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Burned wire on ac capacitor common

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30K views 10 replies 5 participants last post by  Elkypro  
#1 ·
Ok. Getting warm this season and decided to check the ac to make sure it works. The past couple years I have had the ac not work upon first startup. The first year was a leak in the coil. It just popped when I turned it on and everything leaked out. The second year the unit turned on but no cold air. I replaced the capacitor to no avail. Called a tech and he pressure tested the entire coil, which was fine, and found a small leak in the valve where someone had tried to plug it years before it looked. He replaced the valve and that portion of the pipe. Everything worked perfect for the whole season. This year I turned it on and no cold air. Opened the side and saw the burned connection on the common. Replaced the wire and bought another new capacitor. Now the unit still does not blow cold air but it the fan runs but I cannot tell if the compressor is running or not. The pipe does not get cold at all. Maybe I re-wired it back wrong?
The compressor is a copeland.
Thank you in advance.

http://i.imgur.com/7pcGt.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/uUIWG.jpg
 
#4 ·
check this

you can hear the compressor running when the outdoor fan motor kicks on. if its a copeland scroll then you should hear the hi pitch at start up. you can find out quickly if you take an insulated screwdriver and push that plunger on the front of the contactor - holding the insulated handle. then you should hear both come on.

just make sure you discharge that capacitor if you are going to touch any wires after testing it - they pack a punch.. i know this.
 
#5 ·
you can hear the compressor running when the outdoor fan motor kicks on. if its a copeland scroll then you should hear the hi pitch at start up. you can find out quickly if you take an insulated screwdriver and push that plunger on the front of the contactor - holding the insulated handle. then you should hear both come on.

just make sure you discharge that capacitor if you are going to touch any wires after testing it - they pack a punch.. i know this.
it could be that your compressor is bad you could ohm out the windings take the plug off the compressor and ohm out start, run, terminals that will let youo know if it is actuall compressor if you run low on charge you will experience freezing of a/c
 
#10 ·
Elky

You are probably right on the loss of refrigerant. All you started with was as visual inspection of the run cap and found a burned terminal. You replaced and confirmed the outdoor fan motor and compressor came on.

1. if you leave the unit off for an hour or so the pressures will stabilize and you should not have a low/high pressure cut out.

2. If you have the whole shebang working in unison compressor, outdoor fan, indoor blower and you can feel the refrigerant pipes and they are lukewarm - both of them- than I would be sticking to your gut instint instead of just swapping parts if you are not into working with a voltmeter.

I would leave it off until you can verify the refrigerant is still there and not keep running it or the repair prices will add a 0 on to the final tab in a hurry.