My Kenmore washer works fine on the fast speed settings (Heavy Duty and Hang Dry cycles) but trips the breaker after running a few seconds on the slow speed settings (Normal and Gentle cycles). I have connected it to a different circuit and it trips that breaker as well. I have used it for more than 3 years using the Heavy Duty cycle but would like to have use of the gentler cycles. What could be wrong?

Thanks

Thanks for your reply. Sorry I wasn't able to tend to this sooner.

There is a slight dimming and quick recovery of a lamp on initial startup in both slow and fast speeds. There is no repeated dimming. In slow speed it runs about 15 -20 seconds and trips the breaker.

Thanks for your help

If the current through your panel breaker is just exceeding it's rating, it can take some time before it will trip. It's not like it just trips instantly when the current goes over 15 amps if it's a 15 amp breaker.

I would examine the motor wiring connector. Power to the motor low speed run winding during low speed is via the orange wire which is right next to the neutral wire on that connection. Unplug the connector and check for blackening due to overheating from a bad connection. There may be bleedover there causing high current.

You really need an amprobe to find where the excessive current is if it's not obvious at the motor connector. Could be the orange wire is damaged somewhere along the run from timer to motor or even a problem in the timer. The motor normally draws 8-9 amps in high speed and maybe .5 amp or so less in low speed. If you were to check the current into the motor during low speed operation and it's fine, then the problem is elsewhere.

Could also be a bad speed select switch that's trying to power both run windings in the motor at the same time. If you provide a clear hi-res photo of your wiring diagram, I can tell you how to bypass the speed switch. I don't have the exact diagram for your washer. They all have slight differences. Does the back of your speed switch have individual wire terminals or a harness plug? Looks like probably a harness plug. A photo of the back of that switch would also be helpful.

Eric