9 replies to this topic

[TyllBilly]

Amana Prestige RCB30B2A

Today our A/C didn't work... on it's own. I noticed the outside fan wasn't working. We cooled it down, I had someone turn it on inside and I used a long stick to spin the fan and it started working. Of Course. when we finally cooled down inside and the unit shut off the fan wouldn't start on it's own.... I spun it again and it worked.

I am guessing this may be a capacitor issue??? I have no idea... Also, I don't have a tester that measures MFD, just a nice GREENLEE CM-450 digital clamp-on meter.

What should I test and how given the tools I have? Any help or advice?


Thanks in advance!

John

[ACtechGUY]

From what you describe, you have either a bad capacitor or a failing fan motor.

First turn off 220 volt power to the condenser.

To test the capacitor, set your meter to OHMs .

If you have a single capacitor with just 2 wires on it , remove one wire from the capacitor OR If you have a duel capacitor (it will have 3 terminals) remove the wire going to the "fan" terminal on the capcitor.( it will be the terminal with only one wire on it (brown in most cases)

Now put your meter leads on the 2 connectors of the capacitor or for a duel capacitor between "fan" and "common"

Here is what a good capacitor will read. The reading will be really high and constantly changing. you will see the numbers going in one direction and if you keep your probes on long enough , the whole thing will reverse and the numbers will start ticking the opposite direction.

If you get nothing . you have a bad capacitor(or a meter that cant read resistance that high. From the specs I see on your meter it should read ok.)


Oh and of course there is the visual test of the capacitor. Look at the top of the capacitor. It should be totally flat. if it bulging even a little bit , it is bad.

[Dan Webster]

Short across terminals and cannot get the cap to snap or pop and discharge it is bad. If it appears swollen or is leaking that is another sign. Use zoomspout oil and lube up the motor.
Click on pix to enlarge:

Attached Files

•  comparison_good__bad_oval_capacitors.jpg   22.51K   13 downloads
•  ZoomSpout oil $2 at Ace hardware store.jpg   21.95K   9 downloads

Edited by applianceman18007260692, 11 August 2011 - 09:21 AM.

[TyllBilly]

Thanks Guy's. I found I have a dual capacitor that looks slightly bulged and I am guessing a run capacitor that I dropped and cracked and it looks like it has a small leak. Pictures are attached.

The problem is that the capacitor I dropped just has a paper label and I cannot make out any of the information on it.....

The dual capacitor info is:

YORK SF637355A14
35/5MFD 370VAC
D6789049 50-60HZ
610000AFC 890323  Bulge.jpg   81K   7 downloads

Attached Files

•  Leak-No_Info.jpg   84.23K   7 downloads

[TyllBilly]

Ooops... My question was... where do I buy the replacement parts? Do I just assume that the one not labeled is a 5 MFD capacitor and order based on that alone?

thanks

John

[TyllBilly]

Okay. So I removed my dual capacitor from the outside A/C unit because the Fan wasn't working. Because I was clueless I removed the "Hard Start" capacitor first and dropped it. It cracked and looks like it may leak.... pic attached  Leak-No_Info.jpg   84.23K   5 downloads

It has no information on it at all. Can I replace it with another brand? On Grainger website they have http://www.grainger....PCY1?Pid=search which looks like mine and is also for the 2.5 ton like mine.

Can I just use the capacitor from the new kit? Do I have to change the relay?

Where can I buy it from? Grainger requires an account i believe...

Any help is appreciated....

Thanks
John

[ACtechGUY]

You have all the info you need to find the duel cap. I would suggest buying one that is rated for 440 volts instead of 370.

Here is a quick google shopping result for 35/5 caps

THe start capacitor is more complicated. It would be a range of MFD's like 233-288 mfd .But it isalso important to get the right "physical size" capacitor. If you buy one rated for the correct MFD's and it is alot smaller than the one you have now(actual physical size) . It will explode upon startup.

Since you don't have the info from the label , I would suggest replacing the entire start kit for one that is rated for a 1 1/2 ton unit . This is the brand I suggest.

Here is another quick search for the 5-2-1 start kits

[ACtechGUY]

.

Edited by ACtechGUY, 12 August 2011 - 11:04 PM.

[kdog]

See my post # 6 on your other topic

Merged Topics

[ACtechGUY]

Oh sorry , you did say 2 1/2 tons not 1 1/2 ... The same csr u1 kit still will work for you.