Rather than try to explain myself, here's a good summary of LRA, RLA and a couple other abbreviations from Emerson. I think you're on the right track to switch that AFCI breaker out for a standard breaker to test it. If it were me, I'd switch it out anyway and leave it that way, but don't take that as an official recommendation. That's just me. ?
- Maximum Operating Current (MOC) - Current which serves as a reference in determining the performance of the relay contacts. Used by European Customers. MOC is measured at the top right hand corner of the operating envelope to show the amperage at the highest discharge and suction pressures.
- Rated Load Amps (RLA) - Reference current used in contactor and wire selection for US Customers. RLA is calculated from the Maximum Continuous Current (MCC) and serves as a running current value for the compressor. UL uses an RLA value 64% of the MCC (MCC 156% of RLA rating) while Emerson Copeland uses a more conservative RLA value which is 71% of the MCC (MCC 140% of RLA rating) for contactor selection.
- Maximum Continuous Current (MCC) - Current measured just prior to protector trip.
- Locked Rotor Amps (LRA) - Current drawn by the compressor if the rotor is locked and can't move while electric power is applied.