Can Progressive EMS cause capacitor failure?

[Okiedoke]

One of our Coleman ACs is acting up since connecting to a faulty electric supply. The Progressive energy monitor started routinely shutting down on low voltage, so we talked to the host about it and got another site. She told me they just had an electrician out and would call him again. Then, when disconnecting, I noticed a 40 amp breaker for the 30 amp plug. I didn't worry because of the Progressive EM.

Immediately thereafter our rear AC would trip when changing the fan speed from low to high. No breaker trip, just the normal cycling time before restarting. The fan turns freely and smoothly. Otherwise the unit works great and has been - at high fan. I am not an electrical engineer, but I suspect the run capacitor and will get on the roof to check it later. If it is a capacitor I will change all of them.

Perhaps it is just a coincidence. Or maybe, because of the EM, the repeated power shutdowns (and starts) may be responsible. Still glad to have the Progressive unit because it might have prevented worse problems.

[wa8yxm]

It is very hard to damage a capacitor except via excessive voltage. and the surge guard is rather good at stopping that from happening.

Heat and old age will nail some of them too but they are fairly rugged devices.

More than likely you have the same problem I had....

Dirty condenser.. Needed cleaning.. Got it too.

[Bfmorgan]

Originally Posted by wa8yxm

It is very hard to damage a capacitor except via excessive voltage. and the surge guard is rather good at stopping that from happening.

Heat and old age will nail some of them too but they are fairly rugged devices.

More than likely you have the same problem I had....

Dirty condenser.. Needed cleaning.. Got it too.

A capacitor failure in an A/C unit is fairly common. The Progressive unit is designed with a delay to protect the A/C which does not like to restart immediately after a shutdown. I would vote for coincidence and bad luck.

[MSHappyCampers]

I'm not an A/C tech, but I don't think the EMS could damage your A/C. JMHO

[TQ60]

Short cycling power and low voltage can cause harm.

40 amp breaker indicates trouble....

What else is wrong?

Check voltage?

Act same on genny?

[CanadianCrew]

I just had to replace the capacitors in my house A/C. Top of cap bulged. Not sure why but is a common problem. So could be spike or low voltage or short cycling the power.

[NeilV]

Low voltage from bad campground wiring and long running brownouts is the most common cause of start capacitor failures. When the voltage is low they have to work harder longer to get things spun up and running.

The best money I ever spent was on a voltage correcting/boosting Hughes AutoFormer since it does not just warn you of this problem shutting down things when approaching the point of failure but corrects the situation before anything gets damaged. I have not had any more failures from low voltage in the many years since I got the AutoFormer.