Viking Electrical Short / Overcurrent

Ice maker trips the circuit breaker when it starts

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Safety Warning

This repair may involve working with high voltage components or water connections. Always unplug the appliance before removing any panels.

If you are not confident in your ability to perform this repair safely, we strongly recommend contacting a professional technician.

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Possible Causes

Shorted compressor, Shorted wiring harness, Faulty drain or circulation pump, Water intrusion into electrical components

How to Fix / Troubleshooting

Safety first: Do not repeatedly reset a tripping breaker. Unplug the unit and leave the breaker off until the fault is found. Risk of fire or shock exists.

  • Step 1 – Visual inspection: Remove access panels and look for burnt wires, melted insulation, or signs of arcing.
  • Step 2 – Isolate components: With power disconnected, unplug major loads (compressor, pumps, fan) from the control board. Restore power briefly; if the breaker holds, reconnect components one at a time to identify the culprit.
  • Step 3 – Test suspect component: Measure resistance to ground from each motor terminal. Any reading near 0 Ω to ground indicates a shorted component that must be replaced.

Due to the risk involved, many homeowners should have a qualified technician perform these tests and repairs.

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Repair Difficulty

Professional Required 5/5

Required Part

Compressor
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