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Started By
Message
HVAC help needed
Posted on 5/17/15 at 9:08 am
Posted on 5/17/15 at 9:08 am
I just replaced both of my run capacitors in my condenser unit (single poles, separate for compressor and fan) and I want to add a hard start kit.
Problem I'm having is that the capcitors are 370 VAC but all the hard start kits say they are rated from 120VAC-288VAC.
Can I use the hard start kit with a capacitor with a higher VAC?
I'm pretty handy but when I get to technical stuff like this I'm always cautious. Thanks in advance.
Problem I'm having is that the capcitors are 370 VAC but all the hard start kits say they are rated from 120VAC-288VAC.
Can I use the hard start kit with a capacitor with a higher VAC?
I'm pretty handy but when I get to technical stuff like this I'm always cautious. Thanks in advance.
This post was edited on 5/17/15 at 9:10 am
4
Posted on 5/17/15 at 9:15 am to zbrous4
This makes me feel really dumb.
Posted on 5/17/15 at 9:16 am to zbrous4
Posted on 5/17/15 at 9:19 am to mach316
I didn't know what any of those words meant about a week ago but home repairs are cause for much googling.
Posted on 5/17/15 at 9:22 am to zbrous4
Yes 
Posted on 5/17/15 at 9:24 am to wartiger2004
Yes I can use it or were you agreeing with me about googling problems?
Posted on 5/17/15 at 9:28 am to zbrous4
Yes you can use it I am an HVAC mechanic trust me.
Posted on 5/17/15 at 9:39 am to wartiger2004
Appreciate the help. Extra help with diagnosing the following would also be appreciated.
I replaced the capcitors because I came home last week and found the unit on, but the fan wasn't running and it was buzzing loudly and the condenser unit was hot. After turning the fan manually while the unit was off, it would turn on fine. So I researched and figured it was bad capacitors. Well I replaced both with exact VAC and mfd replacements, and it worked fine this last week. Woke up last night and same problem.
After tinkering with it this morning, I manually turned the fan while the unit was on to see if I could get the fan going, and it would turn for about 10 seconds after I gave it a push, then it would stop.
My next guess is that I might need to replace the fan motor.
Thoughts?
I replaced the capcitors because I came home last week and found the unit on, but the fan wasn't running and it was buzzing loudly and the condenser unit was hot. After turning the fan manually while the unit was off, it would turn on fine. So I researched and figured it was bad capacitors. Well I replaced both with exact VAC and mfd replacements, and it worked fine this last week. Woke up last night and same problem.
After tinkering with it this morning, I manually turned the fan while the unit was on to see if I could get the fan going, and it would turn for about 10 seconds after I gave it a push, then it would stop.
My next guess is that I might need to replace the fan motor.
Thoughts?
Posted on 5/17/15 at 9:51 am to zbrous4
Yes sounds like your bearings on the fan are going out. Also, hard start kits are for the compressor not the fan.
Posted on 5/17/15 at 10:01 am to zbrous4
quote:
replaced the capcitors because I came home last week and found the unit on, but the fan wasn't running and it was buzzing loudly and the condenser unit was hot. After turning the fan manually while the unit was off, it would turn on fine. So I researched and figured it was bad capacitors. Well I replaced both with exact VAC and mfd replacements, and it worked fine this last week. Woke up last night and same problem.
After tinkering with it this morning, I manually turned the fan while the unit was on to see if I could get the fan going, and it would turn for about 10 seconds after I gave it a push, then it would stop.
My next guess is that I might need to replace the fan motor.
I'm not an HVAC guy by any means, but my fan motor went out last year. Sounds like what is happening to you. It could also be the bearings on the fan motor.
This post was edited on 5/17/15 at 10:13 am
Posted on 5/17/15 at 10:03 am to Cajun Invasion
Yeah I realize the hard start is for the compressor......I just want to add it on so that it lasts a little bit longer. Its only like $10 on Amazon so I figured I would go ahead and do it while I'm messing with things.
Posted on 5/17/15 at 10:52 am to zbrous4
Yes sounds like your outdoor fan motor is going bad would recommend replacement.Also when you kill power to the unit take a screwdriver and run it across the two terminals on the capacitor to discharge it before removing the wires.Also make sure you have the proper size capacitor for the new motor it may be different than the one you. Have right now.
Eta if you use a universal motor make sure the blade is turning in the right rotation
Eta if you use a universal motor make sure the blade is turning in the right rotation
This post was edited on 5/17/15 at 10:54 am
Posted on 5/17/15 at 11:11 am to zbrous4
quote:
Problem I'm having is that the capcitors are 370 VAC but all the hard start kits say they are rated from 120VAC-288VAC.
Capacitors are always a higher voltage than their input.
Capacitors give it a starting jolt to the motor at a higher voltage.
Many motors use them. The some systems like microwaves use them to combine positive and negative voltage in the thousands of volts, to get a directed 3,000 volts, for the magnetron
A fan does not cost all that much and are pretty easy to change, sounds like you need to replace that first.
This post was edited on 5/17/15 at 11:15 am
Posted on 5/17/15 at 11:14 am to wartiger2004
quote:
.Also when you kill power to the unit take a screwdriver and run it across the two terminals on the capacitor to discharge it before removing the wire
Oh yes, always do this.
Capacitors will shock the shite out of you. How do you think two nine volt batteries can do this??
Imagine what one hooked up to 120 or 240 will do...
Always discharge your capacitors.
dman, not even two nine volts.... Four 1.5 volt batteries in a model C taser (used in above gif)
This post was edited on 5/17/15 at 11:50 am
Posted on 5/17/15 at 11:15 am to wartiger2004
quote:You know, even if you hadn't told him to do this, he'd only not do it once.
take a screwdriver and run it across the two terminals on the capacitor to discharge it before removing the wires.
Posted on 5/17/15 at 11:43 am to Napoleon
quote:
Capacitors will shock the shite out of you.
absolutely true...the worst shock of my life was from a capacitor in an old tube-type tv set...never again...
This post was edited on 5/17/15 at 11:43 am
Posted on 5/17/15 at 1:24 pm to Spankum
I'll never forget I was a first year apprentice and the other guy I was with was searching for a refrigerant leak in a unit.Well being the genius I was I clipped a lead to a fan motor and got the shock of my life and he laughed so hard he cried. 
This post was edited on 5/17/15 at 1:26 pm
Posted on 5/17/15 at 1:43 pm to wartiger2004
Thanks for all the safety help regarding discharging the capcitors.
Like I said, I try to do a good bit of research before I mess with anything with which I'm not familiar, and discharging the capacitors did come up several times so I figured I better do it.
Another question that has come up now that I've researched fan motors. I grabbed all of the specs off the current motor but im having trouble finding a replacement with all thesame exact specs. Are there specsthat can vary more than others and still operate?
I can find them with the same hp, rpm, and frame mounting, but the amperage on the replacement is .1-.2 lower (another option is .1 amp higher). I can also find the same rpm, amperage, and frame mounting but the hp is 1/5 where as my currnt one is 1/6.
Which would be more suitable?
Like I said, I try to do a good bit of research before I mess with anything with which I'm not familiar, and discharging the capacitors did come up several times so I figured I better do it.
Another question that has come up now that I've researched fan motors. I grabbed all of the specs off the current motor but im having trouble finding a replacement with all thesame exact specs. Are there specsthat can vary more than others and still operate?
I can find them with the same hp, rpm, and frame mounting, but the amperage on the replacement is .1-.2 lower (another option is .1 amp higher). I can also find the same rpm, amperage, and frame mounting but the hp is 1/5 where as my currnt one is 1/6.
Which would be more suitable?
This post was edited on 5/17/15 at 1:48 pm
Posted on 5/17/15 at 1:47 pm to wartiger2004
Don't feel bad, I was careless enough to cut a wire on a roof a few years back. 400 volts dc 
Literally knocked me off my feet on the roof. Thank God I just so happened to be holding the ground wire, pretty sure I would have been toast without it.
Literally knocked me off my feet on the roof. Thank God I just so happened to be holding the ground wire, pretty sure I would have been toast without it.
This post was edited on 5/17/15 at 1:48 pm
Posted on 5/17/15 at 1:50 pm to zbrous4
can you post the part number for you motor?
the 1/5 would work, but I am just curious as to why it's hard to find a match.
the 1/5 would work, but I am just curious as to why it's hard to find a match.
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