Residential AC short circuit

[bigb]

Paging @flman and any other HVAC techs. I had another AC fail yesterday at my rentals. This one is a 3 ton split system. When I arrived I checked the disconnect and there was no power, long story short the breaker had tripped in the panel downstairs and also both fuses in the DC were blown, a serious line to line short circuit. I fixed up the tenant with a temporary portable and called my AC guy who will be there tomorrow afternoon. At first I thought the compressor must be seized, but after I left I thought about the capacitors, I should have checked them but I didn't. Is it possible it's just a blown capacitor? Would a seized compressor melt both fuses and trip the supply breaker simultaneously?

 

[Tim Hodgson aka "E350"]

Not an HVAC tech but the start/run capacitors have gone out in both my wife's and my rentals over the years.

Make sure you turn the power off and discharge the capacitor before removing it if it is still functioning.

My AC company "friend" told me the unit was likely dead due to a bad compressor but that he could replace the unit for about $5,000. I determined it was a bad capacitor. Which was a $26 part which my buddy and I installed.

If the capacitor canister rocks on the table due to a convex bottom, it is bad.

I have since learned that the start/run capacitor failure is the prevalent cause of air conditioner failure.

Make sure you take a photo of the wiring before you disassemble it. I hooked my wife's replacement up wrong and had to make a trip to the appliance store for a second one.

 

[bigb]

So the cap was good, contactor good, compressor good but condenser fan bad. Compressor starts fan doesn't. New fan motor tomorrow. Meanwhile the little twin hose portable I bought at Costco last year is keeping the tenant cool. Expecting record heat this week.

 

[Tim Hodgson aka "E350"]

Very good. I didn't mean to divert @flman (one of my favorite posters here) from posting.

 

[3Play]

So the cap was good, contactor good, compressor good but condenser fan bad. Compressor starts fan doesn't. New fan tomorrow. Meanwhile the little twin hose
portable I bought at Costco last year is keeping the tenant cool. Expecting record heat this week.

I have extra window units if you need one......

 

[bigb]

I have extra window units if you need one......

Thanks but the portable was doing pretty good, it was downright chilly in the living room. All the windows are large sliders anyway so not so easy to fit a window shaker.

 

[Green Maned Lion]

Where is Baab? I worry about him having a stroke or heart attack or something like that.

 

[vreihen]

Where is Baab? I worry about him having a stroke or heart attack or something like that.

...or doing the Sonny Bono while out skiing in his new Wyoming home?????

 

[Kajtek1]

Where is Baab? I worry about him having a stroke or heart attack or something like that.

maybe he tried a buffet, overeat, like everybody does and now is coffined to his bathroom?
We had special buffet yesterday for St Patrick day.
Even not called seafood buffet, I enjoyed load of mussels.
Not a bad deal for $24 lunch price, staying over the dinner with 2 glasses of wine included.

 

[Green Maned Lion]

maybe he tried a buffet, overeat, like everybody does and now is coffined to his bathroom?

Oh, well if he's trying to stop himself from being full of shit, we won't see him for years.

We had special buffet yesterday for St Patrick day.
Even not called seafood buffet, I enjoyed load of mussels.
Not a bad deal for $24 lunch price, staying over the dinner with 2 glasses of wine included.

We went out for dinner last night, too. I don't drink, so we picked a place without a liquor license; in fact, I picked a place that is excellent, walking distance from my house, and Italian. There were a couple of other people there when we arrived at 6 and we were the only people there when we left around 7. And since it was walking distance, I didn't have to worry about being on the road after dark on St. Paddy's day.

I thought they would be crowded since the only bar within reasonable walking distance of the village is currently undergoing renovations, but nope.

 

[Kajtek1]

SIGN OF BAD ECONOMY.
Vegas is having empty freeways and empty restaurants.
We've seen lot of empty tables on Sunday and looks that, when management had lot of expectation for St. Patrick day, there have been only 2 of us in big buffet with green hats on.
Lot of empty tables, so when buffet had special menu, it was "slow day as usual"

 

[vreihen]

We've seen lot of empty tables on Sunday and looks that, when management had lot of expectation for St. Patrick day, there have been only 2 of us in big buffet with green hats on.

One of our local restaurants is on day three of corned beef and cabbage specials today.....

 

[Green Maned Lion]

One of our local restaurants is on day three of corned beef and cabbage specials today.....

Can I substitute pastrami for the cabbage?