore

BrandLG

Unit age12 yrs

ComplaintThe breaker tripped during cooling and there was a hot smell near the outdoor side. A major replacement was suggested after a short check.

CauseHeat-damaged isolator connection caused intermittent trips and smell

The Assessment

Trip cases need a safety-first check path. We checked the outdoor power switch and wire points before moving to major part failure.

Trip pattern was on-and-off, not a clean instant failure every time
Heat marks were visible at the isolator connection
Smell source matched the damaged connection area
Compressor checks did not support immediate replacement

The Diagnosis

The problem was a damaged connection in the isolator path. A loose connection built heat under load. That heat caused the breaker trips and hot smell. The symptom looked severe, but the fault path was in the power line, not the compressor.

Replace the damaged connection parts in the isolator path, secure the terminals, and retest the unit under load before discussing compressor work.

The Outcome

After the isolator-side fault was corrected and the unit was retested, the trips stopped and cooling returned without a compressor replacement.

Timeline

Initial periodBreaker tripped during cooling

Soon afterHot electrical smell noticed near outdoor side

First adviceCompressor replacement was suggested

Snowflake visitIsolator-side fault path confirmed

After repairNo repeat trips during retest

What This Means for You

Trip and smell patterns need fast checks, but they still need the right fault path.

Breaker trips during use or startup
Hot electrical smell near the outdoor side
Major compressor advice came before external power-path checks

Stop using the unit and ask for the isolation path and connection points to be checked first.