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00 Buckshot · 08-01-2021, 10:13 AM

Although this has nothing to do with RV ing I am an RV er in Colorado and have an issue with my stick and brick back in Texas.

My son told me this am that only the fan was running on my AC. We checked all of the breakers and they were OK but the outside unit still would not come on.

I had the inside unit replaced the day before I left home and it was working when we left. The outside unit is a 2009 model.

Any suggestions on why the outside unit is not running when no breakers are tripped.

Sorry to be asking non RV related questions but I am kind of in a bind trying to decide exactly how to proceed.

Thanks in advance for any help.

ByeTheWay · 08-01-2021, 10:18 AM

My outside fan has a dedicated fuse box mounted on the outside wall. There are 2 fuses inside. Perhaps one or both of them has failed.

Old-Biscuit · 08-01-2021, 10:20 AM

Is there a Fuse Box on outside wall close to the compressor unit?
*Blown fuse

T-stat ....
Cool selected, temp setting lower then room temp.....t-stat goes "CLICK" and fan/compressor come on??

Run capacity for compressor...outside unit/small cover panel??

TandW · 08-01-2021, 10:34 AM

Ants love to build up inside the outdoor relay and hold the contacts apart.

00 Buckshot · 08-01-2021, 10:36 AM

Thanks for quick replies!

There are no fuses. Mine has a double breaker at the outside unit.

The thermostat was set correctly on cool and the inside fan was running so the compressor should have been running also.

Run capacitor seems like a good bet. Would the run capacitor also keep the outside fan from running?

I will get the AC people back out.

Thanks again
Doug

TandW · 08-01-2021, 10:43 AM

Clean the ants and bugs out of that relay first!!!

BCam · 08-01-2021, 10:55 AM

Capacitors are cheap so just replace both the start and run capacitors. Even if they don't need replacing look at it as preventative maintenance (it's going to fail sometime). If I'm not mistaken, when my capacitor went out, my outside fan didn't run.

Just be careful and, before you work on your existing capacitors, short the terminals on each with an insulated handled screwdriver to dissipate any charge it may be holding. This video applies to the start as well as the run capacitor.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZTQi5rTJIw8

You mentioned you recently replaced the inside unit. It has a control board that controls everything, including the starting and stopping of the outside unit. Therefore, the problem could be with your inside unit. A service call may be free even if the inside unit checks out ok. Call the company that installed it to find out.

CRV2 · 08-01-2021, 11:01 AM

My Brother told me earlier this year a very similar story, except that he simply called out the A/C people that recently installed his. They came out, took off the cover, pressed a red reset button, A/C came on, and then they gave him a big bill for the service call (big for the amount of time they took but that included the service call and a 1 hour minimum).

whalepirot · 08-01-2021, 11:59 AM

Some start capacitors are actually two in one case. One boosts the required higher current to start the fan motor; the other the A/C compressor's.

I fixed ours, then a neighbor's, with that $20 part, saving both of us at least a pricey service call or the probable "You need a new unit" ($10k?).

Pull the side access panel and look inside. You'll see how simple the unit is: few parts. My compressor would only 'groan' when commanded to start, confirming the control aspect and indicating it was not getting sufficient current to start.

I had some uncertaincy, not being an A/C tech, but for $20, I considered it well worth a try. 3 years later, both units operate normally. Take pics of what color wire connects to each capacitor lead (4 or 5) and definitely follow proper discharge procedures prior to touching any of those contacts.

While the unit is open, clean leaves, etc. from it and after reclosing it, you can rinse (not pressure wash) the exterior cooling fins, which is part of routine maintenance.

jrollf · 08-02-2021, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00 Buckshot

...

Run capacitor seems like a good bet. Would the run capacitor also keep the outside fan from running?

I will get the AC people back out.

Thanks again
Doug

Yes, on some units the start/run capacitor is built into a single "dual capacitor". I had this very thing happen to mine a few months ago. Capacitor died and nothing turned on outside.

Depending in your unit, if it is new enough it may also have a "computer brain" on the external unit too. If it see a problem with the capacitor or other item, it will set an error and not allow the unit to start until it gets reset.

Xmcdog · 08-02-2021, 05:47 AM

Seeing as how you had the evaporator changed the day before, I would suspect that there is a leak and the LP switch is open and keeping the compressor off.

That would be my first check.

00 Buckshot · 08-05-2021, 06:35 PM

Well, it turned out to be the contact points in the compressor.

Thanks everyone for the information. It made me a little less apprehensive that it could be something other than a major problem.

TandW · 08-05-2021, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 00 Buckshot

Well, it turned out to be the contact points in the compressor.

Thanks everyone for the information. It made me a little less apprehensive that it could be something other than a major problem.

I highly doubt your serviceman had access to any contact points within the compressor. That is a sealed unit. Was it the outside contactor or relay that I mentioned previously? Full of bugs or ants?

00 Buckshot · 08-05-2021, 08:13 PM

TandW;5862084]I highly doubt your serviceman had access to any contact points within the compressor. That is a sealed unit. Was it the outside contactor or relay that I mentioned previously? Full of bugs or ants?

OK , pardon my ignorance. It was the relay in the outside unit which houses the compressor. Contacts were burned up no ants or bugs.