Stig repairs A/C

[Stig / Major Tom]

OK....germain to nothin' scooters.

Central A/C go down at home? Mine did yesterday.

Fingers-crossed , I think I fixed ours for $20 (matched the part at electrical supply shop).

I thought I'd try a few things before calling a repairman.
Culprit was a bad, 20 yr old, capacitor.
Youtube-ed the symptoms (no fan outside on the unit sometimes, no cooling)

My point here is - with luck and a little knowledge you might not need that compressor that they often want to sell you.

My capacitor was swollen on top....like a skinny bad can of beans. (did you ever get a "D Day" era, or Korean War era, can of "C's" in Vietnam? Remember the bulging tops? The Chesterfields burned like a match when you lit them? Old like that.)

Pay attention to all the cautions in the videos - breaker turned off; discharge both old and new capacitors before touching; photograph wire locations before removing, etc.

Fingers crossed that the swollen capacitor was the problem. Breaker on, go inside and turn thermostat to cool....take your pants off and smile at the cool breeze !
Stig


What'd he say?!

[GLV55]

Nice "landing gear" on that scooter, Stig! Good job on the AC fix.

[tortoise]

With YouTube guidance and a multi-meter, was able to periodically "resuscitate" a 15 year old heat pump with replacement contactor, capacitor, and condenser fan motor . . but eventually "paid the piper" around $7800 for a 3-ton 16-seer American Standard replacement unit with variable-speed startup.

Last Sears hot water heater only lasted 6 years, but I accept responsibility for not periodically flushing tank sediment and replacing aluminum anodes.  The Sears warranty process was so aggravating, just chose to have another local company replace it for around $700.

Oh the joys of home ownership . . always something!

[CROSSBOLT]

Way to go, Stig and you guys! Once had a new reefer just a couple of days out of warranty of course, buzzing on starting. Turns out they put some cheapo resistor chunk on the start winding that got replaced by a capacitor and a relay called a "hot shot" around here which solved the problem for many years. Some years later as an RV tech came across the same start resistor crap in roof A/C units. Replaced by, you guessed it, the RV equivalent to the "hot shot" relay and all!

Karl

[Mr. Paul]

Thanks for sharing Stig and congrats on the repair! Youtube is one of my go-to places on how to repair stuff.

[TroutBum]

Mine went out during our heat wave 2-weeks ago. Thought the issue might have been fuses, but when I replaced the two shotshell fuses they blew again. Upon closer inspection I could see discoloration on the fan shaft and compressor pumb. Called the manufacturer and was told it was an 18 year old unit. Rebuild and install would be around $3,500 to $4,000. At that point I just called a few HVAC companies and bought a new unit. Ended up buying a Trane XR16 3 ton. That $6,000 replacement should have been my next scooter. 

[LidoCA]

All of new A/C units are 13 SEER, R410a. Much more.expensive than they used to be.

[Scooter Dan]

Kinda reminds me of me and buddy driving from Nashua, NH. to Los Angeles to deliver a car for a friend. Got out to Needles, CA and the guy pumping our gas and washing our windows said it looked like our shocks were shot by the wear of the tires and would be unsafe to drive any further. Wasn't our car so my buddy calls it's owner back in NH for approval, which she did. Always wondered if it really needed those shocks or just a rotation?

[Stig / Major Tom]

Kinda reminds me of me and buddy driving from Nashua, NH. to Los Angeles to deliver a car for a friend. Got out to Needles, CA and the guy pumping our gas and washing our windows said it looked like our shocks were shot by the wear of the tires and would be unsafe to drive any further. Wasn't our car so my buddy calls

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it's owner back in NH for approval, which she did. Always wondered if it really needed those shocks or just a rotation?

Continuing the German theme: I was hitch hiking through Needles (or was it 29 Palms?) and the temp on the pharmacy sign said it was 111°F.
 I went in and switched to menthol cigarettes.
This was 49 yrs ago this month.
True story...as always.

Stig

[TroutBum]

29 Palms

[2wheelfun]

Stig you tested the capacitor how? I've done that for 34 years now.

[Forbes1964]

The capacitor is the lowest cost most often failed part in a home AC unit. That's true for the compressor and fan as well as the inside fan. I always try it first and cross my fingers. Lol


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[Stig / Major Tom]

Stig you tested the capacitor how? I've done that for 34 years now.

I did not test the capacitor.....just read up on what might cause my a/ c's behavior....but biggest indicator for me was the obviously swollen capacitor can.
Airtron came two days later and declared system good...but warned me to start saving for 2020 when R22 no longer used.
Stig

[CROSSBOLT]

Marines call it 29 stumps. The only difference between 29 Palms and Needles Is the Marines. OO-rah!

Karl

[Stig / Major Tom]

Marines call it 29 stumps. The only difference between 29 Palms and Needles Is the Marines. OO-rah!

Karl

At nearly 2000 ft elevation.....how could it have been as hot as in  my memory?
Stig