AboutHoward Livingston Expertise Can answer questions on electrical control circuits, power supply,airflow & distribution, electrical components,refrigerant problems,gas, electric & propane furnaces.No boiler or refrigerator or oil fired furnaces experience.Just HVAC questions please.
Experience 35 years experience in residential & light commercial repair & installation.
Question Hi. I have a Bryant split AC system installed in 1997 (Model # 561CJ030-C). It tripped the circuit breaker and I smelled burning plastic. I opened up the system and found that the compressor plug was partially melted (source of the smell) and that one of the prongs coming out of the compressor was burned off completely (came away with the plug). There is no freon leak and no oil leak. My proposed plan is to clean and solder back the prong that fell off and replace the compressor plug. I found a replacement plug online. I can reuse the prong that came off, but I would prefer to get a new one also if possible. I just need this to get me through this summer. I plan on eventually replacing the whole AC unit (inside and outside coils), but it's not in my budget right now. My heating system (gas) works great independent of this. First question, is what I'm proposing possible, feasible and worthwhile? If it doesn't work, I figure it will just trip the circuit breaker again. Second question, is there a major bad outcome I'm not anticipating? My last question is do you know if it is possible to buy just the prong? Thank you for your assistance with this.
Answer Hope thats all it wasn the burned terminal. Is there ANY stub left on the compressor terminal?? If so, there is a small tube with a small set screw with it that is available & will clamp on the stub. If no stub is available, the compressor is hopeless.Solder won't work.
