If your window AC keeps tripping the breaker it can be that the compressor is going bad and is needing too much amperage to startup.
Or there could be a short in the wiring on the window AC or compressor.
Most likely though when a window AC keeps tripping the breaker it means that the windings in the AC compressor are going bad and the compressor is going bad.
The compressor then requires more amps to startup and run than it normally would when the compressor windings are going bad or are bad.
A window AC turning on and off every few seconds can be caused by faulty capacitor, faulty electric cord, loose connections at the plug or breaker, electrical faults in the AC or even low refrigerant.
The circuit board in the window AC if it has one and is digital may also be faulty causing the window AC to turn off and on every few seconds.
A window air conditioner should cycle on and off every 20 to 30 minutes or so or at least a once or twice per hour depending on the temperature.
If it's really hot out the window AC may not shut off or it may only shut off every hour or so.
A window AC should run between 12 to 16 hours per day although the window AC can run longer if needed.
A window AC that is properly sized should run and then shut off a couple of times an hour although on really hot days the window AC may run longer before cycling on and off to keep the room cool.
It is not bad to leave a window AC on 24/7 as the window AC will be just fine and is designed to be ran 24/7 if need be.
The compressor on the window AC and the fan motor are thermally protected so they would shut off on their own before they got too hot.
It is okay to run a window air conditioner 24/7.
A window air conditioner is designed to be ran 24/7 or as often as you need it too to cool the room or home down.
There's no need to let the window AC rest as the AC compressor and fan motor are thermally protected so that if they did get too hot they would shut off on there own until they cooled down.
In the summer months my window air conditioners stay on 24/7 to keep my home cool although if I'm away from my home longer than a few days then I shut it off.
You can leave an AC unit in the window all year but you should use a window air conditioner cover over the inside and outside of the window AC to prevent cold air from coming into the house and make sure the window AC is sealed around the window also.
Some people prefer to remove the window AC after summer is over but some people prefer to leave the window AC in the window all year which is also okay.
A window AC should run between 12 hours to 16 hours per day although it's okay if you need to run your window AC all day to keep the home or room cool.
Shutting the window AC off completely when you're gone away from home means the house will heat back up and then when you return the window AC will need to work harder to remove that heat.
So it's better to just leave the window AC on but turn the temperature up a bit so that it keeps the house just cool enough so that it does not get too hot.
Outside temperature does affect a window air conditioner because the hotter it is outside the hotter it also gets inside your home which means the air conditioner has to do more work to remove all that extra heat.
On really hot days the window AC will need to work harder and longer to cool your home or room down than it would on a cooler day.
For example if it's only 80 F to 85 F out then the window AC will cool down the house or room faster and not have to work as hard but if the outside temperature is hotter such as between 90 F to 100 F or hotter then the window AC will need to work longer and harder to remove that heat and keep the space cool.
On really hot days you may need more BTU power for the air conditioners to cool the house down.
The window AC will run longer on really hot days than it would on cooler and less hot days.
Window AC units do have thermostats which are either located in the control panel or in the thermostat knob where you turn it to high cool, low cool or medium cool.
Some window AC units have a cold, colder and coldest setting.
The window AC units with control boards have a temperature sensor that is connected to the control board which sends a signal to the control board to tell the window AC when to shut off or turn on depending on the temperature.
You can set the temperature of the digital window AC by using the buttons.
The lower you go with the numbers the cooler the cooler the room will get before shutting off and when you raise the numbers the warmer it will be in the room when the window AC shuts off.
The best setting for a window air conditioner is a temperature of between 60 F to 65 F.
On really hot days it's best to set the window AC thermostat on 60 to keep the house or room more cool as when it's 100 F or hotter it takes more energy to cool the room and remove the heat.
On less hot days a temperature of 65 F to 70 F may be good enough.
I usually keep my window AC on 60 F when at home and then when I'm away for awhile I turn it up to around 70 F so that the window AC keeps the room cool enough to not get too hot when I return and then when I return home I turn the window AC thermostat down to 60 F again.
Window AC units do need maintenance just like Central AC units need maintenance to keep them working properly and cooling properly and to extend the life of the window AC.
You need to maintain the window AC unit by cleaning the filter regularly at least once a month or sooner if it gets dirty sooner.
You also need to at least once a season remove the cover off the back of the window AC and wash the AC out and wash the coils with some soap and water with a brush to clean the AC coils so they can have free flow of the air that needs to pass through them.
A window AC unit can last for 5 years to 10 years and in some cases longer if you maintain it properly.
The average lifespan of a window AC is 10 years although some have lasted as long as 15 to 20 years.
The usage of the window AC also affects how long the window AC will last as well.
The more you use your window AC the less time it will last and the less you use the window AC the longer it will typically last.
If you get 5 years to 10 years out of a Window AC that sees a lot of use to keep you and your home cool then you're doing good.
Keep the window AC filter clean and wash out the Window AC with some soap and water once per year or every few years depending on how dirty it is.
My window AC I take it out of the Window at the end of summer and then take the back off of it and clean any dust and dirt out of it and use a hose and some soap and water and a brush to clean the coils and other dirt and debris out of it before storing it for the winter.
Doing this keeps the dust down and helps extend the life of the AC and also helps the Window AC cool better.
If the coils on the AC are clogged with dust or dirt then it won't be able to suck the heat out of the room properly and disperse the heat to the outside.
So you will notice that the Window AC has to work harder to cool the room down or it may not cool at all if it's really clogged.
With proper cleaning and maintenance of the Window AC you should get a lot of use out of it.
If your Window AC is 10 years old or older you should be prepared to replace it in case it goes out.