How To Repair A/c Compressor

What you volition learn in Air Conditioner Compressor Troubleshooting article:

1. the difficulties in troubleshooting a hermetically sealed compressor
2. differences in various compressor manufacturers and HVAC manufacturers
3. the commonality of single-phase compressors
4. basics of troubleshooting an air conditioner or oestrus pump compressor
5. Compressor capacitors and compressor mechanics
6. bones tips for compressor repair
7. Air Conditioner Compressor Repair - Heat Pumps are included
8. lots of resource and related links that let you to get in-depth and learn near HVAC compressors

Air Conditioner Compressor Troubleshooting

What Causes the Air Conditioner Compressor to Stop Working?

Trane Heat Pump Condenser

Air Conditioner Compressor Troubleshooting can be challenging. The average compressor in many residential condensing units is hermetically sealed compressors. Furthermore, the simply visible working parts on the compressor are the electrical connections and the copper belch and suction lines. That makes it difficult to repair any compressor once a diagnosis is made to the air conditioner or heat compressor.

Troubleshooting air-conditioning and heat pump compressors are non complicated one time yous understand the nuts of the compressor. It doesn't affair what kind of residential air conditioner or estrus pump compressor you lot are working on. As long every bit it is unmarried-phase for apply in a residential oestrus pump or air conditioner. Furthermore, this commodity will cover the basics of troubleshooting a compressor when the circuit breaker trips continuously.

A compressor can stop working for 2 reasons:

1. A mechanical problem
2. Or an electrical problem

In either case, nosotros will cover both types of issues that crusade compressors to stop working. Additionally, how to figure out which problem y'all have with the compressor. That does require bones knowledge of refrigeration and electrical circuits and components. Finally, you will as well need some tools for the job.

Air Conditioner Compressor Troubleshooting - Different Air Conditioner or Heat Pump Compressors

Scroll Compressor Inside Estrus Pump Condenser

Many residential heat pump or air conditioner compressors are black. A few are red, depending on the manufacturer of the compressor. Trane is the only OEM in the USA that manufacturers their compressors. That falls to American Standard because the same company owns Trane and American Standard. In any regard, the color does not thing as all the components inside the compressor are the aforementioned. That is, a scroll compressor is a coil compressor.

There are new curlicue compressors out that can unload. Other electronic scroll and rotary compressors can fully modulate. This article does not address these newer compressors. Copeland initially owned scroll compressors and the curl applied science. Emerson Electric owns Copeland. There are also inverter duty compressors in some split up organisation air conditioners and heat pumps. Nordyne et al. industry those compressors. And are different than the compressors we are talking most here. These newer systems require a dissimilar compressor troubleshooting analysis and technique than described here. The newer modulating systems are now in many different brands of HVAC equipment. Lastly, they use rotary compressors.

So at present that we know this and that it doesn't matter what color the compressors are or who manufactured the compressor, that every residential air conditioner or oestrus compressor is the aforementioned except the air conditioner or heat pump compressors mentioned above.

We have many other related articles. Apply the search feature to the right to assistance you find other related articles.

Air Conditioner Compressor Troubleshooting – Compressor Basics

The Compressor Electrical Basics
Compressor Start & Run Windings Whether it is a curl compressor or a reciprocating compressor (of which scrolls and reciprocating compressors make up the bulk of residential air conditioner or heat pump compressors in utilize today) there are two major components to the compressor. Each compressor has an electric motor and an assembly of mechanical components which are driven by the electrical motor.

A compressor electrical motor has two separate windings within for the boilerplate residential air conditioner or heat pump single-phase compressors. The windings inside the compressor are the run winding and the starting time winding. When troubleshooting an air conditioner or oestrus pump compressor one should meet three terminals on the exterior of the compressor.

These 3 electrical terminals are called or should be labeled in some manner. – Common Terminal or C, Start Terminal or S, and the Run Terminal or R. Somewhere near these terminals, there should be some labels……….sometimes they say CSR and CSR correspond Common – Beginning – Run. Those are the compressor nuts. Lastly, the other item in the electrical excursion for the compressor that you can troubleshoot with the compressor is the run capacitor.

Start Capacitors | How Do I Troubleshoot Ac Compressor Capacitors?

There are some compressors that also have start capacitors. The capacitors are external to the compressor. Always check the OEM wiring diagram for correct wiring. Start capacitors will accept a relay in the circuit. The get-go capacitor will only be in the start circuit for a split up second. Then the relay, usually a potential relay and sometimes a electric current relay, will open the relay contacts. Lastly, this takes the start capacitor from the beginning circuit.

The run capacitor remains in the excursion for the duration of the compressor run fourth dimension. For electrical compressor troubleshooting, you lot will demand:

1. an Ohm Meter
2. basic knowledge of electrical safety
3. and to know the information above. One word of caution! Capacitors hold a charge of electricity. You tin can be seriously injured or worse by coming into contact with a charged capacitor. Discharge the capacitor using a properly rated resistor.

When troubleshooting the electrical system of a compressor three different problems can occur with the windings of the compressor.

Air Conditioner Compressor Troubleshooting - Compressor Troubleshooting – Ohming the Windings

What are the Symptoms of a Bad AC Compressor?

None of these tests require any cognition of Ohms Law.

1. Shorted Windings – It occurs when the windings touch ane another. The problem usually occurs because the insulation on each winding has dissolved, allowing the copper windings to touch each other. Your Ohm Meter will probable read zero in this instance. Furthermore, the compressor is bad if you get this reading.

2. Open Winding – This occurs when a winding is open or broken. Your Ohm Meter will read infinity. Furthermore, if you lot become this reading the compressor is bad.

3. Grounded Winding – Grounded windings are nearly the same as an open winding except the winding is touching the casing of the compressor. Your Ohm Meter reading will exist zero from the terminal to the casing of the compressor. Bear on one lead of the meter to the copper pipe going into the compressor (discharge or suction). And then to i of the CSR terminals.

If any of those conditions exist, the excursion breaker for the condensing unit will trip when the compressor tries to commencement. When you lot perform this test, and everything seems normal, and the excursion billow yet trips, you lot likely have a mechanical issue. Furthermore, we volition address this next.

Air Conditioner Compressor Troubleshooting - The Math

What are normal readings on the Ohm Meter, you enquire? A proficient example of normal reading would be the resistance of say 7 Ohms on the start winding and iv Ohms on the run winding. Your compressor may show a different measurement of Ohms, but every bit long as you get resistance, information technology is a good sign. If you measure between the run winding and the start winding, y'all should get the sum of the other two readings. Example – C -S = 7 Ohms. C – R = 4 Ohms. S – R = 11 Ohms.

Furthermore, the compressor capacitors must be performance properly and are non bad. To properly check a capacitor to make sure it is good, y'all need a special meter that reads microfarads. Some multi-meters can read microfarads. Lastly, the reading from the meter should be plus or minus x percent of the rating on the capacitor.

Related Link: Larn more about troubleshooting compressor overheating (opens in a new window)

Air Conditioner Compressor Troubleshooting - The Compressor Mechanical Basics

Of the several types of compressors out on the market place and that are in the average residential air conditioner and heat pump condenser, we will only focus on the two types of basic compressors. These compressors currently brand up approximately 95% of compressors installed in the average residential air conditioner or rut pump.

Those two types of compressors are the scroll compressor and the reciprocating compressor. The scroll compressor has outpaced the reciprocating compressor in the volume of installations. This is in the boilerplate residential air conditioner or heat pump condenser or package unit.

To properly troubleshoot whatever compressor mechanically whether it is a reciprocating or a scroll yous need to eliminate whatever electric problems with the compressor. There is non much i can do if the compressor is mechanically or electrically broke except to supersede the compressor. Withal, nosotros must determine if there is a major un-correctable trouble with the compressor.

Air Conditioner Compressor Troubleshooting | Additional Test

One other examination with the mechanical organization will be an oil test. Required for this part is a special kit. With the oil exam kit, take a sample of the compressor oil. Then it is sent to a lab to determine that the oil contains all-natural properties required of refrigerant oil. Furthermore, y'all can buy the compressor oil test kit at an HVACR supply shop.

The oil test will only be necessary if you find the windings have shorted. That indicates the compressor is a burnout. If the compressor burned out, it will need a replacement compressor. When you lot are replacing a burnout, and so the old oil volition have to be flushed. Furthermore, flush the unabridged refrigeration circuit earlier putting the new compressor into service.

Air Conditioner Compressor Troubleshooting | The Mechanical Components

Afterward you have checked out all the electrical components and eliminated any problems with the electrical circuit and you go along to trip the circuit breaker for the condensing unit the next pace is to effort to eliminate any mechanical seizure of the compressor mechanical components. And then, after I take checked the compressor electric system and eliminated any problems with that I go an historic period-one-time tool that every homo loves. Lastly, the hammer. This is true for reciprocating compressors only I cannot say I have found this works for any curl compressors.

If y'all take used this repair technique on a scroll and information technology worked for you please get out a comment beneath. We want to hear from you. I take a good hammer and hit the compressor a few good times and then restore power. Approximately fifty per centum of the time the compressor comes to life and lives out a normal life. If that happens I always brand certain there is a fourth dimension delay in the compressor circuit. Furthermore, mechanical lock-ups are ordinarily the result of short cycling.

• Run & Start Capacitors for HVAC Motors
• Get-go Capacitors for HVAC Compressors
• Troubleshooting HVAC Capacitors
• Air Handler Blower Motors
• Condenser Fan Motors
• HVAC Electric Motor Basics
• Air Conditioner Maintenance and Repair - HVAC Motors

Air Conditioner Compressor Troubleshooting - Resources

Ane other test you tin do is to check the voltage beyond the compressor contactor. Sometimes the contacts get pitted and scarred and need to be replaced. I have even seen insects become nether the contacts and cause problems with voltage. Make certain the compressor is getting the proper voltage. Lastly, if not, the compressor contactor is a practiced identify to beginning looking on your troubleshooting journey.

Air Conditioner Problems - Questions from readers:

Air Conditioner Compressor Troubleshooting

Air Conditioner Compressor Troubleshooting

Source: https://highperformancehvac.com/air-conditioner-compressor-troubleshooting/

Posted by: preblehimee1957.blogspot.com

Share this post