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 - have a 10 year old unit that was working fine up to yesterday, when that satisfying sound of the compressor springing to life stopped happening and just the fan turns on outside. Using thermostat turns on outside fan, but no compressor, so controls seem ok. Took cover off case, and proper voltage at all connections to contactor, wiring is intact both low and high voltage - the wire from the capacitor to the contactor is a little toasty on the clip end at the contactor but believed servicable, and the contactor is relatively new (3 yrs). Manually tripping the contactor starts the fan, no compressor. Is there a reset button on these compressors inside the lower part of the case? Only 1 capacitor in wiring box on top side of unit - is that for fan or compressor? Is there a capacitor down on the compressor and could it be causing this if it failed? If so how do you test. So Howard, what's your guess - locked up compressor, freon low or ?? Any homeowner tricks to zero in further?
Thanks in advance.
don
Answer Hi Don, nice to have good info like yours. Need to test the run capacitor for the compressor first.May be a dual for the fan & compressor, maybe not. Then look on the conmpressor for burned wires. If all test OK need to see if it will start when it is cold.Could be a locked rotor but may blow the breaker if so.Could be a stuck rotor from worn bearings & a start capacitor could get it running.Test the caps with an ohm meter set on high. Disconnect wires to test. When terminals are touched the meter will go to high , then drop back to zero. Do these & let me know more if needed.
