Technical > Home Improvement > A/C help.

reply to SWLAWxGuy

Re: A/C help.

reply to echo
While you're at the supply shop, consider picking up a hard start kit for your compressor if your a/c is getting on in age.

reply to Bob
Lol... if the AC is running, you get more uptime from the wife. If you are lucky.

reply to echo
Thanks for the great advice all.
Lurch-I will go to that store when/if I need parts, thanks. The A/C is for me, the dogs, and the wife-in that order. I work outside and need to cool down after work, one of the dogs is very old, and has a hard time breathing if it's over 80. The wife can take it or leave it unless its over 90.
I always ask when she wants to turn it on and I'm on the road "Are the dogs panting?" She knows to say "Yes". I think she's got the question figured out......
I will get a contactor and replace it as well, is that something that would benefit from some electrical lube?? I see only 1 cap in the unit. Where would any others be? And yes, I pull the disconnect and discharged the old cap (it had no charge) just in case. Doesn't a hard start kit just hide a different problem?? No idea-but they installed one on my fridge for $125 and within 6 months the fridge was junk-they told me they replaced the compressor, jerks.
I'm headed to Indiana on Monday for 2 weeks, so hopefully it gets here tomorrow. Of course, my hotel WILL have A/C so...
I really appreciate all the expert advice. I'll be sure to post after replacing and let you kind folks know.

Typical residential units have just one dual run cap, rather than two individual caps for the compressor and the fan. When you install the new one, make sure you hook the fan wire to "fan" and the compressor to "herm". The third connection is the common.
I wouldn't worry about a hard start kit unless the compressor is having a hard time starting.

reply to echo
Cap came today. 2 days-nice. I'll install it after Salmon fishing tomorrow, and let all interested know the results. Thanks again for all the help. Don

reply to echo
Replace the capacitor, turned the unit on...nothing. Turns out 1 of the fuses in the disconnect was open...replaced both,turned unit on....success!!. Thanks again everyone!