❄ Other A/C Videos For Reference: Top 5 A/C Problems: ruclips.net/video/GOXgdnRB840/видео.html Complete A/C Troubleshooting Guide: ruclips.net/video/wzAA4dlp_70/видео.html How to Clean Condenser Coil: ruclips.net/video/pzwOvgjwm_Q/видео.html How to Replace a Capacitor Full Guide: ruclips.net/video/9ZGfvC-PMWU/видео.html How to Replace a Contactor: ruclips.net/video/qHZc9wWAF4c/видео.html How to Replace Condenser Fan Motor: ruclips.net/video/gGFTd2dmgxg/видео.html How to Replace A/C Control Board: ruclips.net/video/hijUExXrcm8/видео.html How to Replace a Thermostat: ruclips.net/video/1mJkjrwxdP4/видео.html How to Program a Thermostat: ruclips.net/video/uun8HJhM3h4/видео.html How a Thermostat Works: ruclips.net/video/Z4T9H-6VPtI/видео.html How to Check Freon Level: ruclips.net/video/dExFtP-nXTw/видео.html How to Wire A/C Condenser Unit: ruclips.net/video/KCanZEsLVEI/видео.html How to Order Correct HVAC Parts: ruclips.net/video/faCno8-vRnw/видео.html How to Read A/C Wiring Diagram: ruclips.net/video/I-sB4GIlbl4/видео.html How an Air Conditioner Works: ruclips.net/video/cRnzYJ4qmWE/видео.html When Should You Replace A/C: ruclips.net/video/Z7vUOySOWbM/видео.html 15 Air Conditioner Maintenance Tips: ruclips.net/video/pBBnXHse-T0/видео.html Should You Get an A/C Inspection: ruclips.net/video/JqNsEzb__qs/видео.html
On my unit, heat and air, thermostat is blank, vacuumed drain ,replaced capacitor and plunger on contactor kicks unit on when manually compressed. Any ideas?
@@Guided-by-the-Word-Boyd-Delk Sorry to hear about the HVAC troubles! If your thermostat is blank i would suggest watching this video: ruclips.net/video/vi3OJuGfaac/видео.htmlsi=0u64JXzoYzBUjWBN
Jay, I appreciate with many many others- you sharing your knowledge and experience all things HVAC. Q: Product number on capacitor does not match the original in my Trane. Numbers do-- 45+7 50/60hz. Replace with confidence- they match?
My contractor was buzzing like crazy and the unit was not turning on. I took the contractor out and was searching the web for a new one, then came across your video. As soon as you said "bugs", I found the small screws on the back plate, opened it and dead bugs everywhere and one live earwig. Cleaned it up, reinstalled and it works like a champ. Thanks.
❤ We fixed it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I live out in the middle of nowhere with my uncle, a senior citizen. His AC went out, and we've had 100-degree days. It got up to 89 degrees in his house. Getting a service person here is a nightmare, so we tried on our own to see if we could fix it. He needed my help, so he showed me how to use the multimeter and guided me with installing a new contactor. I learned SO much in the process because there was a lot of troubleshooting and because he had me do a lot on my own and showed me how to work safely. He has me do a lot because he doesn't want me to have to ask a man for help. I can't even describe how happy I was when the AC came on. Definite confidence booster. I'm excited that now I can help others. Thank you so much for the tips for troubleshooting. You're awesome! Blessings!
Same thing with ac going out but contacterd have 2 burnt wires. 1 red an 1 blk, bought contscterd and R&R but no replacement female ends . So i have to go to AutoZone right now b4 it gets 100 again today in san Antonio Texas. Very fn hot.
You saved me a lot of money sir!!! My central air kept blowing the 3amp fuse on the board when I switched it to cooling. Checked every wire, everything and started losing hope, watched this and checked the contactor, had 1.9 ohms on the sides to eachother. Order a new one for $20, checked the new one and got 17.8 ohms from the box. Changed the part and it works mint now!!! Thank you very much, I owe you a beer man
Great video. I had the AC maintenance company come by and tell me that the contactor was working inconsistently. I hadn't noticed anything amiss myself, but they said their inspection uncovered it. They wanted $400 to replace it, and another $500 to replace the capacitor. After watching this video, I've come to realize that they're probably full of it (or I can just blow away the insects myself for $0). So thank you for saving me a lot of money!
That reminds me of a job I did, and the only problem was a massive amount of ants insulating the contact points from engaging. Fixed it with some raid applied around condenser. 😂
After watching some videos and reading articles online, I came across your video on testing the contactor and replacing. I took mine off, tested with the multimeter and got 0 for a reading. I then went to local store and bought a replacement contactor. I then tested it at home and got a reading. This further enforced that my old one was either not working or the multimeter was not working 😆. I then proceeded to install new contactor and then turn on AC. presto chango, it works. Thank you sir. It only cost me under $35. Saved me money getting someone here and paying an arm and a leg for diagnostic/parts/labor 👍🏼. Plus I look like i know what I'm doing 😎
Once again RUclips to the rescue for all its fault I've never learned more in all my life than watching videos of people like you and you explain yourself clear you don't lollygag it's great thank you
Fantastic video!! Pay attention, y'all. My issue was self-inflicted. I disconnected the ceiling receptacle in my garage for the garage door opener as part of a winter renovation project. Turns out, that circuit powers all the outdoor gfci receptacles AND my crawlspace receptacles; the condensation pump was plugged into one of the crawlspace receptacles. Winter turned into spring, with the garage receptacle still disconnected, the condensate pump filled up, tripping the safety switch thus not allowing the ac to kick on. Lol lesson learned. 🤣 Many thanks for the video!!!!
I took my old one apart and refurbished it. It is pretty easy to do. Took a little wire brush and a drywall sandpaper pad to remove the pits and wear/carbon on the old contact. Hardest part is the spring that you see on the top plunger. It has to go on a dimple on the top and the bottom to keep in place. Just took a little finesse to get it back in. There are 4 contacts to smooth out. I will now keep this one as a backup since I replaced the whole thing. Good little project to understand the inner workings of the contactor. Thanks for posting!
Dude, you just saved me a bunch of money. Last time my condensor contactor failed, the AC guy said ants destroyed it and completely replaced it with a new one. This time, I just cleaned the contacts, and it's working again. Obviously, I need to just get one that's sealed, but for now, I'm good, thanks to you.
Thank you. You addressed the resistance across the coil in one video, but only talked about an open coil. In this video you answered my question, "what is the resistance value of a good coil?" I have one of those less common shorted coils. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.
I have a sticking contactor. Compressor never stops running even below thermostat setting, and lines begin to ice up. Figured it out watching youtube. I ordered oem new part for $13.00usd. Will replace this week. My Initial $100 service call to licensed HVAC pro, could not pinpoint problem. System pressures checked to spec, filter clean, system 5yrs old. They did come out a second time and quoted $5-8k worth of new flex ducting, measured "high static pressure" aka duct size restrction. Which was a B.S. scam. So you saved me several thousand, vs the local licensed "experts". Thanks
Oh man, wow! I'm glad you were able to figure out the problem! Unfortunately there are companies like that out there.. Happy to know that my videos assisted in the process :) Stay cool!
Saved a bunch of money this week, thanks to your video. My furnace worked fine until I called for AC this spring.The 3 amp fuse on the panel blew every time I tried the AC. I disconnected the 24V wires at the contactor and the fuse did not blow when calling for AC. I assumed it was the contactor, but after watching this video on checking the resistance, mine was reading 0.6 ohms instead of 8 to 20 ohms. Pretty much a dead short in the coil. Thanks for showing how to, and what the correct measurements should be. Ordered a new contactor and pretty sure that will fix it. Received the new contactor and installed it as seen in this video, and a bad coil in the contactor was definitely the problem. The AC turned on as it should. Thanks for the great videos.
Bro, you saved me close to $500 by educating how to troubleshoot a short and finally locating it as the AC Contactor. Cost me only $20 for AC Contactor and $7 for a pack of 3 Amp Fuses. Superb video and excellent instructions! Wish you all the best...
Follow up - Dad kept the old contactor, and low and behold, there was an insect in there. (This contactor did not have a cover like yours, but thanks for mentioning some don't). I tested it just as you demonstrated and even hooked up a 24V Omron power supply to pull the coil repeatedly, which was also pristine. 250$ gone for a bug!!! Live and learn! Cheers for these videos!
Big thanks to you for these AC videos! AC was blowing hot air into house and I found the condenser fan not spinning. Thanks to your content, I assumed it was a capacitor and ordered a new one. When I went to change, I noted NO physical signs the original cap was bad, but DID notice the contactor was full of ants! W/ everything shut down, cleaned out all the ants w/ a pic and wire brush and turned everything back on. System fired right up. This unit is at a remote property of ours, so I'll check all again next time I am there. For now, I'll take the win and I now I have an extra capacitor should I ever need it. THANK YOU
Jay, thank you so much for your most informative and practical videos. With your help I have not only saved $$$ but I have learned so much. My condenser fan would not run when the outside temp exceeded 85F. My service provider, who has serviced the system two times per year for the past 11 yrs, diagnosed the problem and changed out the capacitor for $400. However, the problem still existed. With the help of your videos, I have replaced the condenser fan motor, thoroughly cleaned interior and exterior coils, blower wheel motor, coil drain pan and lines, and changed the air filter. Lastly, I changed out the contactor ($20 item), and eureka??, the system has been running great even with outside temps in the 90s
Thank you!!!! Was having a low voltage short issue. Fuse would blow everytime I switched the thermostat to A/C. Got it narrowed down to the outdoor unit. After watching this video, tested the resistance on the contactor and it measured .4 ohms. Ordered a new one, ($13) installed, and it works perfectly. Thanks again!!!! Saved me I don't know how much $$$.
Thanks for this, folks paid 250$ for a contactor replacement, it was tested and bad. First time is ok, and I'll be getting a spare contactor and capacitor to keep around for the next one.
Massive buzzing coming from my unit but it was still working. I cut the power and still had the buzz, which I found to be a malfunctioning contactor. I was going to replace it, but found your video. I checked inside and found some smashed earwigs in there. All cleaned and working a dream. Many thanks!! I was high and dry after the parts store closed on a hot Sunday and now we're nice and cool 😎
I checked out my contactor yesterday and lo and behold I had put the Line ins on the T side! Doh. It really doesn’t matter which side you use as long as you know which side has the single pole side versus the shunt side. The L1/T1 side is actually the single pole (contact/pull) side and L2/T2 side is the shunt side. Spade counts on both side are the same too. Great video thank you
You saved me a fortune man. I had gone through all of your troubleshooting tips. Capacitors, fuses, blowers, boards switches etc. In the end, all it was was a bad operator who was waiting just short of a minute or maybe seconds. I was not giving the system time to delay and could not figure out why the Emergency heat was kicking on full on gas 112 degrees out of the register. Finally, cool breezes and my cats are no longer giving me the finger because it is 92 degrees in the house...! Cause they can't they could only give me the "claw"....! Thanks so much, I really appreciate it.
Oh man! It was just a delay all along after all that. Well not all is bad :) You probably learned more then you wanted about your HVAC system now, so if something happens again down the road you will be ready to tackle it! Anyway, stay cool!
thanks for mentioning the bugs getting in the contacts of the contactor!! My AC stopped working. I have the old style contactor without the plastic lid covering the contacts. I noticed a dead earwig bug near the contacts. I verified the contactor was energizing but the squished bug was enough to insulate the contacts so power wasn't getting to the other side when the contactor was energized. I verified with a voltmeter. Then I turned off the power, lifted the contact and cleaned out the squished bug then used a little emery paper to clean up the contacts. All fixed now, Thanks so much you saved me a few hundred bucks on a service call!. My wife especially thanks you ....
If the contacts don't look good, never try cleaning points with emery; just spend 20 or 30 bucks and replace contactor; otherwise you'll be buying a new compressor!
Jay! Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay!!!!! Dude, I got man handled the last time I had an HVAC repair guy come out. When he left I was thinking those HVAC capacitors were made of diamonds or something. Anyway, AC went out and this time I figured I'd dust off the old tool belt, grab a can of elbow grease, and get down to business. Initially I thought the fan motor was bad. It wouldn't spin very easily, not like my other AC unit, so I ordered one, replaced it in 10 minutes, and pounded myself on the chest in a way that said to all onlookers (mainly my dogs), "I'm a handy guy, yeah boy!!". Unfortunately, the new motor wouldn't come on after I powered everything back on. So, I ordered a capacitor. It just had to be the cap. It's always the cap. Last time it was the cap. Amazon dropped one off in about 2 days of searing hell flames heat (upstairs thankfully). It came, I popped it in, I patted myself on the back. The dogs were cheering for me, or would have been if they knew what a feat I'd just performed. Hey, they're dogs. They lick their butts. What do they know? By the way, they aren't made of diamonds. The capacitors, I mean. Well, that didn't work either. I was just about to turn in my man card and phone an AC repair crew. I wasn't happy. The dogs weren't happy either, but being dogs they probably didn't understand why. Then I found you, Jay. You mentioned that the little cover on the "Contactor" comes off, or "Thingamajiggy", as I was calling it. Well what do you know, I took the cover off and there were about a million tiny little dead ants piled up under it. I didn't know a million tiny dead ants could fit under that cover. I didn't actually realize it WAS a cover, but then neither did the dogs, so I don't feel too bad about it. Anyway, I pulled out the my air compressor, shot some high powered air into the thingamajiggy, dead ants were flying everywhere, the dogs were happy as hell and licking their butts, and when I powered the sucker back on the fan was moving, cold air was pumping inside, and my man card went right back in my pocket. Nobody's taking that bad boy. Thanks Jay! You saved the day. By the way, beer tastes a lot better after a guy fixes something. I don't know why, but here's to you, Jay, my man!!!!
Lol! That was an awesome comment man! Thank you for taking the time to write that! Your story telling sure is funny stuff. I'm glad to hear that you finally got it going, the dogs are thrilled, and your man card remains with you! Now all you have to do is stay cool and enjoy that beer! Cheers!
Oh my goodness! I live in Florida - it is late July - I am a female with two female roommates and our AC stopped working yesterday. We can't afford to call someone out this month and I'm the only one with any mechanical abilities at all, I do most of the work on my car, in fact I don't recall ever taking it to a mechanic. But air conditioners are a totally different beast! Sooooo I'm all over the internet and RUclips (thank you, Jay) I'm very frustrated and it's over 100 degrees... I begin to feel like I'm about to internally combust and I come across this comment. Which brings me to my point (sorry about all that jibber jabber) I just wanted to tell you your words really brightened my day. Your style of writing is incredible! It reminds me of Robert Fulghum. I truly hope you are a writer, or in the very least, sharing some of your words with the world in some way. Blog? Video? Self help website? Hehe! Not only did I enjoy the comment, but it pleases me to see someone being gracious, humble, positive, and genuine. It's refreshing in this RUclips world full of hostility and criticism; so, thank you both for contributing in such an inspiring way! I hope many others take note of how a man TRULY earns his "man card"
Patrick Connolly I love your comment, I rarely ever read an entire comment as long as yours. Not only did you have me in stitches from laughing so hard, you reinforced what Jay (whom I agree is awesome) had already said about bugs corroding the contractor which ended up being my problem. You are refreshingly funny, you kept my interest all the way through, and it left me wanting more. If you haven’t already, you should take that talent and put it into stand up comedy, making videos, blogging, etc.
Currently an HVAC student and my teacher is great but I love watching your videos and different scenarios you encounter in the field... I literally take notes from your video lol...
Thanks for the video. I knew my old compressor fan was going bad (the bearing was really chirping) it stopped working, so I assumed it was that. My HVAC uncle from California sent me a new fan and capacitor, and nothing. So, I cleaned out the condensation pump to ensure the safety switch wasn't gunked up, nothing. Long story short. It was this relay. Cleaned it out and it is now working. It looks really burnt out, still will be swapping it out for a new one when it gets here.
To shorten this excellent video just check the voltage across the contactor coil terminals and if it reads the correct voltage for that contactor, and it is not pulling in, it is bad. Replace it. If it is an ant issue spray it with contact cleaner or just change it and be done with it. They make a vibrating sound when they are fixing to give trouble.
I fixed my AC myself! First I replaced the capacitor - that wasn’t it but I kept working on and thanks to this video I eventually found a loose thermostat wire in the furnace control panel. 3 ac pros had been here and none of them even tried troubleshooting the equipment. They all just wanted to replace because it’s an older unit. The quotes were between $6,000-$28,000! Thanks you!!! I'm making a donation to your Paypal.
@@ibrahimamac He more than likely did or denied to pay. Not making assumptions here but sounds to me the companies that came through were incompetent in troubleshooting that system. A definite win, service charges usually $50-100 or more but $6k in quotes?! Um no thank you. And happens to just be a loose terminal. That air handler vibrates all the time and cycles the air through. Kudos
@@KevsHowToDIY you gain customer trust for fixing small things, they will see that you are honest and they will make you change unit next time no matter what the much money is. Plus it isnt gonna be huge difference like that. But if somebody tells me that 3 ac pros came and didnt fix it which is odd. Because sometimes you make more profit from small things than free quotes.
FYI....second time I watched this, but i JUST now paid enough attention to see your Contact Covers!! And just so you know your CONTACTS are marked on the Cover you Removed - the cover over the contacts has each terminal Clearly Marked on it....look at your film at 5:00 on and several over scenes which show you L1/L2 and T1/T2! Thanks for al your help!
Thank you for posting such informative videos. I really appreciate you spending the time and sharing your knowledge to educate people. I have no HVAC or electrical skills whatsoever but with your videos and some googling of terminology I was able to solve my problem. As a single mom, the money I saved fixing the problem myself is a huge win for me! Not to mention the confidence boost!! Also teaching my children to attempt to problem solve before "calling a guy" is super important to me. This was my issue for those interested: My AC was humming but fan wasn't spinning. Wouldn't keep spinning even with push of the fan but did spin freely. Replaced the capacitor following your videos as it was completely rusted and I assumed it was the problem. Turned it back on; same issue. Inspected and tested the contactor and it was getting voltage but not everytime the plunger was compressed. (Should note my multimeter is from the 80s, not digital and I wasn't sure it even worked correctly) Blew out the plunger and sure enough there was a big old dead bug messing things up. Cleaned it up and turned it back on. We have fan power!! Thanks again!
Whew, I am sure glad I am not the only one with similar AC issues. I had a defective contactor, got a new one and thought I wired correctly - unfortunately I accidentally crossed one wire and shorted the new contactor and control board on the furnace. Waiting for new parts to arrive. Thanks to watching you videos I have learned more and really enjoy them. Thanks again!
I love it when Johnny homeowner thinks he smoked a circuit board when it's a 3 or 5 amp fuse those payments on my Ferrari are killing me but hey a service call or 2 will put that money right to this month's payment cha ching all the way to the bank and I don't cheat anyone I just charge top dollar for my services the name of my company MONEY BAGS MECHANICAL 24 HR SERVICE LMFAO
Thanks for the in-depth video on this small but somewhat dangerous job. Knowing what it is and how it works gave me the confidence to sort the issue out myself. Didn't need to replace, just needed to spray contacts and switch with contact cleaner through a straw. $9. My HVAC guy wanted to cheat me on nearly every component. Sent him packing. 😂
Thank you for your videos! Whoever doesn't agree with you sharing knowledge is just a man who makes money off of people's misinformation. There's an hvac school that charges $18k for the same you offer for free. You're changing the industry to what it would be in the future - a more precise self diagnostics made by customer or a smart device and less time wasted by technician
I had to replace my contactor a few weeks ago. The root cause is that the coil is shorted so the 3A fuse on the control board keeps burn out (24V/3A=8 Ohm, meaning if your contactor coil is measured lower than 8 Ohm your fuse would probably blow. Additionally the 24V control voltage is usually somewhere between 24V and 30V, meaning a lower margin on the resistance range). I have searched online and watched a lot of how to videos but it is not common to find such failure mode. Just want to share this tip with the other viewers. Measure the resistance of the contactor coil, if it is too high or too low, replace it.
Just wanted to share with you how much I appreciate your videos and especially to share that you helped saved our family from a long holiday weekend of misery. If these A/C units are going to breakdown, why does it always happen on the weekends or over holidays when it would cost a small fortune to get someone out to troubleshoot? Murphy's Law I suppose. It took me a day and a half to figure it out watching several videos to get me through all the troubleshooting, especially the voltage tests but I was able to isolate the thermostat as being the culprit. I happened to have an extra one handy to test, so I changed it out and waited for it to cycle up and voila', the condenser fan started and condenser kicked in almost immediately. You can imagine the relief of getting the A/C working again in sweltering 90+ temps in Miami this week. More importantly, happy wife happy life, right? Thanks again for producing these excellent, step by step educational videos.
this is the stuff. have seen lots from lots and most have shown less. well done. my first time seeing you but not the last. good job doing a good job 👍
Awesome I was about to replace my capacitor or the contactor. That is until I tapped on the contactor a few times and finally heard the compressor kicked in. Then my thoughts were .... Those freaking earwigs! You just confirmed it here, so I'm happy not having to replace either parts. Ty
Boo I spoke too soon. It died again few hours later. Replacing the capacitor cause I know the contactor still works. Cleaned and all its kicking on the fan, but no compressor
My Trane A/C contact switch starting rapidly clicking this weekend. After shutting off the power I inspected the switch and the wiring. Both looked good. Coincidentally I just had a new fan motor installed 2 weeks ago so I thought for sure the issue was related to the new fan motor. It talking to a friend who works with A/C controls, he asked "how old is your thermostat and have you replaced the batteries". The thermostat is old, about 23 years old. I replaced all 3 AA batteries in the old thermostat and to my surprise the outside contact switch quit clicking when the outside unit is running. I got lucky this time.
Thank you for this. Found my 10 year old Goodman condenser was running when the thermo was off. The contact was stuck. Figured 10 years is a good run, so time to replace.
Hello good morning I'm so glad I asked you about the AC our AC guy who used to service the unit he moved we called a new AC guy the first thing he says to me it's your compressor I asked him to check the contactor he replied if you know what to do you don't need me, I replied I jost want a honest answer if I don't want to pull out the compressor if is the contactor I told him you were highly recommended just wanted a honest answer so the AC is working it was the contactor we won't use him again thank you for your tip greatful for your help thank you.
Thank you so much for these AC tutorials. With your help I easily fixed my unit (and checked the compressor and fan to boot)! Saved hundreds of $$$ because of your help.
Thank you!! My plunger was stuck sucked in due to ladybugs causing the fan to run constantly. Thank you for your excellent explanation of how the contactor coil works!
@@Ptiou99 I shut the power off at my breaker and pried it loose. I did order a brand new contactor through Amazon and replaced the old one. My a/c works perfectly now.
In my part of the world HVAC companies are always trying to push yearly contracts. Usually around $140 a year for two checks. Exactly what is checked during these inspections? And, can I do them myself? Often after contracting… the company disappears. Quite a racket. Please make a video on what is actually checked and how to perform this service ourselves. Many thanks from the Texas Hill country. I will be watching for comments
About six years ago I changed my contactor, cost me like twenty bucks. Changed it because for two years in a row when I first turned the A/C on it chattered and the A/C would not start. To fix it I just kicked the A/C unit. Then for the rest of the season it was fine. Like I said that went the same for two years. Third year is when I changed it out. No problems since. I figured it was likely a piece of dirt or bug caught in there and I removed it with the shock of a kick. Done the same with A/C fan centers attached to the furnace. Get there and they are making an awful noise and I just hammer fist them on the metal housing and they instantly repair. Just today, I changed the capacitor. My A/C went down Saturday night on a long weekend. Had to wait until today Tuesday to get the new part. Sweated in the heat all Sunday and Monday. Wasn't a good weekend, it was hot. Took just a couple of minutes to install the new one, compressor started up immediately. No place to get even simple parts after hours or on weekends.
For any unlucky soul such as myself, CHECK YOUR RESET SWITCH IF YOU'RE CONTRACTOR INSTALLED ONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE!!! I changed my contactor, my motor and it's corresponding capacitor and the fan would not turn over unless i gave it a nudge with a stick. I went inside and clicked the reset switch that a contractor had installed near my condensate pump and this now provided the 24 volts to the contactor. I had the reverse problem in the winter when the condensate pump was continuously running b/c the condensate line had frozen and the reset switch had tripped. I had to thaw the line out and run it into my sewer line inside the crawl space so it wouldn't freeze and then flipped the reset switch and i had heat. Of course both times, it was both the hottest day and coldest day of the year at the holidays!!! lmfao !!
UPDATE: It actually only started up only one time after i flipped the reset switch, but now the old issue is back once again. 24 volts getting to the contactor, juice getting to the contactors, but the capacitor just wont kick start the motor. The capacitor is rated for the motor and what was recommended. I don't know what else to do except wait two more days till after July 4th to have an HVAC person come out. I'm open to ideas ..... lol
Woke up to a hot house and condenser not running. I troubleshoot the condenser and came down to a bad contactor. Replaced and everything back to normal.
I'm not a technician or etc but I know I'm having a low voltage problem. After opening the inside unit I noticed the condensation trap hose came disconnected and the lower area filled with about a half inch of water near the gas burners. My 3 amp fuse blew. Upon replacing it the fuse blow the second I put power to it. Looked at the contactor it's an older one and is not covered. I didn't notice any burning or etc on the copper coil of the contactor. Don't see any shorts, and also check thermostat for good connections as other areas. So I guess this repair is beyond my current knowledge level. I'm guessing the moisture caused the computer board to short out. Anyway I'm going to give a call to an expert. Enjoyed learning more about this. Thanks for this video
Thanks for the informative videos. AC stopped working and you helped me troubleshoot the components that allowed me identify the problem and not just throw money at replacing parts until it worked. Thank You.
Just a heads up...O/L means that the resistance is too HIGH for the meater to read. I try to remember the difference between low and high resistance by thinking about how hard it is for current to get through something. Low resistance is easy for current to get though a cord, contact or fuse and higher resistance is harder to get through. If a cord, fuse or contact is broken it makes it extremely difficult for current to travel through which makes the multi meter read O/L.
This video is super useful. My AC is not turning on. I have tested a few things: there is 240V input power. When the switch on the contactor is pushed down, the AC turned on. There is NO 24V coming to the contactor when the nest thermostat is on. Can you provide any suggestion on troubleshoting further? Like what could be wrong so that there was no 24V needed to activate the contactor switch?
Compressors draw a bunch of current and create an arc on the contactor. Over time the contactors will become pitted enough to make starting the compressor with low voltage. In turn causing more stress on the compressor.... eventually burning out the compressor windings. It's best to replace the Cheap $20 Contactor VS a compressor that would cause $$$ a lot more.
When I’m in an ac unit and trouble shooting I soemtimes find the contactor stuck …I use an insulated screwdriver to lightly tap on it and wiggle it back and forth and have gotten in the habit of cleaning it out with contact cleaner every time. Seems to get rid of all of the troubles with it and like you said, rarely ever replace
Thanks for your good videos. Maybe mention even though contactor can be responding and engaging power, but if burned or pitted contacts, it may not be a good connection and damaging compressor.
Good video. One question > What if the fan runs constantly?, just the fun. I replaced capacitor and contactor. Compressor is fine, on and off, but will stop. Thanks
Great video. I’ve tried everything. Something keeps tripping the breaker, but it does not appear to be the compressor. It is not ground out. I found some bad wires fixed those still tripping the breaker. The capacitor is good. The only thing I haven’t tried is the contactor. What is the likelihood the contactor is causing my breaker to trip?
I have a Trane XR 15 heat pump. This summer the ac ran fine. no issues. When I turned on the heat the other day I noticed a loud vibrating buzzing sound coming from the heat pump. I took off the cover and noticed the noise was coming from the contactor coil. Should I try cleaning it or replace it? It is 10 years old.
So I removed the coil and disassembled it and found live and dead earwig bugs inside of it. Found one bug squished between the contact points, which was causing the vibrating of the coil, cleaned out the dead bug and put it back together and it works great. Thanks for the great video. Keep up the good work.
@@WordofAdviceTV Thank you for your response. I replaced a new contactor because it is over 12 yrs. It does not cost much. I have question(s) needed help. My ac "cooling" system keeps running and cannot be turned off. I replaced solid-state time-delay, fan-relay, and the contactor, but the system keeps running and cannot be turn-off. What caused such problem(s)?
Thank you for your videos, very informative. I've got a question. Why do I hear a "bong" sound whenever my air handler is about to turn on? I can't figure it out.
I sure hope it’s just the contactor on my AC unit. I have a friend who does HVAC and he thought it was my fan motor. I bought a new one along with the capacitor. After installing it I turned on the AC and it ran for a short time although it seemed to be running kinda rough. After a bit it slowed down and then stopped but you could still here the compressor. Now the fan is not running at all. Keep in mind the old fan that we thought was bad ran the exact same way. It sounded a little rough. I’m now thinking that the old fan and capacitor wasn’t bad and was running rough because it didn’t have good connection with the contactor. I’ll be checking it in just a bit and I’m hoping that it’s just dirty or has a build up of insects like you had mentioned. My home has two AC units (one for upstairs and one for downstairs). Thank God at least one level is staying cool. This KY heat can you be miserable. Thanks again for sharing your expertise with us.
Watched a few of your videos and liked them. Can you please help with a diagnosis? Neither compressor nor compressor fan come on when I turn on AC and wait. I can hear the contactor click. Out of maybe 20 times, compressor did come on twice but then shut off after a minute or so. Compressor fan did not come on at all. I waited at least 1 hour between trys. I measured output of contactor and it has 240VAC when thermostat calls for cool. I ohmed out fan and it has 2 reading that add up to the third. It spins freely if I spin it with a stick. I replaced the startup capacitor and relay. It already had one. It didn't help. I ordered a new run capacitor so hoping that will fix it. The system was working fine for many years before this issue started 2 days ago. Thanks for any help you can give.
Sorry to hear about the A/C problems! What you described sounds like a bad run capacitor so hopefully once you receive it your unit will be back up and running no problem.
Great video! very clear! My heat is not working. I called Hvac guy came,. He replaced the fan motor and thermosate. However, the machine stopped after working for abond 10 hours, and the alarm indicator light showed as low pressure lockout. The hvac guy came back. He jumper the the heat pump to restart it. The test pressure was normal, but it still stopped after 10 hours, and it also showed as low pressure lock. The hvac guy don’t know what's the problem now. Can you give me some suggestions on where to check to find the problem? Thank you very much.
Jay: You may remember me mentioning that I had to replace my blower motor about a month ago. Following your video on replacing them made it a piece of cake. (Thank you!) Everything worked out fine and my Trane has been cooling great since then... until a few days ago. Now I'm having a new problem and was wondering if it could be the contactor or if not, maybe you've seen a similar problem to the one below. When the thermostat is set to COOL and the fan to AUTO, and when it calls for cool, the circulator fan starts for about 2-3 seconds and then turns off. Then switching the t-stat to OFF and the fan to ON, the fan runs until I switch the t-stat over to COOL, but the fan turns off again when the t-stat calls for cooling. Trying another t-stat got the same results. Now I'm thinking it's a control board problem (WR 50A50-571), so next I bypassed the fan from the control board (to keep it circulating), set the t-stat to COOL and let it cool-down the house. With the t-stat working and the fan running, I decided to let it go for the night and watch some of your other videos to figure out what to try next. In the morning, it seemed really cool and checking the t-stat showed the temp was 70 degrees. It was not calling for cool, but it was still getting cooler. So I switched OFF the t-stat and as I was walking past the window, I heard the hum of the compressor unit outside. I said, "No way!" and went to the air handler and unplugged it. And I couldn't believe it, but it sounded like the compressor was still running!!! And when I got outside, yep, the compressor unit was humming along. But it was not freezing-up or anything. So I removed the puller thing from the disconnect box, and now I'm thinking the contactor must be fused stuck. After getting a cup of coffee, I plugged-in the disconnect thing expecting the compressor would kick on again but it did not. Then I tried the whole sequence a few more times and got the same results. So I'm not sure what to check next. (I do have a multi-meter.) Any help would be greatly appreciated. NOTE: Inside the electrical box is an oval 440V, 45uf/5uf capacitor (some rust on top), a Supco SPP8E (1 thru 5 hp) hard start capacitor, and a 40A, 24V, 1-pole contactor. The contactor moves freely (no bugs inside) and does not have any burn marks. Thanks again for your channel! - Sorry for the long post... - Michael D. *** Just a DIYer trying to learn a thing or two about HVAC ***
Just to follow-up: I found that the contactor was intermittently sticking closed which kept the compressor running after the thermostat was called to switch it off. The day after my 400+ word post above, I replaced the contactor and everything is working normally. -- Thanks again for your awesome channel!
@@michaeld.5189 hi, can you help me how to identify which contactor to get ? Do you have clicking noise ? When the blower not turn on ? I changed the capacitor alread
Excellent explanation. Electrical supply to the contactor on the AC has 27 volts when I measured it but the magnetic switch won't pull down and engaged. I measured the ohm of the 24 volts contacts and the reading is 11.5ohm which should be within the range. What's the problem ? BTW, when I pressed on the switch (plunger) the AC fan and compressor started up without problem. Thanks
@@WordofAdviceTV Thanks, where is that video and answer? Looks like I am having the same problem now, inside fan works fine, but outside fan won't start. The contactor has the 24v, 240v and 14ohm, capacitor tested good also. If i manually press the contactor plunger, the fan and compressor will kick in immediately, when I release the plunger, fan stopped. what is my problem?
@@lw30062 If the contactor gets 24v but it does not pull in, the contactor is either stuck in the open position or is bad and needs to be replaced. The video I referred him to for this question was this one: ruclips.net/video/NVPhsK4gK1A/видео.html
I had this same problem. My fuses from the main disconnect (between the breakers and the unit itself) were blown. The furnace was calling for cool and sending 27v to the contactor, causing it to engage, but no voltage going into the contactor from the main leads (reading 0v across the two leads). Swapped out the blown fuses with two new ones, started right up! Hope this helps.
Curious if you may have any answers beyond Contactor for an irritating and possible power cost inflating Buzz when AC is off. 1 - Unit operation is excellent 2 - Problem exist Always when Unit is on/in use - even throughout winter months 3 - 2 Pole Contactor Switch has been inspected and Tested on a digital Meter - Both Contact Bars make/brake contact as designed 4 - There is no on/off switch, beyond bi-metal coil thermostat and Breaker in panel As a lifelong mechanic and trained Technician in other fields trained in other fields I am a firm believer in not simply throwing parts at a problem and hoping one fixes it. That is Hope without knowledge. Hope the problem goes away without knowledge of what has created the issue. * Any suggestions what else to check would be appreciated.
My experience is that burned/broken wires on the contactor or run capacitor is one of the most common causes of electrical failure. Bad run capacitors are second most common cause of failures. In Texas, it’s not unusual to find a fire ant 🐜 mound inside the condensing unit.
Thanks for making these very informative crystal clear videos. I’m not a HVAC tech but I love to learn as much as I can about AC systems. I have one question for you. What make and model of amp meter do you use? Thanks. Keep up the good work!
Thank you! Glad you find them helpful! If you look in the description, I have a list of most of the tools in my tool bag. But the meter I use is this one: UEI Multi Meter: amzn.to/2MbSHC2
❄ Other A/C Videos For Reference:
Top 5 A/C Problems:
ruclips.net/video/GOXgdnRB840/видео.html
Complete A/C Troubleshooting Guide:
ruclips.net/video/wzAA4dlp_70/видео.html
How to Clean Condenser Coil:
ruclips.net/video/pzwOvgjwm_Q/видео.html
How to Replace a Capacitor Full Guide:
ruclips.net/video/9ZGfvC-PMWU/видео.html
How to Replace a Contactor:
ruclips.net/video/qHZc9wWAF4c/видео.html
How to Replace Condenser Fan Motor:
ruclips.net/video/gGFTd2dmgxg/видео.html
How to Replace A/C Control Board:
ruclips.net/video/hijUExXrcm8/видео.html
How to Replace a Thermostat:
ruclips.net/video/1mJkjrwxdP4/видео.html
How to Program a Thermostat:
ruclips.net/video/uun8HJhM3h4/видео.html
How a Thermostat Works:
ruclips.net/video/Z4T9H-6VPtI/видео.html
How to Check Freon Level:
ruclips.net/video/dExFtP-nXTw/видео.html
How to Wire A/C Condenser Unit:
ruclips.net/video/KCanZEsLVEI/видео.html
How to Order Correct HVAC Parts:
ruclips.net/video/faCno8-vRnw/видео.html
How to Read A/C Wiring Diagram:
ruclips.net/video/I-sB4GIlbl4/видео.html
How an Air Conditioner Works:
ruclips.net/video/cRnzYJ4qmWE/видео.html
When Should You Replace A/C:
ruclips.net/video/Z7vUOySOWbM/видео.html
15 Air Conditioner Maintenance Tips:
ruclips.net/video/pBBnXHse-T0/видео.html
Should You Get an A/C Inspection:
ruclips.net/video/JqNsEzb__qs/видео.html
On my unit, heat and air, thermostat is blank, vacuumed drain ,replaced capacitor and plunger on contactor kicks unit on when manually compressed. Any ideas?
@@Guided-by-the-Word-Boyd-Delk Sorry to hear about the HVAC troubles! If your thermostat is blank i would suggest watching this video: ruclips.net/video/vi3OJuGfaac/видео.htmlsi=0u64JXzoYzBUjWBN
Jay, I appreciate with many many others- you sharing your knowledge and experience all things HVAC.
Q: Product number on capacitor does not match the original in my Trane. Numbers do-- 45+7 50/60hz. Replace with confidence- they match?
My contractor was buzzing like crazy and the unit was not turning on. I took the contractor out and was searching the web for a new one, then came across your video. As soon as you said "bugs", I found the small screws on the back plate, opened it and dead bugs everywhere and one live earwig. Cleaned it up, reinstalled and it works like a champ. Thanks.
Awesome 👍😎
There is a front plate no a back just put in new one I'm a 45 master certified HVAC tech never take them apart only certified should do that
❤ We fixed it! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!! I live out in the middle of nowhere with my uncle, a senior citizen. His AC went out, and we've had 100-degree days. It got up to 89 degrees in his house. Getting a service person here is a nightmare, so we tried on our own to see if we could fix it. He needed my help, so he showed me how to use the multimeter and guided me with installing a new contactor. I learned SO much in the process because there was a lot of troubleshooting and because he had me do a lot on my own and showed me how to work safely. He has me do a lot because he doesn't want me to have to ask a man for help. I can't even describe how happy I was when the AC came on. Definite confidence booster. I'm excited that now I can help others. Thank you so much for the tips for troubleshooting. You're awesome! Blessings!
Same thing with ac going out but contacterd have 2 burnt wires. 1 red an 1 blk, bought contscterd and R&R but no replacement female ends . So i have to go to AutoZone right now b4 it gets 100 again today in san Antonio Texas. Very fn hot.
You saved me a lot of money sir!!! My central air kept blowing the 3amp fuse on the board when I switched it to cooling. Checked every wire, everything and started losing hope, watched this and checked the contactor, had 1.9 ohms on the sides to eachother. Order a new one for $20, checked the new one and got 17.8 ohms from the box. Changed the part and it works mint now!!! Thank you very much, I owe you a beer man
Great video. I had the AC maintenance company come by and tell me that the contactor was working inconsistently. I hadn't noticed anything amiss myself, but they said their inspection uncovered it. They wanted $400 to replace it, and another $500 to replace the capacitor. After watching this video, I've come to realize that they're probably full of it (or I can just blow away the insects myself for $0). So thank you for saving me a lot of money!
That reminds me of a job I did, and the only problem was a massive amount of ants insulating the contact points from engaging. Fixed it with some raid applied around condenser. 😂
After watching some videos and reading articles online, I came across your video on testing the contactor and replacing. I took mine off, tested with the multimeter and got 0 for a reading. I then went to local store and bought a replacement contactor. I then tested it at home and got a reading. This further enforced that my old one was either not working or the multimeter was not working 😆. I then proceeded to install new contactor and then turn on AC. presto chango, it works. Thank you sir. It only cost me under $35. Saved me money getting someone here and paying an arm and a leg for diagnostic/parts/labor 👍🏼. Plus I look like i know what I'm doing 😎
Once again RUclips to the rescue for all its fault I've never learned more in all my life than watching videos of people like you and you explain yourself clear you don't lollygag it's great thank you
Fantastic video!! Pay attention, y'all. My issue was self-inflicted. I disconnected the ceiling receptacle in my garage for the garage door opener as part of a winter renovation project. Turns out, that circuit powers all the outdoor gfci receptacles AND my crawlspace receptacles; the condensation pump was plugged into one of the crawlspace receptacles. Winter turned into spring, with the garage receptacle still disconnected, the condensate pump filled up, tripping the safety switch thus not allowing the ac to kick on. Lol lesson learned. 🤣
Many thanks for the video!!!!
We all do things like that.... too many irons in the fire. Try writing down and keeping a note book...I do for most things I do...
I took my old one apart and refurbished it. It is pretty easy to do. Took a little wire brush and a drywall sandpaper pad to remove the pits and wear/carbon on the old contact. Hardest part is the spring that you see on the top plunger. It has to go on a dimple on the top and the bottom to keep in place. Just took a little finesse to get it back in. There are 4 contacts to smooth out. I will now keep this one as a backup since I replaced the whole thing. Good little project to understand the inner workings of the contactor. Thanks for posting!
Dude, you just saved me a bunch of money. Last time my condensor contactor failed, the AC guy said ants destroyed it and completely replaced it with a new one. This time, I just cleaned the contacts, and it's working again. Obviously, I need to just get one that's sealed, but for now, I'm good, thanks to you.
Saved me over $650, which is about what I was quoted. $18 at ACE, some sweaty hours later, and I was up and running again. Great video!
How is the name of this kit and where can I find it?
4^,
$650..☹️Sad this is why people don't trust AC techs Do you live in California?
@@victoragresti1777that’s the price to pay skill trades. A electrician will charge the same price to run a wire
@@josealonso7190there is no kit
Thank you. You addressed the resistance across the coil in one video, but only talked about an open coil. In this video you answered my question, "what is the resistance value of a good coil?"
I have one of those less common shorted coils.
Your assistance is greatly appreciated.
I have a sticking contactor. Compressor never stops running even below thermostat setting, and lines begin to ice up. Figured it out watching youtube. I ordered oem new part for $13.00usd. Will replace this week.
My Initial $100 service call to licensed HVAC pro, could not pinpoint problem. System pressures checked to spec, filter clean, system 5yrs old. They did come out a second time and quoted $5-8k worth of new flex ducting, measured "high static pressure" aka duct size restrction. Which was a B.S. scam. So you saved me several thousand, vs the local licensed "experts". Thanks
Oh man, wow! I'm glad you were able to figure out the problem! Unfortunately there are companies like that out there.. Happy to know that my videos assisted in the process :) Stay cool!
Saved a bunch of money this week, thanks to your video.
My furnace worked fine until I called for AC this spring.The 3 amp fuse on the panel blew every time I tried the AC. I disconnected the 24V wires at the contactor and the fuse did not blow when calling for AC. I assumed it was the contactor, but after watching this video on checking the resistance, mine was reading 0.6 ohms instead of 8 to 20 ohms. Pretty much a dead short in the coil. Thanks for showing how to, and what the correct measurements should be. Ordered a new contactor and pretty sure that will fix it.
Received the new contactor and installed it as seen in this video, and a bad coil in the contactor was definitely the problem. The AC turned on as it should. Thanks for the great videos.
Bro, you saved me close to $500 by educating how to troubleshoot a short and finally locating it as the AC Contactor. Cost me only $20 for AC Contactor and $7 for a pack of 3 Amp Fuses. Superb video and excellent instructions! Wish you all the best...
Follow up - Dad kept the old contactor, and low and behold, there was an insect in there. (This contactor did not have a cover like yours, but thanks for mentioning some don't). I tested it just as you demonstrated and even hooked up a 24V Omron power supply to pull the coil repeatedly, which was also pristine. 250$ gone for a bug!!! Live and learn! Cheers for these videos!
Big thanks to you for these AC videos! AC was blowing hot air into house and I found the condenser fan not spinning. Thanks to your content, I assumed it was a capacitor and ordered a new one. When I went to change, I noted NO physical signs the original cap was bad, but DID notice the contactor was full of ants! W/ everything shut down, cleaned out all the ants w/ a pic and wire brush and turned everything back on. System fired right up. This unit is at a remote property of ours, so I'll check all again next time I am there. For now, I'll take the win and I now I have an extra capacitor should I ever need it. THANK YOU
Jay, thank you so much for your most informative and practical videos. With your help I have not only saved $$$ but I have learned so much. My condenser fan would not run when the outside temp exceeded 85F. My service provider, who has serviced the system two times per year for the past 11 yrs, diagnosed the problem and changed out the capacitor for $400. However, the problem still existed. With the help of your videos, I have replaced the condenser fan motor, thoroughly cleaned interior and exterior coils, blower wheel motor, coil drain pan and lines, and changed the air filter. Lastly, I changed out the contactor ($20 item), and eureka??, the system has been running great even with outside temps in the 90s
Thank you!!!! Was having a low voltage short issue. Fuse would blow everytime I switched the thermostat to A/C. Got it narrowed down to the outdoor unit. After watching this video, tested the resistance on the contactor and it measured .4 ohms. Ordered a new one, ($13) installed, and it works perfectly. Thanks again!!!! Saved me I don't know how much $$$.
Thanks for this, folks paid 250$ for a contactor replacement, it was tested and bad. First time is ok, and I'll be getting a spare contactor and capacitor to keep around for the next one.
Massive buzzing coming from my unit but it was still working. I cut the power and still had the buzz, which I found to be a malfunctioning contactor. I was going to replace it, but found your video. I checked inside and found some smashed earwigs in there. All cleaned and working a dream. Many thanks!! I was high and dry after the parts store closed on a hot Sunday and now we're nice and cool 😎
The contactor gets 24v from the transformer inside. So cutting off power outside won't stop contactor from being energized.
I checked out my contactor yesterday and lo and behold I had put the Line ins on the T side! Doh. It really doesn’t matter which side you use as long as you know which side has the single pole side versus the shunt side. The L1/T1 side is actually the single pole (contact/pull) side and L2/T2 side is the shunt side. Spade counts on both side are the same too. Great video thank you
Line voltage 1 , line voltage 2 , all contactor's aren't single pole , some are double pole
You saved me a fortune man. I had gone through all of your troubleshooting tips. Capacitors, fuses, blowers, boards switches etc. In the end, all it was was a bad operator who was waiting just short of a minute or maybe seconds. I was not giving the system time to delay and could not figure out why the Emergency heat was kicking on full on gas 112 degrees out of the register. Finally, cool breezes and my cats are no longer giving me the finger because it is 92 degrees in the house...! Cause they can't they could only give me the "claw"....! Thanks so much, I really appreciate it.
Oh man! It was just a delay all along after all that. Well not all is bad :) You probably learned more then you wanted about your HVAC system now, so if something happens again down the road you will be ready to tackle it! Anyway, stay cool!
thanks for mentioning the bugs getting in the contacts of the contactor!! My AC stopped working. I have the old style contactor without the plastic lid covering the contacts. I noticed a dead earwig bug near the contacts. I verified the contactor was energizing but the squished bug was enough to insulate the contacts so power wasn't getting to the other side when the contactor was energized. I verified with a voltmeter. Then I turned off the power, lifted the contact and cleaned out the squished bug then used a little emery paper to clean up the contacts. All fixed now, Thanks so much you saved me a few hundred bucks on a service call!. My wife especially thanks you ....
If the contacts don't look good, never try cleaning points with emery; just spend 20 or 30 bucks and replace contactor; otherwise you'll be buying a new compressor!
Jay! Jay, Jay, Jay, Jay!!!!! Dude, I got man handled the last time I had an HVAC repair guy come out. When he left I was thinking those HVAC capacitors were made of diamonds or something. Anyway, AC went out and this time I figured I'd dust off the old tool belt, grab a can of elbow grease, and get down to business.
Initially I thought the fan motor was bad. It wouldn't spin very easily, not like my other AC unit, so I ordered one, replaced it in 10 minutes, and pounded myself on the chest in a way that said to all onlookers (mainly my dogs), "I'm a handy guy, yeah boy!!". Unfortunately, the new motor wouldn't come on after I powered everything back on.
So, I ordered a capacitor. It just had to be the cap. It's always the cap. Last time it was the cap. Amazon dropped one off in about 2 days of searing hell flames heat (upstairs thankfully). It came, I popped it in, I patted myself on the back. The dogs were cheering for me, or would have been if they knew what a feat I'd just performed. Hey, they're dogs. They lick their butts. What do they know? By the way, they aren't made of diamonds. The capacitors, I mean.
Well, that didn't work either.
I was just about to turn in my man card and phone an AC repair crew. I wasn't happy. The dogs weren't happy either, but being dogs they probably didn't understand why.
Then I found you, Jay. You mentioned that the little cover on the "Contactor" comes off, or "Thingamajiggy", as I was calling it. Well what do you know, I took the cover off and there were about a million tiny little dead ants piled up under it. I didn't know a million tiny dead ants could fit under that cover. I didn't actually realize it WAS a cover, but then neither did the dogs, so I don't feel too bad about it.
Anyway, I pulled out the my air compressor, shot some high powered air into the thingamajiggy, dead ants were flying everywhere, the dogs were happy as hell and licking their butts, and when I powered the sucker back on the fan was moving, cold air was pumping inside, and my man card went right back in my pocket. Nobody's taking that bad boy.
Thanks Jay! You saved the day.
By the way, beer tastes a lot better after a guy fixes something. I don't know why, but here's to you, Jay, my man!!!!
Lol! That was an awesome comment man! Thank you for taking the time to write that! Your story telling sure is funny stuff. I'm glad to hear that you finally got it going, the dogs are thrilled, and your man card remains with you! Now all you have to do is stay cool and enjoy that beer! Cheers!
Oh my goodness! I live in Florida - it is late July - I am a female with two female roommates and our AC stopped working yesterday. We can't afford to call someone out this month and I'm the only one with any mechanical abilities at all, I do most of the work on my car, in fact I don't recall ever taking it to a mechanic. But air conditioners are a totally different beast! Sooooo I'm all over the internet and RUclips (thank you, Jay) I'm very frustrated and it's over 100 degrees... I begin to feel like I'm about to internally combust and I come across this comment.
Which brings me to my point (sorry about all that jibber jabber) I just wanted to tell you your words really brightened my day. Your style of writing is incredible! It reminds me of Robert Fulghum. I truly hope you are a writer, or in the very least, sharing some of your words with the world in some way. Blog? Video? Self help website? Hehe!
Not only did I enjoy the comment, but it pleases me to see someone being gracious, humble, positive, and genuine. It's refreshing in this RUclips world full of hostility and criticism; so, thank you both for contributing in such an inspiring way! I hope many others take note of how a man TRULY earns his "man card"
Patrick Connolly I love your comment, I rarely ever read an entire comment as long as yours. Not only did you have me in stitches from laughing so hard, you reinforced what Jay (whom I agree is awesome) had already said about bugs corroding the contractor which ended up being my problem. You are refreshingly funny, you kept my interest all the way through, and it left me wanting more. If you haven’t already, you should take that talent and put it into stand up comedy, making videos, blogging, etc.
Well you got a new fan motor and capacitor still cheaper than a service call
Patrick Connolly Feels good when you can do it yourself, doesn’t it?
Thanks so much for this. I was able to determine my contractor wasn’t working, get a replacement, and now my AC works great!
Your casual mention of the condensate overflow switch @5:34 saved me from a service call. Thanks a bunch. Great Channel!
Glad I mentioned it! :) Thank you for watching and commenting, stay cool!
Currently an HVAC student and my teacher is great but I love watching your videos and different scenarios you encounter in the field... I literally take notes from your video lol...
Hey please where are you studying and which country ? Thanks
Thanks for the video. I knew my old compressor fan was going bad (the bearing was really chirping) it stopped working, so I assumed it was that. My HVAC uncle from California sent me a new fan and capacitor, and nothing. So, I cleaned out the condensation pump to ensure the safety switch wasn't gunked up, nothing. Long story short. It was this relay. Cleaned it out and it is now working. It looks really burnt out, still will be swapping it out for a new one when it gets here.
To shorten this excellent video just check the voltage across the contactor coil terminals and if it reads the correct voltage for that contactor, and it is not pulling in, it is bad. Replace it. If it is an ant issue spray it with contact cleaner or just change it and be done with it. They make a vibrating sound when they are fixing to give trouble.
Lol, thanks for the summary Frank! :)
I fixed my AC myself! First I replaced the capacitor - that wasn’t it but I kept working on and thanks to this video I eventually found a loose thermostat wire in the furnace control panel. 3 ac pros had been here and none of them even tried troubleshooting the equipment. They all just wanted to replace because it’s an older unit. The quotes were between $6,000-$28,000! Thanks you!!! I'm making a donation to your Paypal.
so you are saying that you paid for all of them service visit fee? or you called them to get quotes only for not to pay service fee?
@@ibrahimamac He more than likely did or denied to pay. Not making assumptions here but sounds to me the companies that came through were incompetent in troubleshooting that system. A definite win, service charges usually $50-100 or more but $6k in quotes?! Um no thank you. And happens to just be a loose terminal. That air handler vibrates all the time and cycles the air through. Kudos
@@KevsHowToDIY you gain customer trust for fixing small things, they will see that you are honest and they will make you change unit next time no matter what the much money is. Plus it isnt gonna be huge difference like that. But if somebody tells me that 3 ac pros came and didnt fix it which is odd. Because sometimes you make more profit from small things than free quotes.
What a bunch of as****. Didn't even attempted to fix the unit, just wanted to replace it.
Great vid thx bro u make me a better tech
FYI....second time I watched this, but i JUST now paid enough attention to see your Contact Covers!! And just so you know your CONTACTS are marked on the Cover you Removed - the cover over the contacts has each terminal Clearly Marked on it....look at your film at 5:00 on and several over scenes which show you L1/L2 and T1/T2!
Thanks for al your help!
a small piece of leaf was the culprit yesterday, your video saved the day!
Thank you for posting such informative videos. I really appreciate you spending the time and sharing your knowledge to educate people. I have no HVAC or electrical skills whatsoever but with your videos and some googling of terminology I was able to solve my problem.
As a single mom, the money I saved fixing the problem myself is a huge win for me! Not to mention the confidence boost!! Also teaching my children to attempt to problem solve before "calling a guy" is super important to me.
This was my issue for those interested: My AC was humming but fan wasn't spinning. Wouldn't keep spinning even with push of the fan but did spin freely. Replaced the capacitor following your videos as it was completely rusted and I assumed it was the problem. Turned it back on; same issue. Inspected and tested the contactor and it was getting voltage but not everytime the plunger was compressed. (Should note my multimeter is from the 80s, not digital and I wasn't sure it even worked correctly) Blew out the plunger and sure enough there was a big old dead bug messing things up. Cleaned it up and turned it back on. We have fan power!!
Thanks again!
Whew, I am sure glad I am not the only one with similar AC issues. I had a defective contactor, got a new one and thought I wired correctly - unfortunately I accidentally crossed one wire and shorted the new contactor and control board on the furnace. Waiting for new parts to arrive. Thanks to watching you videos I have learned more and really enjoy them. Thanks again!
Control board has fuses. I bet you didnt need a new one, just a fuse. :D
You should mark every wires on the contactor or taking a picture. No, no short cut!
I love it when Johnny homeowner thinks he smoked a circuit board when it's a 3 or 5 amp fuse those payments on my Ferrari are killing me but hey a service call or 2 will put that money right to this month's payment cha ching all the way to the bank and I don't cheat anyone I just charge top dollar for my services the name of my company MONEY BAGS MECHANICAL 24 HR SERVICE LMFAO
Thanks for the in-depth video on this small but somewhat dangerous job. Knowing what it is and how it works gave me the confidence to sort the issue out myself. Didn't need to replace, just needed to spray contacts and switch with contact cleaner through a straw. $9. My HVAC guy wanted to cheat me on nearly every component. Sent him packing. 😂
Thank you for your videos! Whoever doesn't agree with you sharing knowledge is just a man who makes money off of people's misinformation. There's an hvac school that charges $18k for the same you offer for free. You're changing the industry to what it would be in the future - a more precise self diagnostics made by customer or a smart device and less time wasted by technician
Thank you! It's nice to get comments like yours once in a while to offset the opposing side's comments :) Thanks for watching, stay cool!
Thanks for the videos.
Mine was indeed completely fried. Once it was replaced, the AC turned on and is now cooling.
I had to replace my contactor a few weeks ago. The root cause is that the coil is shorted so the 3A fuse on the control board keeps burn out (24V/3A=8 Ohm, meaning if your contactor coil is measured lower than 8 Ohm your fuse would probably blow. Additionally the 24V control voltage is usually somewhere between 24V and 30V, meaning a lower margin on the resistance range). I have searched online and watched a lot of how to videos but it is not common to find such failure mode. Just want to share this tip with the other viewers. Measure the resistance of the contactor coil, if it is too high or too low, replace it.
Just wanted to share with you how much I appreciate your videos and especially to share that you helped saved our family from a long holiday weekend of misery. If these A/C units are going to breakdown, why does it always happen on the weekends or over holidays when it would cost a small fortune to get someone out to troubleshoot? Murphy's Law I suppose. It took me a day and a half to figure it out watching several videos to get me through all the troubleshooting, especially the voltage tests but I was able to isolate the thermostat as being the culprit. I happened to have an extra one handy to test, so I changed it out and waited for it to cycle up and voila', the condenser fan started and condenser kicked in almost immediately. You can imagine the relief of getting the A/C working again in sweltering 90+ temps in Miami this week. More importantly, happy wife happy life, right? Thanks again for producing these excellent, step by step educational videos.
this is the stuff. have seen lots from lots and most have shown less. well done. my first time seeing you but not the last. good job doing a good job 👍
Awesome I was about to replace my capacitor or the contactor. That is until I tapped on the contactor a few times and finally heard the compressor kicked in. Then my thoughts were .... Those freaking earwigs! You just confirmed it here, so I'm happy not having to replace either parts. Ty
Boo I spoke too soon. It died again few hours later. Replacing the capacitor cause I know the contactor still works. Cleaned and all its kicking on the fan, but no compressor
Thank you for taking the time to make this video . its wonderful to have the proper information to diagnose the problem
My Trane A/C contact switch starting rapidly clicking this weekend. After shutting off the power I inspected the switch and the wiring. Both looked good. Coincidentally I just had a new fan motor installed 2 weeks ago so I thought for sure the issue was related to the new fan motor. It talking to a friend who works with A/C controls, he asked "how old is your thermostat and have you replaced the batteries". The thermostat is old, about 23 years old. I replaced all 3 AA batteries in the old thermostat and to my surprise the outside contact switch quit clicking when the outside unit is running. I got lucky this time.
Oh man if I watched you video I would've been saved $460 that I paid to replace the contactor. Thank you
We paid almost 400 just to replace a capacitor…. I feel scammed
Thank you for this. Found my 10 year old Goodman condenser was running when the thermo was off. The contact was stuck. Figured 10 years is a good run, so time to replace.
Your videos are great! Extremely helpful. Your descriptions are easy to follow and your explanations are thorough. Thank you for all your hard work!
You're welcome! Glad you liked the video, thank you for watching and commenting!
Word of Advice TV Subscribed! 🤙
@@PigeonDesign And then going above and beyond and subscribing!! :D
Great video. Incredibly clear and straight forward.
Hello good morning I'm so glad I asked you about the AC our AC guy who used to service the unit he moved we called a new AC guy the first thing he says to me it's your compressor I asked him to check the contactor he replied if you know what to do you don't need me, I replied I jost want a honest answer if I don't want to pull out the compressor if is the contactor I told him you were highly recommended just wanted a honest answer so the AC is working it was the contactor we won't use him again thank you for your tip greatful for your help thank you.
Thank you so much for these AC tutorials. With your help I easily fixed my unit (and checked the compressor and fan to boot)! Saved hundreds of $$$ because of your help.
Dude! You just saved me some $$$ by fixing it myself. Thank you, thank you, thank you 👍.
Thank you!! My plunger was stuck sucked in due to ladybugs causing the fan to run constantly. Thank you for your excellent explanation of how the contactor coil works!
So how do fix a plynger that's stuck in 😢😊
@@Ptiou99 I shut the power off at my breaker and pried it loose. I did order a brand new contactor through Amazon and replaced the old one. My a/c works perfectly now.
In my part of the world HVAC companies are always trying to push yearly contracts. Usually around $140 a year for two checks. Exactly what is checked during these inspections? And, can I do them myself? Often after contracting… the company disappears. Quite a racket. Please make a video on what is actually checked and how to perform this service ourselves. Many thanks from the Texas Hill country. I will be watching for comments
About six years ago I changed my contactor, cost me like twenty bucks. Changed it because for two years in a row when I first turned the A/C on it chattered and the A/C would not start. To fix it I just kicked the A/C unit. Then for the rest of the season it was fine. Like I said that went the same for two years. Third year is when I changed it out. No problems since. I figured it was likely a piece of dirt or bug caught in there and I removed it with the shock of a kick. Done the same with A/C fan centers attached to the furnace. Get there and they are making an awful noise and I just hammer fist them on the metal housing and they instantly repair.
Just today, I changed the capacitor. My A/C went down Saturday night on a long weekend. Had to wait until today Tuesday to get the new part. Sweated in the heat all Sunday and Monday. Wasn't a good weekend, it was hot. Took just a couple of minutes to install the new one, compressor started up immediately. No place to get even simple parts after hours or on weekends.
This was my exact issue.. great video of my AC goes out again i can test this. THANKS!!!
Saved me an expensive service call 😎 Earwig in the contactor, Thank you!
For any unlucky soul such as myself, CHECK YOUR RESET SWITCH IF YOU'RE CONTRACTOR INSTALLED ONE INSIDE YOUR HOUSE!!! I changed my contactor, my motor and it's corresponding capacitor and the fan would not turn over unless i gave it a nudge with a stick. I went inside and clicked the reset switch that a contractor had installed near my condensate pump and this now provided the 24 volts to the contactor. I had the reverse problem in the winter when the condensate pump was continuously running b/c the condensate line had frozen and the reset switch had tripped. I had to thaw the line out and run it into my sewer line inside the crawl space so it wouldn't freeze and then flipped the reset switch and i had heat. Of course both times, it was both the hottest day and coldest day of the year at the holidays!!! lmfao !!
UPDATE: It actually only started up only one time after i flipped the reset switch, but now the old issue is back once again. 24 volts getting to the contactor, juice getting to the contactors, but the capacitor just wont kick start the motor. The capacitor is rated for the motor and what was recommended. I don't know what else to do except wait two more days till after July 4th to have an HVAC person come out. I'm open to ideas ..... lol
Woke up to a hot house and condenser not running. I troubleshoot the condenser and came down to a bad contactor. Replaced and everything back to normal.
You don’t know anything about ac’s
Great video! It was a great help in determining if my contactor was bad.
I'm not a technician or etc but I know I'm having a low voltage problem. After opening the inside unit I noticed the condensation trap hose came disconnected and the lower area filled with about a half inch of water near the gas burners. My 3 amp fuse blew. Upon replacing it the fuse blow the second I put power to it. Looked at the contactor it's an older one and is not covered. I didn't notice any burning or etc on the copper coil of the contactor. Don't see any shorts, and also check thermostat for good connections as other areas.
So I guess this repair is beyond my current knowledge level. I'm guessing the moisture caused the computer board to short out. Anyway I'm going to give a call to an expert. Enjoyed learning more about this.
Thanks for this video
Thanks for the informative videos. AC stopped working and you helped me troubleshoot the components that allowed me identify the problem and not just throw money at replacing parts until it worked. Thank You.
Great video and info . My a/c was not working and watched your video and it lead me to the float switch in the attic. Thanks
Bro you are awesome . Please don't stop making videos . . Your the best!!
Just a heads up...O/L means that the resistance is too HIGH for the meater to read. I try to remember the difference between low and high resistance by thinking about how hard it is for current to get through something. Low resistance is easy for current to get though a cord, contact or fuse and higher resistance is harder to get through. If a cord, fuse or contact is broken it makes it extremely difficult for current to travel through which makes the multi meter read O/L.
This video is super useful. My AC is not turning on. I have tested a few things: there is 240V input power. When the switch on the contactor is pushed down, the AC turned on. There is NO 24V coming to the contactor when the nest thermostat is on. Can you provide any suggestion on troubleshoting further? Like what could be wrong so that there was no 24V needed to activate the contactor switch?
Excellent description on how they work.
4 yrs later...... Very informative video + 1 new Subscriber. Great job on that video. Thank you
Another great video! Knowledge is power!
Good information. Unrelated question, what kind of flashlight did you use?
Thank you! It's a great flashlight. I still use it: amzn.to/4bdchZS
@@WordofAdviceTV Thank you much!
You’re the best man wish I worked with you so I can learn the best
Yeah I’m new to the field and a lot of guys don’t like helping the rookies lol
Compressors draw a bunch of current and create an arc on the contactor. Over time the contactors will become pitted enough to make starting the compressor with low voltage. In turn causing more stress on the compressor.... eventually burning out the compressor windings. It's best to replace the Cheap $20 Contactor VS a compressor that would cause $$$ a lot more.
Thanks for these videos. The value is immense!
When I’m in an ac unit and trouble shooting I soemtimes find the contactor stuck …I use an insulated screwdriver to lightly tap on it and wiggle it back and forth and have gotten in the habit of cleaning it out with contact cleaner every time. Seems to get rid of all of the troubles with it and like you said, rarely ever replace
Thanks for your good videos. Maybe mention even though contactor can be responding and engaging power, but if burned or pitted contacts, it may not be a good connection and damaging compressor.
See u added the arrow showing your Cover with the Contact names. Still trying to figure mine out....thanks again!
Good video. One question > What if the fan runs constantly?, just the fun. I replaced capacitor and contactor. Compressor is fine, on and off, but will stop. Thanks
Great video. I’ve tried everything. Something keeps tripping the breaker, but it does not appear to be the compressor. It is not ground out. I found some bad wires fixed those still tripping the breaker. The capacitor is good. The only thing I haven’t tried is the contactor. What is the likelihood the contactor is causing my breaker to trip?
Very informative. Thanks for sharing.
Hey, you produce some great videos... Very informative and easy to understand... Best on youtube....
I appreciate that! Thank you! I will try to continue living up to the bar set by the previous videos :)
LIKE ALWAYS,AWESOME VIDEO,VERY GOOD TEACHER,GOD BLESS YOU ALWAYS......
Great info, thx ..but you failed to mention how much voltage should coming out of T1 side...I'm assuming 120
Thank You.....You are an Excellent Instructor!!😎
I have a Trane XR 15 heat pump. This summer the ac ran fine. no issues. When I turned on the heat the other day I noticed a loud vibrating buzzing sound coming from the heat pump. I took off the cover and noticed the noise was coming from the contactor coil. Should I try cleaning it or replace it? It is 10 years old.
So I removed the coil and disassembled it and found live and dead earwig bugs inside of it. Found one bug squished between the contact points, which was causing the vibrating of the coil, cleaned out the dead bug and put it back together and it works great. Thanks for the great video. Keep up the good work.
Thank you for your video. On the new part, if they didn't have labels as L1 & L2, how do you know which end will be used as power-in?
You're welcome! It actually doesn't really matter. You could use either side. 👍
@@WordofAdviceTV Thank you for your response. I replaced a new contactor because it is over 12 yrs. It does not cost much.
I have question(s) needed help. My ac "cooling" system keeps running and cannot be turned off. I replaced solid-state time-delay, fan-relay, and the contactor, but the system keeps running and cannot be turn-off. What caused such problem(s)?
Thank you for your videos, very informative. I've got a question. Why do I hear a "bong" sound whenever my air handler is about to turn on? I can't figure it out.
I sure hope it’s just the contactor on my AC unit. I have a friend who does HVAC and he thought it was my fan motor. I bought a new one along with the capacitor. After installing it I turned on the AC and it ran for a short time although it seemed to be running kinda rough. After a bit it slowed down and then stopped but you could still here the compressor. Now the fan is not running at all. Keep in mind the old fan that we thought was bad ran the exact same way. It sounded a little rough. I’m now thinking that the old fan and capacitor wasn’t bad and was running rough because it didn’t have good connection with the contactor. I’ll be checking it in just a bit and I’m hoping that it’s just dirty or has a build up of insects like you had mentioned. My home has two AC units (one for upstairs and one for downstairs). Thank God at least one level is staying cool. This KY heat can you be miserable. Thanks again for sharing your expertise with us.
Watched a few of your videos and liked them. Can you please help with a diagnosis?
Neither compressor nor compressor fan come on when I turn on AC and wait.
I can hear the contactor click.
Out of maybe 20 times, compressor did come on twice but then shut off after a minute or so. Compressor fan did not come on at all.
I waited at least 1 hour between trys.
I measured output of contactor and it has 240VAC when thermostat calls for cool.
I ohmed out fan and it has 2 reading that add up to the third. It spins freely if I spin it with a stick.
I replaced the startup capacitor and relay. It already had one. It didn't help.
I ordered a new run capacitor so hoping that will fix it.
The system was working fine for many years before this issue started 2 days ago.
Thanks for any help you can give.
Sorry to hear about the A/C problems! What you described sounds like a bad run capacitor so hopefully once you receive it your unit will be back up and running no problem.
Great video! very clear!
My heat is not working. I called Hvac guy came,. He replaced the fan motor and thermosate. However, the machine stopped after working for abond 10 hours, and the alarm indicator light showed as low pressure lockout. The hvac guy came back. He jumper the the heat pump to restart it. The test pressure was normal, but it still stopped after 10 hours, and it also showed as low pressure lock. The hvac guy don’t know what's the problem now.
Can you give me some suggestions on where to check to find the problem?
Thank you very much.
Jay: You may remember me mentioning that I had to replace my blower motor about a month ago. Following your video on replacing them made it a piece of cake. (Thank you!) Everything worked out fine and my Trane has been cooling great since then... until a few days ago. Now I'm having a new problem and was wondering if it could be the contactor or if not, maybe you've seen a similar problem to the one below.
When the thermostat is set to COOL and the fan to AUTO, and when it calls for cool, the circulator fan starts for about 2-3 seconds and then turns off. Then switching the t-stat to OFF and the fan to ON, the fan runs until I switch the t-stat over to COOL, but the fan turns off again when the t-stat calls for cooling. Trying another t-stat got the same results.
Now I'm thinking it's a control board problem (WR 50A50-571), so next I bypassed the fan from the control board (to keep it circulating), set the t-stat to COOL and let it cool-down the house. With the t-stat working and the fan running, I decided to let it go for the night and watch some of your other videos to figure out what to try next.
In the morning, it seemed really cool and checking the t-stat showed the temp was 70 degrees. It was not calling for cool, but it was still getting cooler. So I switched OFF the t-stat and as I was walking past the window, I heard the hum of the compressor unit outside. I said, "No way!" and went to the air handler and unplugged it. And I couldn't believe it, but it sounded like the compressor was still running!!! And when I got outside, yep, the compressor unit was humming along. But it was not freezing-up or anything. So I removed the puller thing from the disconnect box, and now I'm thinking the contactor must be fused stuck. After getting a cup of coffee, I plugged-in the disconnect thing expecting the compressor would kick on again but it did not.
Then I tried the whole sequence a few more times and got the same results. So I'm not sure what to check next. (I do have a multi-meter.) Any help would be greatly appreciated.
NOTE: Inside the electrical box is an oval 440V, 45uf/5uf capacitor (some rust on top), a Supco SPP8E (1 thru 5 hp) hard start capacitor, and a 40A, 24V, 1-pole contactor. The contactor moves freely (no bugs inside) and does not have any burn marks.
Thanks again for your channel! - Sorry for the long post...
- Michael D.
*** Just a DIYer trying to learn a thing or two about HVAC ***
Just to follow-up: I found that the contactor was intermittently sticking closed which kept the compressor running after the thermostat was called to switch it off. The day after my 400+ word post above, I replaced the contactor and everything is working normally. -- Thanks again for your awesome channel!
@@michaeld.5189 hi, can you help me how to identify which contactor to get ? Do you have clicking noise ? When the blower not turn on ? I changed the capacitor alread
Excellent explanation. Electrical supply to the contactor on the AC has 27 volts when I measured it but the magnetic switch won't pull down and engaged. I measured the ohm of the 24 volts contacts and the reading is 11.5ohm which should be within the range. What's the problem ? BTW, when I pressed on the switch (plunger) the AC fan and compressor started up without problem. Thanks
I think I answered you on a different video :) Let me know if you didn't get the response
I have your response on a different video. Thanks
@@WordofAdviceTV Thanks, where is that video and answer? Looks like I am having the same problem now, inside fan works fine, but outside fan won't start. The contactor has the 24v, 240v and 14ohm, capacitor tested good also. If i manually press the contactor plunger, the fan and compressor will kick in immediately, when I release the plunger, fan stopped. what is my problem?
@@lw30062 If the contactor gets 24v but it does not pull in, the contactor is either stuck in the open position or is bad and needs to be replaced. The video I referred him to for this question was this one: ruclips.net/video/NVPhsK4gK1A/видео.html
@@WordofAdviceTV Thanks for your quick response. The contractor is not stuck, Ok, I will buy a new contractor to try. Hope that’s the problem.
that was really easy to understand, thank you.
Bro you just saved me so much money! Thank you!!!
Very informative. What if you get 27 volts from the wires coming from the thermostat but contactor still reads 0 volts?
Not sure I understand the question.. But I think this video will be of help: ruclips.net/video/NVPhsK4gK1A/видео.html
I had this same problem. My fuses from the main disconnect (between the breakers and the unit itself) were blown. The furnace was calling for cool and sending 27v to the contactor, causing it to engage, but no voltage going into the contactor from the main leads (reading 0v across the two leads). Swapped out the blown fuses with two new ones, started right up! Hope this helps.
@@joshuadobson8809 Thank you for sharing your experience!
#8 from the link he posted did for me so I have been chilling since then. Thanks for sharing your results to help others.
Jay... ur videos are pretty simple and helpful. Great job. Expecting more videos related to troubleshooting
Curious if you may have any answers beyond Contactor for an irritating and possible power cost inflating Buzz when AC is off.
1 - Unit operation is excellent
2 - Problem exist Always when Unit is on/in use - even throughout winter months
3 - 2 Pole Contactor Switch has been inspected and Tested on a digital Meter - Both Contact Bars make/brake contact as designed
4 - There is no on/off switch, beyond bi-metal coil thermostat and Breaker in panel
As a lifelong mechanic and trained Technician in other fields trained in other fields I am a firm believer in not simply throwing parts at a problem and hoping one fixes it. That is Hope without knowledge. Hope the problem goes away without knowledge of what has created the issue.
* Any suggestions what else to check would be appreciated.
Excellent video and it shows u got a lot of experience 😀
My experience is that burned/broken wires on the contactor or run capacitor is one of the most common causes of electrical failure. Bad run capacitors are second most common cause of failures. In Texas, it’s not unusual to find a fire ant 🐜 mound inside the condensing unit.
Your video is amazing -- you present well and offer a great explanation. Wonderful job, thank you for sharing.
Thanks for making these very informative crystal clear videos. I’m not a HVAC tech but I love to learn as much as I can about AC systems. I have one question for you. What make and model of amp meter do you use? Thanks. Keep up the good work!
Thank you! Glad you find them helpful! If you look in the description, I have a list of most of the tools in my tool bag. But the meter I use is this one:
UEI Multi Meter: amzn.to/2MbSHC2
Good tutorial, God bless.