A/C wont turn on


  #1  
Old 07-31-06, 02:30 PM
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A/C wont turn on

have an outdoor unit. when i turn it on at the thermostat, the blower comes on inside but the outside unit does nothing. Checked outside, the unit is getting power and the contactor depresses, but the fan/condenser will not turn on.

any suggestions, i am thinking electric component failure.
 
  #2  
Old 07-31-06, 02:52 PM
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Try to get a stick and move fan in the direction it usually spins. See if this jump starts it. Perhaps the bearings are shot and its stuck.
 
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Old 07-31-06, 03:06 PM
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nope

tried turning it with a stick; didnt work. thanks for the suggestion.
 
  #4  
Old 07-31-06, 03:22 PM
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background:

it worked fine all of last summer. had it wrapped in garbage bags over the winter. hasnt worked at all this summer.

living in southern ontario
 
  #5  
Old 07-31-06, 03:43 PM
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Are you sure you have the proper voltage at the line side of the contactor? What about across the contactor?

Could be a bad run capacitor if it is a combination used for the fan and compressor.
 
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Old 07-31-06, 03:53 PM
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thanks, Cov Tiger, ill check the voltages again.

And YES. the capacitor is used for both the compressor and the fan. is there any way I can test to see if it is okay.
 
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Old 07-31-06, 03:57 PM
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i also think the voltages should be fine since the contactor goes in when the tstat is switched on, and pops back out when off. Back i guess i should check anyway
 
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Old 07-31-06, 04:06 PM
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Contactor is being pulled in by the low voltage (24V). You should have 208/230V feeding into the unit contactor and going through the contactor. 90% of the calls we get with your symptoms turn out to be fuse or tripped breaker. Check them first.

You can do a limited check on capacitor with an ohm meter. If you do have proper voltage through the contactor, unless you are unlucky enough to have lost a fan and compressor at same time, it will probably be the capacitor.
 
  #9  
Old 07-31-06, 04:35 PM
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ill do that

i checked the breaker, i dont know if my unit has a fuse
 
  #10  
Old 07-31-06, 04:51 PM
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ive got a multimeter, how cxan i check the capacitor??
 
  #11  
Old 08-01-06, 10:13 AM
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im getting the 24volt signal, but it looks like i am not getting the ~220 across the contactor when its depressed, if this is at all possible.

the run capacitor looks fine, no swelling, no leaking.
 
  #12  
Old 08-01-06, 10:22 AM
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When it was winterized, did someone remove the fuses from the outdoor disconnect or shut off the indoor breaker ?
 
  #13  
Old 08-01-06, 10:48 AM
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no i dont think so, and i checked all breakers and they seem to be okay. therew are two larger 3" fuses in a fuse box under the breaker panel, and although one is burnt, they seem to be for the downstairs stove. so i dont think its a fuse or breaker problem.
 
 

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