I just purchased a New Sears Kenmore dryer replacing my Old Sears Kenmore dryer. When first running the dryer after about 5 minutes of running time the dryer tripped the 220 volt - 10 amp breaker. I thought it might have been a fluke so reset the breaker and after a few minutes it tripped the breaker again.

I changed the Heat setting from Cotton to Permanent Press thinking the dryer since it is new is too much for the 10 amp breaker. This worked for a couple of times and the dryer started tripping the breaker at this heat setting. You guess it, I then changed the heat setting to delicate and again no problem for a couple of dry cycles.

I then switched to timed drying rather than using the dryest setting thinking that possibly the dryest setting was over amping the circuit breaker. You guessed it again, that worked for a couple of drying cycles and started tripping the circuit breaker again.

I never had a single problem with the old Sears Kenmore dryer but with the New Sears Kenmore dryer I am unable to complete a full drying cycle without the circuit breaker tripping every 5 minutes or so.

Do I need to increase the amps on the circuit breaker to possible 20 amps or might I have a bad 220 volt receptacle. Also what possible dangers do I face increase the amps on the circuit breaker from 10 amps to 20 amps. According to the diagram on the Circuit Breaker Box identifing what each breaker respresents, it indicates that the air conditioning unit is tied to the same circuit breaker even though each time the breaker has tripped the air conditioner and heater was turned off.

Please anyone suggestions would be appreciated and certainly don't want to keep chasing a solution that works only temporarily. I want to be able to use the dryer to its full capability.

Thank you in advance for your responses,

BILL
wabeeth@aol.com

Thats the problem, 220 volt dryers need at least 30 amps.

Also, it needs its own circuit and not shared with the A/C or Heat.

I wouldn't do-it-yourself unless you have an electrical license, you have to respect 220.

Jake

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you cannot install a 30 amp breaker without ensuring that the wiring/load will support that. also breakers tend to trip easier and easier once they trip. I also had a problem with the receptacle for the dryer. it had gotten a bug in it (which died a rather spectacular death) and the carbon residue kept arcing and throwing the breaker.