A/C won't start, think I know but need advice

[littlebit]

DH sent DS to rake leaves around the AC unit. FYI cable is also there. Cable went down first with DH griping about sorry cable co. I told DH it might be because you geniuses were raking around where the TV cables are. Reluctantly DH checks it out and confirms that I'm correct and fixes. DH leaves to replace brand new weedeater that cord broke on. I notice that it is "getting hot in here." I figure out that AC is not working. After inspection of outside unit, I'm thinking that its the thin wire that goes from the AC unit to a hole in the side of the house that is the problem. I'm thinking that DH screwing around the the attic furnace and flipping breakers and switches ain't the problem even though I know that the AC breaker in the box is over sized and needs to be replaced. (actually could this be the problem?)

I think that I should take the side panel off the side of the AC unit and see if that wire is connected properly but I'm afraid of shock and only slightly afraid of wasting my time. And what if it is disconnected not at the AC unit but at the other end? Not sure where the other end is? Any ideas?

Please advise on my "thinking." Thanks!!!!!!!!!

[Ed Imeduc]

I'm thinking that its the thin wire that goes from the AC unit to a hole in the side of the house that is the problem

Not real sure what you have there. A meter read out to see if you have 220V to the unit or that little wire the 24V is hot or not to the outdoor unit . Id start and check the small tstat wire to the unit. See if its cut.

ED ;)

[hiltontech]

It appears that your tstat wires got cut or lose, take the side panel of an inspect it, I bet it has something to do with your tstat wiring and I'm not a betting man..

HiltonTech

[littlebit]

The wire is not hot. I cut off the power to the AC via the circut breaker and then I pulled out what I thought to be some kind of AC breaker that was attached to the side of the house by the AC unit. Took the side panel off and the wires appear to be intact. I have a choice now of buying a meter (not sure what kind), eating, or calling an AC guy. On the bright side, maybe this living in a sauna for a couple of day will help me burn a few extra punds off.

You guys are the bomb but please remember that you are talking to a female that is ignorant in these kind of things. Talk me like you would a child and that might help.

Now for a bit o' history...

The AC worked fine until today. Infact, the AC was colder than the thermostat. Now the home inspector told me, before we bought the house, that the breaker box amp was LARGER than was needed for the AC. This house is 9 yrs. old and I am assuming that the AC is the original. Two things might have happened to cause our problem. 1.) My son was raking around the AC unit. After inspection, I see only one wire that might have been affected by careless raking. The others seem alot thicker and solid. 2.) We changed our furnace filter today. Furnace is in the attic. After reading the instructions, I cut the thermostat off, cut the furnace breaker off, and then flipped a switch that was on the furnace itself. I'm not exactly certain when the AC stopped working but do know that it was after these events took place.

Any other ideas?

[littlebit]

I can hear the thermostat click but nothing happens. Right now, all power to the unit is off. I've flipped the breaker and pulled the fuse on the outside of the unit. The metal on the fuse is gooey, is this correct? I fondled it out of curiosity. Will this kill it? Please help me? The heat is causing me to not think very clearly.

[tinner73]

I can hear the thermostat click but nothing happens. Right now, all power to the unit is off. I've flipped the breaker and pulled the fuse on the outside of the unit. The metal on the fuse is gooey, is this correct? I fondled it out of curiosity. Will this kill it? Please help me? The heat is causing me to not think very clearly.


check fuse (3amp) at air handler/furnace circuit board. might be blown. turn off power BEFORE you go in the a/h.

[littlebit]

is this the main breaker box or is it something separate from that? I've flipped them on of and on. Could it possible that my DH blew a fuse when he changed the air filter? Again the sequence of events were: turn off thermostat, turn off breaker in main fuse box ( the box with all the sitches for all the rooms and appliances in the house), turn off sitch to furnace. the instructions said to turn off main power before chaning filter and I assumed that it meant to hit the main breaker.

[littlebit]

and how do you check? There is a breaker and a fuse in a box on the outside of the house that you can pull.

[Ed Imeduc]

You need a meter to ohm out the fuse and see if they are good. I think you would be better off to call a tech. Go over the whole set up with him and he can show you what is what on all the electric.

ED ;)