AC outdoor unit shut down..

[Eieio]

Waiting for my sub to come check on it..

Indoor unit is running, out door compress will not run..

I've Checked:

Condensate pump

No water in the drain pan so the auto shut off did not kick in

Fuses in the disconnects

Air filters are clean

No ice on the line sets

Power to both the indoor and out door units..


---------------

Its 105 degress outside

[WarnerConstInc.]

probably the capacitor.

[Eieio]

probably the capacitor.


That's what I am thinking, every thing else check out. Some of the new units have safety lock outs could be one of those..

It kicks in when I pull the disconnect out and reinsert it for 2 seconds and stops, so I am also thinking it could also be a safety mechanism

[Scott_W]

I would try jumping the relay on the ac unit, or the contacts on the thermostat.

One common problem for ac units is spider webs in the relays.

http://www.ehow.co.uk/way_5905433_ac-contactor-troubleshooting.html
http://home.howstuffworks.com/home-thermostat3.htm
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090916231119AAuQ1RN

scott

[Eieio]

Did not think about the T Stat since its calling the indoor unit.

Let me try that..

[OGStilts]

Do you clean your condensor every spring? I blew out a capacitor last year because I didn't have the unit cleaned.

[Scott_W]

Something off another site about checking the contactor (relay).

Quote
1. Remove the access panel outside, locate the contactor, with your screwdriver on the plastic part in the middle, push the contactor in to see if the compressor runs.
2. look in the access panel for burned off wires, turn the power off, pop the junction box cover off the compressor, look for burned wires again.
3. Disconnect all three wires from the compressor, use an ohmmeter from each of the three terminals to ground. Record the reading on each one; two of the readings added together should equal the third reading. If this won't add up the compressor is shorted out and needs to be replaced.
4. The unit is past its economic life (12years) and should be replaced, indoor and out.
5. In my experience, about 8 out of 10 a/c repairs are simply a burned off wire. I hope you find one burned off and can reconnect it for another 5 years of running.

[Eieio]

Ok problem solved.

Outdoor unit is rated for 30 amps, it's drawing 32.5, its hot as hell outside so the outdoor unit is working really hard.

By passed the outdoor disconnect and changed the breaker from a 30 amp to a 40 amp for now..

After the summer heat dies down I will switch it back..

[Scott_W]

What size wire is feeding it? You may start a fire! Then you'll have lots of heat!

scott

[Eieio]

What size wire is feeding it? You may start a fire! Then you'll have lots of heat!

scott

10- wire, wiring is ok the breaker would trip before anything serious happened.

[Scott_W]

12 guage is NOT ok for a 40 amp breaker! Check your cap, from what is happening I would say like the rest it is most likely bad. It helps with the start up current of the compressor.

12 guage is only 20amps.

scott

[Eieio]

Yep I was editing the post as you were typing. We checked the cap it was fine..

[Scott_W]

Yep I was editing the post as you were typing. We checked the cap it was fine..

Good... you were scaring me!:grin:

Make sure the unit is clean outside. You can was out all the fins on the unit. If they are plugged up with dirt etc it will make the unit run hard.

Also, depending on how far the unit is from the panel, you may be drawing more currrent due to the voltage drop over the distance.

If it is REALLY hot there, maybe the main service is loaded causing a lower than normal voltage. This will increase the current. Measure the voltage at the panel, and at the unit under load.

scott

[Eieio]

The unit is 15 feet max from the panel, probably no drop at all at that length.

The unit is only rated to pull 25-28 amps I think.. We have been seeing a lot of units pulling upwards of 30 amps because of the heat and how hard they are working..

Which is a tricky situation because most of the units are only wired for 30 amps, hell most of them use 12 wire and a 30amp breaker..

MCA on them typically is 20-25 amps

[Eieio]

Good... you were scaring me!:grin:

Make sure the unit is clean outside. You can was out all the fins on the unit. If they are plugged up with dirt etc it will make the unit run hard.

Also, depending on how far the unit is from the panel, you may be drawing more currrent due to the voltage drop over the distance.

If it is REALLY hot there, maybe the main service is loaded causing a lower than normal voltage. This will increase the current. Measure the voltage at the panel, and at the unit under load.

scott

Yep AC guy said the same thing. Usually the ac runs aren't too bad, most of the units are in the basement close to the panel and the outdoor unit is right on the other side of the exterior wall.

[WarnerConstInc.]

Great, now my AC is not keeping up, although it is almost 100 degrees outside but, I have it set at 73 and it can't get it below 77.

Damn, damn, damn.

[Eieio]

15-20 degrees difference is standard. That sucks

[WarnerConstInc.]

15-20 degrees difference is standard. That sucks

It's your fault, I am going to need an address to forward the bill to.:laugh3:

[Eieio]

It's your fault, I am going to need an address to forward the bill to.:laugh3:

my wife sounded like some one had died when she called to let me know

[WarnerConstInc.]

my wife sounded like some one had died when she called to let me know

I can't deal with the heat, thank goodness my neighbor is a HVAC and plumbing outfit, I will just go drag him over here tomorrow if it doesn't get better.

He owes me anyways, I have thrown about 15k worth of work to them in the last couple months.:smash: