Posted: 8/26/2011 4:55:46 PM EDT
| Alright, I have a Coleman model no. BRCQ0361BD outside condenser unit. Its electric ac and heat. Notice that it was getting hot in the house and found out that the outside unit was not running. Turned the ac off and went out side to check and first i noticed that the fan was very hot. So i took the cover off and i turned it back on and the switch it working, thats all i can tell. It clicks and sucks in and then I hear what i think is the condenser humming, but the fan does not start. So i can tell u that the capacitor has 3 prongs and from what i remember that the start/run/common. Dont know how to check it, Want do u all think. Thanks |
| UPDATE: so i hooked it back up and turned it on and ran out side and turned the fan with a stick and it started running, let it run a few mins but it didnt seem to be cooling, dont know if the compressor is working, I felt the copper line and they just felt like outside temp. |
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Quoted:
UPDATE: so i hooked it back up and turned it on and ran out side and turned the fan with a stick and it started running, let it run a few mins but it didnt seem to be cooling, dont know if the compressor is working, I felt the copper line and they just felt like outside temp. blown compressor sorry but time to replace |
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Same symptoms as mine about a month ago- even being able to start the fan with a stick. It was the capacitor. replaced it, and all has been fine since.
Edit: Mine is a three terminal as the above post describes. Even after starting the motor by spinning it, the compressor still was not running so no cool down. After taking the covers off the outside unit, it was obvious. The capacitor had burst. |
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if the compressor is running then the copper libne will change temp. you should be able to feel the freon moving.
if you dont then that compressor is not working. If the capisitor failed then that can cause the compressor to overheat and fail. that is if you caught it in time |
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if you have to push teh fan to get it moving the cap is probably bad. on your unit the same cap is used for the fan and compressor. the 3 points on the cap will probably be labeled HERM (which is the compressor) FAN and COMMON. since the fan is not workign correctly, and it seems the compressor is not working correctly, this is the most likely cause of the problem, espically if you ohm the compressor windings (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6IiIIMcAVGE) to make sure compressor is good. |
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Quoted: It does not seem to be swelled, maybe very little, if any. the 3 prongs on top are a little rusty, i move the wire to help with the contact and did not change anything. they dont always swell or blow when they go bad. i see normal looking ones that are bad all the time. given your symptoms the cap is your most likely culprit. sometimes you'll see the fan spinning backwards if the cap is bad as well. do you have a multimeter? they are not complicated machines. they are simple to troubleshoot and fix. |
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if the fan motor cap is bad the fan will stop or fail to start then the compressor will run till it overheats and kicks off on internal thermal overload. you can try replacing the cap yourself but you need to be careful that the power is off and the cap is discharged or you may hurt or kill yourself. I have a feeling you are really not comfortable working on it yourself so I will back out and let the real pros that don't have a license to lose help you |
Just go ahead and replace the capacitor...it's a 15 dollar item...if it fixes your problem, great....if not come back and let us know.  Make sure you don't touch more than one terminal at a time...even after you remove it. Capacitors store voltage and some retain very high voltages. |
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A dual run cap controls both compressor AND fan motor.
Do you have a digital multimeter? If so set it to the capacitance setting, kill power to the HVAC unit, (usually a breaker box within arms reach, may be a fuse you simply pull out with a plastic handle, if so it may take a bit of effort)disconnect, remove and discharge the cap (be careful, they can knock you on your ass, take a well insulated screwdriver and cross the terminals while holding the insulated handle). Touch two terminals with the probes and compare the capacitance reading to the rating on the side of the capacitor. If the reading is way off, bad cap. Or you could find an HVAC supply near you and buy a new cap for $10-20 and simply replace it. Take the old one with you, if the replacement is much different in size, physically, you may need a new mount strap. I fabricated one out of a hose clamp. |