Air Conditioning - buzzing then nothing
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edsjr
06-22-09, 06:42 AM
This morning I turned the A/C on, heard a buzzing from the outside unit. Went out, fan wasnt turning. Turned off unit immediately.
Did some searching on the net, determined either fan or capacitor is bad. Spun the blade with a stick, seems to turn free so I am figuring the capacitor is the culprit. I have read to disconnect power then cross over the terminals with a screwdriver to discharge power. Will I know for sure the power is discharged?
Turned power off to A/C unit at breaker box, turned thermostat back to cool now nothing. Furnace fan will not kick on, but will if I turn it from "Auto" to "On".
Have I messed something else up or is this normal?
Guess I will work half day today and the other half figuring out what is wrong with this thing.
Did some searching on the net, determined either fan or capacitor is bad. Spun the blade with a stick, seems to turn free so I am figuring the capacitor is the culprit. I have read to disconnect power then cross over the terminals with a screwdriver to discharge power. Will I know for sure the power is discharged?
Turned power off to A/C unit at breaker box, turned thermostat back to cool now nothing. Furnace fan will not kick on, but will if I turn it from "Auto" to "On".
Have I messed something else up or is this normal?
Guess I will work half day today and the other half figuring out what is wrong with this thing.
daddyjohn
06-22-09, 07:07 AM
Turned the power off- did you turn it back on? Any chance the buzzing came from the contactor in the outdoor unit? How are the contact points? burned?
edsjr
06-22-09, 07:50 AM
I waited a while, turned the power back on to the A/C unit then switched the thermostat to cool. The furnace kicked on and the buzzing started again outside. Must be some kind of a delay or something. Turned it back off immediately and will figure out what is wrong this afternoon.
daddyjohn
06-22-09, 08:08 AM
Check the contactor.
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edsjr
06-22-09, 08:14 AM
contactor?
is that different than the capacitor?
is that different than the capacitor?
daddyjohn
06-22-09, 08:20 AM
Yes
In the control panel look for a big relay, that's the contactor. Carefully look at the contact points to see if they are burned, marginal looking, overheated, etc. Don't ty cleaning them, just replace the contactor, they're cheap enough. Scroll down a few posts to where you'll see I discussed contactors with another guy. He included pics of his units control panel.
In the control panel look for a big relay, that's the contactor. Carefully look at the contact points to see if they are burned, marginal looking, overheated, etc. Don't ty cleaning them, just replace the contactor, they're cheap enough. Scroll down a few posts to where you'll see I discussed contactors with another guy. He included pics of his units control panel.
edsjr
06-22-09, 08:38 AM
I will give that a try in a couple hours, gonna knock of work early to take a look at it.
edsjr
06-22-09, 04:26 PM
took the capacitor out, had it tested. it tested ok but a replacement was only 8 bucks and the guy said it could still be bad.
put it, still didnt work
took the fan motor out, had it tested. startup wire has nothing...so the motor is bad. will have another one in a few days...150 bucks
put it, still didnt work
took the fan motor out, had it tested. startup wire has nothing...so the motor is bad. will have another one in a few days...150 bucks