Air Conditioning - Blowing fuses

I have a Frigidare central air cond, 2 years old. I noticed the house was just not cooling off. Everything sounded and looked normal inside, so I went outside and sure enough the unit was not running.

Both of the 30a time delays in the outside box were blown. I replaced them (8 bucks), I turned everything on, it tripped the breaker, I reset that and then it blew the time delay's again. What should I do next? thanks

Hi:

With the power shut off look inside the outdor unit for anything obvious; examples- wires bured, capacitor leaking oil, etc. If that's ok, take the cover off of the compressor terminal box and look inside there. If that's ok, take the wires off of the compressor terminals but make a sketch of which wire went where. Tape off the ends of the wires, replace the fuses and turn the unit on and see what happens. If it still blows fuses, remove the wires for the fan motor, again making a location sketch, tape those wires off and try it again. Usually, when a unit immediately blows fuses one of the motors is burned out.

thanks big john. I ended up calling my HVAC guy, and he sent out a guy who just got out of school in May. The newbie messed around for 2 hours, and then got my guy on the phone. He had him do a bunch of things, until there was a huge arc, and he blew my new fuses. The head guy then came out, and checked things out. He put on a hard start, and charged me $160, $15 for new fuses. Then I get home after work and noticed that the fan was going backwards - my guy is on his way back out right now on his way home.

Why did I all of sudden need to have a hard start attached to my practically new AC unit?

Could be the compressor was just tight but I'm surprised about the blowing of time delay fuses unless maybe they're undersized. Also, it could be that the fan motor and/or capacitor was defective all along. I'm just surprised that it would immediately blow the fuses unless maybe I have misunderstood your description of events. I wonder what the huge arc was about? Keep us posted.

Well, the newbie had switched the wires on the fan, but it is worse than that. I was told I need a new compressor now. It is under warranty, but I have to pay the labor (no prob, I understand). What they supposedly found was that the wires to the compressor were corroded back about 2 inches from the ends. He is not sure why, he said that caused everything to get hot inside and the thermal switch probably went out. He said he wished he would have figured that out sooner, and I wouldn't have needed the Hard Start. I guess I am paying for a little bit of On the Job Training for the newbie. ;)

Let's take a time out and talk. The internal protector normally resets when the compressor cools down. Sometimes I'll hose the compressor down with water to cool it off [power off of course]. When the compressor is cooled down the motor windings can be tested/evaluated. If only the wiring terminals on the ends of the wires are corroded, you can buy a compressor wire lead kit to replace the existing lead wires. If the terminals on the compressor itself are corroded to the point where the push on terminals on the ends of the wires won't fit properly, you can get a compressor wire lead repair kit the has ends that slip onto the studs on the compressor terminals and are secured in place with an allen screw. These items should be mandatory stock on a service truck. All the parts houses sell them. Call the head guy and tell him you want him to come out and check the compressor when it has cooled off before you will accept the newbie diagnosis or call someone else for a second opinion.

Cool. Thanks, alot John. I did what you said, and my guy came out checked everything over. Called me back a few hours later and said, Frigidare actually stepped up and gave me a WHOLE new unit. Not just the compressor, but a whole new AC Unit in a box. They installed the new AC unit earlier, everything works great, and they didn't charge me another cent??? What gives? :D Happy but confused! Thanks again...

Happy Ending! I must say that I'm impressed that the manufacturer replaced the entire outdoor section 2 years into the warranty; new one on me.

Frigidare has been doing that a lot these days as they sold units with defects. Glad your happy!