Hurricane sandy ac repair
#1
06-25-14, 05:35 PM
Hurricane sandy ac repair
Hey guys, thanks for allowing me to be a part of the forum.
I was hit by hurricane sandy and ever since have been trying to rebuild.
I am trying to chose what I spend my money on wisely and have been learning a lot, hope you can help me learn some more.
My Lennox compressor unit went under wanted for about 2 hours, I washed it out straight away but am just getting round to trying to fix it.
I replaced the breaker
Replaced the capacitor
Replaced the contactor
Cut back all wiring to good wire, installed new terminals.
Took the fan motor out, it had minimal rust that, used corrosion x and a light brush.
I turned it on and the compressor kicked on but the fan did not, the unit warmed up as usual and cool air blew inside. The compressors fan did not come on and after about 2 mins I heard a hiss and so turned the unit off.
Turning the unit off stopped the hiss and when I turned it back on the hiss did not return "maybe a safety measure"?
I have a multi meter, can you help me with what to check please?
I was hit by hurricane sandy and ever since have been trying to rebuild.
I am trying to chose what I spend my money on wisely and have been learning a lot, hope you can help me learn some more.
My Lennox compressor unit went under wanted for about 2 hours, I washed it out straight away but am just getting round to trying to fix it.
I replaced the breaker
Replaced the capacitor
Replaced the contactor
Cut back all wiring to good wire, installed new terminals.
Took the fan motor out, it had minimal rust that, used corrosion x and a light brush.
I turned it on and the compressor kicked on but the fan did not, the unit warmed up as usual and cool air blew inside. The compressors fan did not come on and after about 2 mins I heard a hiss and so turned the unit off.
Turning the unit off stopped the hiss and when I turned it back on the hiss did not return "maybe a safety measure"?
I have a multi meter, can you help me with what to check please?
#2
06-25-14, 07:02 PM
Forum Topic Moderator
Sounds like you need a fan motor.
Turn off power.
Does the fan spin freely with power removed?
Ohm the wires on the fan motor to each other and to ground and post your readings.
Turn off power.
Does the fan spin freely with power removed?
Ohm the wires on the fan motor to each other and to ground and post your readings.
#3
06-25-14, 07:20 PM
Thanks Houston, I will check this out first thing, I have 3 wires on from the fan, which ones should I check ohms on? Contact to contact or the one that goes to the capacitor to ground?
The fan spins with power off but I can't remember how easily it should spin.
Think I messed it up with the corrosion x?
And before I buy a new one can you confirm that hissing noise would likely be a safety measure? I don't want to buy a new fan if I need a new unit.
Thanks for the help.
The fan spins with power off but I can't remember how easily it should spin.
Think I messed it up with the corrosion x?
And before I buy a new one can you confirm that hissing noise would likely be a safety measure? I don't want to buy a new fan if I need a new unit.
Thanks for the help.
#4
06-25-14, 08:13 PM
Forum Topic Moderator
That hissing sound occurs when the fan motor fails and the head pressure gets too high. (Internal Bypass)
The 3 wires that run to the fan motor are Common, Start and Run.
Start is usually brown, Common is usually black, Run is usually the remaining wire.
C to R has the lowest reading. C to S has a higher reading and R to S is the sum of the other 2 readings. (This is easier when I can post pictures but I have exceeded my monthly bandwidth)
Ohm each lead to ground as well. (Should read infinity)
The 3 wires that run to the fan motor are Common, Start and Run.
Start is usually brown, Common is usually black, Run is usually the remaining wire.
C to R has the lowest reading. C to S has a higher reading and R to S is the sum of the other 2 readings. (This is easier when I can post pictures but I have exceeded my monthly bandwidth)
Ohm each lead to ground as well. (Should read infinity)
#5
06-26-14, 09:22 AM
Purple capacitor to ground 1ohm
Orange contact to ground 1ohm
Black contact to ground 1ohm
Black contact to orange contact 0 ohm
Black contact to purple capacitor 27ohm
Orange contact to purple capacitor 28ohm
New fan?
Orange contact to ground 1ohm
Black contact to ground 1ohm
Black contact to orange contact 0 ohm
Black contact to purple capacitor 27ohm
Orange contact to purple capacitor 28ohm
New fan?
#7
06-26-14, 12:24 PM
Forum Topic Moderator
The fan must be isolated to test with an ohm meter.
If is getting 230 to 240 volts when a demand is present and the cap is good, but it will not run, it requires replacement.
If is getting 230 to 240 volts when a demand is present and the cap is good, but it will not run, it requires replacement.
#8
06-26-14, 02:44 PM
Wow guys I changed the fan and put a new one in with a second capacitor and unbelievably it works wahoooo.
It has been almost 2 years since I have had ac and I am just so happy, I feel very accomplished, thanks for the help guys.
I can not believe something could be submerged completely in salt water and be fixable, I wish everything else had been this easy, I was about to buy a new efficient unit for 3500.00 so if this lasts a while I will be thrilled!
It has been almost 2 years since I have had ac and I am just so happy, I feel very accomplished, thanks for the help guys.
I can not believe something could be submerged completely in salt water and be fixable, I wish everything else had been this easy, I was about to buy a new efficient unit for 3500.00 so if this lasts a while I will be thrilled!
#9
06-26-14, 06:37 PM
Forum Topic Moderator
I had a similar experience with a submerged condenser with a tropical storm in 2001 and it is still running.
I hope that you get as many years for your labor.
I hope that you get as many years for your labor.
