What could cause thermal overload device to trip on an A/C system?

A thermal overload device is designed to protect the compressor in an air conditioning system by interrupting the electrical circuit when the compressor experiences excessive heat. This overheating can be caused by various factors that affect the compressor's efficiency and operational safety.

Low voltage supply can lead to insufficient power delivery to the compressor. When the compressor operates under low voltage conditions, it may draw more current to compensate for the lack of power, which can result in overheating and cause the thermal overload device to trip.

Excessively high pressure in the system can also result in increased heat generation. When the pressures inside the air conditioning system exceed safe operating limits, the compressor has to work harder to compress the refrigerant, leading to thermal stress and potential overheating.

System overcharging with refrigerant can introduce additional pressure and can cause flooding or liquid refrigerant to enter the compressor. This can impede proper operation and cooling efficiency, resulting in the compressor overheating, which would again trigger the thermal overload device.

Given that each of these situations can independently lead to overheating, it is accurate to state that any of the above could potentially cause the thermal overload device to trip, making the correct answer all-inclusive of these conditions.