- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
AC quit working yesterday, but
Posted on 7/5/24 at 9:25 pm
Posted on 7/5/24 at 9:25 pm
I had that spare capacitor sitting in a drawer waiting for this very moment.
Had that baby swapped out in 15 minutes. Air never got hotter than 83.
I only post this to let this be a lesson to all that a spare $20 capacitor is very important to have on hand.
As long as you at least know some electronics, I cannot insist enough on getting a spare capacitor, along with a spare relay, for your AC unit.
Had that baby swapped out in 15 minutes. Air never got hotter than 83.
I only post this to let this be a lesson to all that a spare $20 capacitor is very important to have on hand.
As long as you at least know some electronics, I cannot insist enough on getting a spare capacitor, along with a spare relay, for your AC unit.
11
Posted on 7/6/24 at 7:03 am to East Coast Band
quote:
I cannot insist enough on getting a spare capacitor, along with a spare relay, for your AC unit.
This, if you do not have them, get them.
Posted on 7/6/24 at 10:57 am to East Coast Band
How do I go about determining size/specs of what I need and where do I order from?
Posted on 7/6/24 at 10:57 am to East Coast Band
quote:
cannot insist enough on getting a spare capacitor, along with a spare relay, for your AC unit.
And for those who are not sure what a “relay” is, it is most often referred to as a “contactor”. And of course there numerous Y/T videos on how to change each safely/properly.
Posted on 7/6/24 at 11:11 am to CrawDude
I further suggest, even if you aren't electrical inclined, get a spare anyway.
Perhaps a nice neighbor or relative could help out in a time of need.
But, you gotta have the spare available
Perhaps a nice neighbor or relative could help out in a time of need.
But, you gotta have the spare available
Posted on 7/6/24 at 12:53 pm to Stexas
quote:
How do I go about determining size/specs of what I need and where do I order from?
Look at ones on current unit and get the same size. You can get them on Amazon. Get an Amrad capacitor, made in the USA.
Posted on 7/6/24 at 4:07 pm to Stexas
quote:
How do I go about determining size/specs of what I need
Disconnect the power from your outside AC unit, and open up the electrical wiring area, usually in a corner of the unit.
Inside is typically a small control board, a relay, and a capacitor. Just look for part numbers on the side of the capacitor and relay.
Warning: even with power off, a capacitor can hold a strong electrical charge.
Either dissipate with jumping a screwdriver across the leads or avoid touching the contacts.
Posted on 7/7/24 at 9:20 am to East Coast Band
yeah - my AC went out on Friday - I put in a home warranty call on it - not sure if that is my issue, but i suspect it may be. either way, no way in hell I would try to fix it myself - I have a very low tolerance to electricity LOL.
86 in the house yesterday - ended up driving to the company office to work today - stuck it out yesterday with ceiling fans and 2 stand up fans and it suuuuuucked.
86 in the house yesterday - ended up driving to the company office to work today - stuck it out yesterday with ceiling fans and 2 stand up fans and it suuuuuucked.
Posted on 7/7/24 at 9:26 am to Thracken13
no way in hell I would try to fix it myself - I have a very low tolerance to electricity LOL.
This post was edited on 7/7/24 at 9:28 am
Posted on 7/7/24 at 9:30 am to Thracken13
quote:
no way in hell I would try to fix it myself - I have a very low tolerance to electricity LO
Ask your husband to do it? Or your neighbors husband
It really is simple. A capacitor is a great thing to have on hand.
Posted on 7/7/24 at 10:29 am to baldona
quote:
It really is simple.
Usually is but that depends on the model and situation. I have an old Trane 2-ton and the 35/4 round can capacitor is tucked in behind the contactor so I either get to undo almost all the wiring connections or I have to remove the top of the unit to access from behind. My new Trane 3-ton has it easily accessed from a small corner panel. Same for blower motor capacitors, my downstairs air handler has to have two panels and the furnace exhaust stack removed to access it, the upstairs (both Trane models) has a simple access behind a large cover panel.
This post was edited on 7/7/24 at 10:30 am
Posted on 7/7/24 at 3:16 pm to ItzMe1972
quote:Step 1: pull the disconnect
no way in hell I would try to fix it myself - I have a very low tolerance to electricity LOL.
Posted on 7/8/24 at 12:00 pm to White Bear
look - if you guys knew me and this house, you'd understand why i want a professional to do it. could I do it, sure with enough research - I just know that I would likely frick something else up.
I know my lane and stay in it. it is ok to insult me, I laugh at it too - i just know what I can do and what I am uncomfortable doing - and anything electrical I am out.
88 in the house now - waiting on the ac guy
I know my lane and stay in it. it is ok to insult me, I laugh at it too - i just know what I can do and what I am uncomfortable doing - and anything electrical I am out.
88 in the house now - waiting on the ac guy
Posted on 7/8/24 at 12:51 pm to Thracken13
I am in the same boat as you, maybe worse. I as never taught the foundational knowledge to be mechanically inclined and I am always stuck worrying I will dig myself a deeper hole than I can get out of. I felt comfortable changing a capacitor since I had my brother, an AC guy, on the phone while I did it. This was one of those times where the process was so easy and I was glad I did it. It lead to me learning to clean my coils and wrapping my lines properly. It was simple stuff that lead me down a good path.
Posted on 7/8/24 at 2:21 pm to East Coast Band
Dumb question but how did you know it was the capacitor?
Posted on 7/8/24 at 2:25 pm to East Coast Band
Should be plural. Get a start capacitor and a run capacitor. 
Edit: And learn how to short a capacitor.
Edit: And learn how to short a capacitor.
This post was edited on 7/8/24 at 2:27 pm
Posted on 7/8/24 at 2:27 pm to The Mick
It usually is the capacitor that fails. Used my spare a few weeks ago. Unit was short cycling and acting crazy. Capacitor fixed it.
Posted on 7/8/24 at 2:29 pm to The Mick
quote:
Dumb question but how did you know it was the capacitor?
99% of the time it's the capacitor and most times it will swell up a bit when bad.
Posted on 7/8/24 at 7:09 pm to The Mick
You can sometimes tell by the swelling of the bad one, but in my experience the ones I've exchanged were no so obviously swollen.
I just swapped it and the AC started working again
I just swapped it and the AC started working again
Posted on 7/9/24 at 12:13 am to The Mick
quote:
Dumb question but how did you know it was the capacitor?
Easily checked with a multimeter with a capacitance function - not all multimeters have that function. Many Y/T videos showing one on how to check it. As already stated often they are swollen, sometimes they blow up, burned-loose terminal on the capacitor, and again sometimes bad ones look normal.
Page 1 of 3
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News