Thread: I hate electricity

Originally Posted by jimfish

Might want check out the t stat wires at the unit some times chewing critters love to chew on them and weed eaters will do a number on them also if the contactor is pulling in and the compressor wont start look for burnt wire and check capacitor.

Couldn't tell last night but today I got a better look at the wire and its not in the best shape outside. On the contactor good power in and out but no juice on tstat wire. Yesterday you could manually push in on the contactor and the fan would come on so it seems everything else is good--so I figured contactor, tstat, and or tstat wire. Tstat wire hasnt been changed yet--not sure best way to test it?

I just wanted to thank you for making my day go by a lot faster and easier today bro, several times things just weren't working right or something had thrown a kink in my plans, but I thought about you and that ac unit and started laughing like hell!

Mike, look in the ac/heater closet. There should be a 110 circuit, unplug it. Remove the cover and find the transformer. There should be 2 wires screwed to it. Remove the wires, remember what color goes where. Plug the unit back in. With a multi meter set on 50 DCV touch both screws on the transformer with the test probes. One way the needle will shoot past zero, reverse the probes, the needle will show some voltage. You're trying to measure 12 volt on a 50 volt scale. If you have no reading the transformer is bad. Mostly caused by one of the T-stat wires outside has gone to ground.
I ran mine through a piece of garden hose so critters couldn't chew it and weed eaters wouldn't tear it up.

Pull cover from t stat use a jumper from Y to C but first check to see if you have 24 volts if you do use jumper if unit doesn't come on you have a broken wire.

Got behind a range to unplug it and didn't know there was a loose wire that had broken off one of the elements.Just about to reach for the plug and I had my back against the hood and chest against the top of the range and my leg grounded the wire against the body and man I was floating the whole rest of the day. Put a burn on my back and chest!I feel your pain when it comes to " THE JUICE"should have killed it at the box but back then I was young and dumb.Lesson learned and lived to tell about it!I don't even like gettin hit by a spark plug or capacitor.

Originally Posted by GitDaGrease

I just wanted to thank you for making my day go by a lot faster and easier today bro, several times things just weren't working right or something had thrown a kink in my plans, but I thought about you and that ac unit and started laughing like hell!

Hey--glad I could help--that's what I'm here for

Originally Posted by SlabLapper4sure

Got behind a range to unplug it and didn't know there was a loose wire that had broken off one of the elements.Just about to reach for the plug and I had my back against the hood and chest against the top of the range and my leg grounded the wire against the body and man I was floating the whole rest of the day. Put a burn on my back and chest!I feel your pain when it comes to " THE JUICE"should have killed it at the box but back then I was young and dumb.Lesson learned and lived to tell about it!I don't even like gettin hit by a spark plug or capacitor.

ourch--I can truly say the only time I have been zapped was welding and the electrode was messed up or something and every time I got it going my arm would start twitching--I didn't like it. Now as in this post--i have created sparks WAY more than once--but this one scared me to death just knowing I was on the business end of 240V

Originally Posted by jimfish

Pull cover from t stat use a jumper from Y to C but first check to see if you have 24 volts if you do use jumper if unit doesn't come on you have a broken wire.

Thank you Mr. Jim--I'll try that one tonight--pretty sure it's bad but want to be sure. Also will look at the transformer--I'm in fight mode now since this thing is beating me up I have a score to settle--but I'm pretty sure the boss lady wont have any of it lol.