Why must an A/C compressor wait a few minutes after shut-off before it can start again?
In: Engineering
A motor has inrush current, to go from 0 RPM to its rated speed. This can be 3-5x what the motor is actually supposed to draw. If it has to push against a significant load, that current will be even higher and may trip breakers.
Letting the system sit for a little bit will allow the pressures to equalize, reducing the amount of work the motor has to do to start.
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