Is my AC compressor burned?


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Old 09-18-14, 08:21 AM
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Is my AC compressor burned?

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I was troubleshooting my AC and got to opening up my compressor. This is what it looks like. It gets really hot (as you can tell from the picture). I think it might just trip itself off due to high temps.

Does it need to be replaced?
 
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Old 09-18-14, 08:29 AM
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Closer look: http://i.imgur.com/gjo82Xv.jpg
Note the burns on the mesh of the cover
 
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Old 09-18-14, 09:50 AM
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The only way to tell is to OHM out the compressor. Could just be low on refrigerant and/or the condenser coil needs to be cleaned.
 
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Old 09-18-14, 10:15 AM
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OHM'ing the compressor I got 2.0, 1.4, and 0.6
 
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Old 09-18-14, 10:23 AM
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The two smallest numbers should equal the largest number: 1.4 + 0.6=2.0. So, it passed that test. Did you check each winding to see if it is shorted to ground? Scratch a place on the compressor to remove the paint so you have a bare spot on the metal. Set meter to continuity and one at a time place a lead from the meter on a terminal and the other lead to the bare spot. Your meter should read OL. If you get a reading of 0 (or beeps if you have that feature on your meter) on a winding it means it is shorted to ground.
 
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Old 09-18-14, 10:29 AM
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I checked for ground shorts and found none
 
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Old 09-18-14, 10:34 AM
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That is good. At this point you will need to have the system properly tested to see if it has the correct refrigerant charge based on the readings obtained. Not having a clamp meter, you have done about all you can do as a homeowner.
 
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Old 09-18-14, 10:36 AM
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Will keep troubleshooting in the other thread:
http://www.doityourself.com/forum/ai...p-its-hot.html

This one was just for opinions on the compressor. The answer is that the compressor is not necessarily bad just because it looks burned like this.
Thanks.
 
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Old 09-18-14, 12:26 PM
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Keep in mind that the tests you performed were basic field tests. There are others that can be performed. Here is a link to a service manual for your system: http://johnstonesupply9.com/TechDocs...VICE%20MAN.PDF

Compressor info starts on page 185 and wiring diagram is on page 207.
 
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Old 09-18-14, 06:46 PM
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We try to dedicate one thread to a problem. Having two threads running on a similar problem is confusing and time consuming.

I was going to combine them but the timelines are off. So this thread will be closed and the other one will continue.
 
 

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