Air Conditioning - Weird Carrier Compressor Problem
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spta97
05-04-09, 06:57 AM
Hi all,
I'm hoping you can assist me with an issue that I had this weekend:
My central air stopped working so I decided to do some trouble shooting:
1) I checked power at both the air handler and the compressor - no problem.
2) I figured there might be a loose connection at the compressor so I took the panel off. There are three wires (green, red, and white I think) coming from the air handler unit which I assume is to trigger the compressor to turn on.
3) The green wire was connected to a black wire on the compressor. There was some corrosion so I took it apart and restripped it (when I did this I had the compressor service box jumper out) and as soon as I reconnected the two wires I heard a buzzing. When I plugged the service box jumper back in the compressor kicked on. I figured problem was solved.
4) Once the house got to the right temp, the compressor would not turn on again. I headed back out and as soon as I disconnected the green and black wires it started up :confused:
5) It cooled the house off, but will not turn on again.
I saw another thread and I wonder if this is a capacitor issue? I'm not familiar at all with compressors but this seems to be an electrical issue. In that thread there was mention of a "hard start" - is that what I did by disconnecting the wires?
It was 2 AM when I was messing with this so I do not have the model number but will get it tonight. I'm hoping to avoid an expensive repair bill.
Edit: Some supplemental information, my wife informed me that the compressor turned on the following day in the morning, but when I tried to turn it on by lowering the temp it would not work. The thermostat clicks and flashes "cool" but it did not work the rest of the day and still is not working.
Thanks!
I'm hoping you can assist me with an issue that I had this weekend:
My central air stopped working so I decided to do some trouble shooting:
1) I checked power at both the air handler and the compressor - no problem.
2) I figured there might be a loose connection at the compressor so I took the panel off. There are three wires (green, red, and white I think) coming from the air handler unit which I assume is to trigger the compressor to turn on.
3) The green wire was connected to a black wire on the compressor. There was some corrosion so I took it apart and restripped it (when I did this I had the compressor service box jumper out) and as soon as I reconnected the two wires I heard a buzzing. When I plugged the service box jumper back in the compressor kicked on. I figured problem was solved.
4) Once the house got to the right temp, the compressor would not turn on again. I headed back out and as soon as I disconnected the green and black wires it started up :confused:
5) It cooled the house off, but will not turn on again.
I saw another thread and I wonder if this is a capacitor issue? I'm not familiar at all with compressors but this seems to be an electrical issue. In that thread there was mention of a "hard start" - is that what I did by disconnecting the wires?
It was 2 AM when I was messing with this so I do not have the model number but will get it tonight. I'm hoping to avoid an expensive repair bill.
Edit: Some supplemental information, my wife informed me that the compressor turned on the following day in the morning, but when I tried to turn it on by lowering the temp it would not work. The thermostat clicks and flashes "cool" but it did not work the rest of the day and still is not working.
Thanks!
spta97
05-07-09, 07:53 PM
Now it would seem that the problem is intermittent. The A/C seems to have been working the past few days.
I broke down and signed up for a service contract :( and they are supposed to take a look at it tomorrow. Does this sound like it could be the capacitor?
I broke down and signed up for a service contract :( and they are supposed to take a look at it tomorrow. Does this sound like it could be the capacitor?
Jarredsdad
05-08-09, 04:51 PM
No, sounds more like a compressor going out on a lockout. Model and serial will help "look" inside the unit to see what's there.
Signing up for a service contract was easier than writing these numbers down?
Signing up for a service contract was easier than writing these numbers down?