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Started By
Message
re: AC quit working yesterday, but
Posted on 7/9/24 at 7:07 am to East Coast Band
Posted on 7/9/24 at 7:07 am to East Coast Band
quote:How do you know when it dissipated, does it spark?
dissipate with jumping a screwdriver across the leads
Also - what brand capacitor do you guys recommend?
thx
This post was edited on 7/9/24 at 7:11 am
1
Posted on 7/9/24 at 8:52 am to The Mick
quote:
How do you know when it dissipated, does it spark? Also - what brand capacitor do you guys recommend?
I’ve never seen one spark when discharging it, but then maybe it was already discharged. I wouldn’t worry about - just watch a Y/T of someone discharging one with a screw driver.
An American-made capacitor - I use AmRad. LINK. You can buy them on Amazon. But there a couple other brands of American-made capacitors, Titan HD being one. Definitely not a Chinese-made capacitor.
This post was edited on 7/9/24 at 9:00 am
Posted on 7/9/24 at 9:14 am to CrawDude
got to 89 in the house yesterday once the capacitor was replaced. woke up to a nice cool 70 in the house this morning - best night sleep in weeks.
then work had to frick it up and make me sign in lol
then work had to frick it up and make me sign in lol
Posted on 7/9/24 at 9:15 am to East Coast Band
Mine went out in December. Ordered the exact same capacitor off Amazon and replaced it, and now the new one just went out recently. Not sure if that specific capacitor isn't the right one for my unit and the people that had the house before me didn't replace the oem one with the same specs or if it was just random. Now I don't know if I should order the same one again for a backup or what
Posted on 7/9/24 at 9:33 am to The Mick
quote:
Dumb question but how did you know it was the capacitor?
At times I hear the compressor kick on, the fan, doesn't start. I take a pocket knife, start spinning the fan. If it takes off, it's the starter capacitor. It will run, cool the house down. But once it gets to set temperature inside the house. It will shutdown. Then you would have to repeat the same thing over again.
Posted on 7/9/24 at 9:50 am to tunechi
quote:
Not sure if that specific capacitor isn't the right one for my unit and the people that had the house before me didn't replace the oem one with the same specs or if it was just random. Now I don't know if I should order the same one again for a backup or what
That happens sometimes in that “wrong” size rated capacitor is placed in the unit b/c a HVAC tech did not have the right size capacitor on the truck, but had another size close to it that would work “temporarily” and b/c they are so busy they forget to come back out and put the correct one in.
You can get the model number & serial number off the condensing unit and internet search to find the spec sheet for the condensing unit that might provide the correct capacitor size, but then it might not. But more likely a “cheap” foreign made capacitor was used. Offshore made capacitors, particularly those made in China, just have a bad reputation of not holding up.
Posted on 7/9/24 at 10:30 am to CrawDude
quote:
You can get the model number & serial number off the condensing unit and internet search to find the spec sheet for the condensing unit that might provide the correct capacitor size, but then it might not. But more likely a “cheap” foreign made capacitor was used. Offshore made capacitors, particularly those made in China, just have a bad reputation of not holding up.
I searched the model number for the condenser and think I found the correct spec sheet. Don't see capacitor listed specifically under "Accessories" but I do see "KSAHS1701AAA HARDSTART(CAP/RELAY)" which I assume is the whole kit that includes the capacitor?
Posted on 7/9/24 at 1:57 pm to East Coast Band
quote:
I cannot insist enough on getting a spare capacitor, along with a spare relay, for your AC unit.
And a spare contactor.
Posted on 7/9/24 at 5:40 pm to tunechi
quote:
I searched the model number for the condenser and think I found the correct spec sheet. Don't see capacitor listed specifically under "Accessories" but I do see "KSAHS1701AAA HARDSTART(CAP/RELAY)" which I assume is the whole kit that includes the capacitor?
I’m not surprised, the spec sheet on my old unit, didn’t have the dual run capacitor size either, but also did provide specs for a hard start capacitor - which is not the same thing as the dual run capacitor. It is an accessory which can be added in-line with the dual run capacitor, helpful to start the compressor on older units, and sometimes, though not often, added on new units.
You probably would have to contact the manufacturer, but if I had to guess you likely have the right size (rated) capacitor but just not a good quality one. I’d recommend you buy a USA made AmRad capacitor, and either keep it as the spare to replace the next failure, or change it out now and retain the capacitor currently on the unit as an emergency backup (that’s what I did on my old system). Do you get a lot voltage spikes at your house? Heat (which you can’t do much about) and voltage surges (high voltage spikes) are the two main factors that cause capacitors to fail. A surge protector on the condensing unit, installed at the disconnect, can help protect against voltage spikes. I had one installed last year when I had a new HVAC system installed.
Posted on 7/11/24 at 3:13 pm to tunechi
quote:
This is the capacitor I pulled off the unit and replaced with the exact same one/brand from Amazon. For whatever reason, I can't seem to find the same one from AmRad, on amazon at least. It's definitely possible I'm completely overlooking it though
Jard has a pretty good reputation, assembled in Mexico, but at least it’s not Chinese. But if those are the ones crapping out on you……
But I found a AmRad 45/5 on Amazon right off the bat. You must have overlooked it.
Posted on 7/11/24 at 3:16 pm to CrawDude
Thanks man, I'll order it to have on hand.
Is having a "temporary" capacitor that's not the exact spec size as intended long-term bad for the unit and its' other components?
Is having a "temporary" capacitor that's not the exact spec size as intended long-term bad for the unit and its' other components?
Posted on 7/11/24 at 3:27 pm to tunechi
quote:
Is having a "temporary" capacitor that's not the exact spec size as intended long-term bad for the unit and its' other components?
Though I really don’t know I don’t think it would be good long term. If you want piece of mind, you just might have to bulldog communication with manufacturer to see if you have the right capacitor size in the unit, I’m guessing you do. You’d need the model number on condensing unit, which you have, but it’s possible you might need the model number on the compressor - that might be difficult for you to get without taking the cover off. Sometimes the same model number condensing unit might use a different compressor. Good luck!
Posted on 7/12/24 at 12:38 pm to tunechi
quote:
having a "temporary" capacitor that's not the exact spec size
You can double up capacitors to match the original. Gotta know the formula to match and put them in parallel, etc.
Posted on 7/12/24 at 1:54 pm to East Coast Band
quote:
You can double up capacitors to match the original. Gotta know the formula to match and put them in parallel, etc.
I think his concern is that the previous owners of the house who also had capacitor issues may have had the OEM capacitor replaced with another that “works” but really isn’t the correct capacitor rating specified by the manufacturer - and that might be a reason the capacitors are failing prematurely.
The correct capacitor size is often not provided in the owners manual. It’s rare that correct size capacitor specified by the manufacturer is not used when it is replaced, but I’ve read on professional HVAC forums that this occurs from time to time. Tech doesn’t have the right size capacitor on the truck, puts another size on that works to give customer cold air with the intent to come back with the correct capacitor and gets busy & forgets. And the homeowner is none the wiser if not told.
But you are correct, a tech can put a couple capacitors on the unit in parallel to match the capacitor rating of the OEM if he doesn’t have the right size on the truck - that is pretty common.
This post was edited on 7/12/24 at 4:15 pm
Posted on 7/30/24 at 12:38 pm to East Coast Band
quote:My a/c was struggling a bit yesterday but it caught up overnight and doing ok today. I see the capacitor is swelling and probably about to fail.
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
Question - do you guys turn off the a/c unit via the thermostat and also switch off the breaker and pull the outside a/c fuses? Any particular order?
Just looking for best way to shut down, swap capacitor, and crank up again.
Thanks
Posted on 7/30/24 at 12:40 pm to East Coast Band
bought one on amazon after the last $225 service call to replace one that blew.
Amazon
Amazon
This post was edited on 7/30/24 at 12:45 pm
Posted on 7/30/24 at 12:48 pm to The Mick
I’d pull the condenser/compressor disconnect if so equipped, if fused or wired solid I’d throw breaker and confirm the circuit is dead.
This post was edited on 7/30/24 at 12:48 pm
Posted on 7/30/24 at 12:58 pm to White Bear
thanks... appreciate it
PS - If I try to replace with AmRad, what size am I looking for? below is pic of my current capacitor. I don't know what numbers I'm looking at...
Also - the lot on this one says 2013, it was put in my unit this year. Is it normal to use a capacitor that was manufactured 11 years ago or am I getting plowed rectally?
PS - If I try to replace with AmRad, what size am I looking for? below is pic of my current capacitor. I don't know what numbers I'm looking at...
Also - the lot on this one says 2013, it was put in my unit this year. Is it normal to use a capacitor that was manufactured 11 years ago or am I getting plowed rectally?
Posted on 7/30/24 at 1:01 pm to White Bear
I had a tech come over yesterday to clean the electrostatic filter (I know, I usually do it myself) and find a clog in the condensate line in the crawlspace.
He called and wanted to know if he wanted me to check on the capacitors. I knew that could / would lead to getting ripped a new one for the cost, so I told him "nah, lets not right now". I've played that game before.
One of them may be getting weak, the lights blink / dim significantly whenever one of the units comes on. Just need to find out which.
He called and wanted to know if he wanted me to check on the capacitors. I knew that could / would lead to getting ripped a new one for the cost, so I told him "nah, lets not right now". I've played that game before.
One of them may be getting weak, the lights blink / dim significantly whenever one of the units comes on. Just need to find out which.
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