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My central airconditioner is having problems, cycling on and off to quickly. Bad statup capacitor?
It just can't seem to get started, it tries and stops in seconds then tries again and again. I've shut it off but how do you trouble shoot these units? I'm skilled with electrical and mechanical repair but have never dealt with a 3 ton AC unit.
I turn the system on (setting the target temp several degrees lower that the current inside temperature) and the lights in the house dim and brighten, dim and brighten. I can see the heat exchanger from our bathroom window and the fan blades are not spinning.
4 Answers
- Ozzie KlunkLv 68 years ago
Since you say that you have skills with the tools I would like you to do two things before you replace the capacitor.
1. Remove the cover from the compressor wiring box and make sure the you don't have a fried terminal connector in there.
2. Inspect the contactor points for really bad wear or a squashed insect - it happens.
If those things are OK then you might use a meter to check the continuity of the compressor windings, pretty simple on a single-phase system.
Replace the run cap and see what happens. If it still refuses to start then you need an HVAC professional who has the tools for working with refrigerant. Good luck.
Source(s): HVAC Tech, commercial/industrial mostly... - Polar BearLv 78 years ago
This is out in the condenser unit correct? Is the fan running? -or is it just the compressor trying and quitting?
Take an amp draw when the compressor is trying.....
Compressors have a start winding. The capacitor is a run capacitor. It may have failed.
(edit) OK you said in the additional details you can see the condenser unit. Go to the unit and take the amp draw when the compressor is trying. That will tell you everything you need to know....
Source(s): HVAC tech - John from Ct.Lv 48 years ago
Is the compressor starting or just humming? I would start by replacing the capacitor. If you still have the same problem, than the compressor is bad.
