a/c startup with service valves closed

[mx5ed]

I had an a/c condensor installed and during the install
the installer told me to turn on a/c in the house.
As I turned a/c on the installer ran into my house to
tell me to stop and NOT turn a/c on, but it was too late
furnace blower had already started up so I know it signaled
the a/c condensor to start. I immediately turned off a/c
at the thermostat and went outside. The installer had just
got done pulling a vacuum and had forgot the open the service valves prior to telling me to turn on a/c at the
thermostat. Installer said the a/c condensor never kicked in because it was on a delay
but I tried it for myself after he left and found the condensor starts about 1 second before the furnace blower
motor kicks in so I'm pretty sure the a/c condensor DID
startup even though he said it didn't. The condensor is
a 13 seer Carrier scroll compressor with high and low
pressure switches. Is it possible the pressure switches
prevented the compressor starting up, or is there a chance
the compressor was damaged by this startup with the service
valves closed? The compressor probably only ran for a
few seconds if it did start up, would this be long enough
to damage the compressor?
After opening the service valves he told me again to go
turn on the a/c and when I did it started up fine, and seemed OK, but I noticed him looking alot down into the
top of the condensor unit. After he left I looked down
into the condensor to see what he was looking at and noticed
some oil in the bottom of the unit, I think I noticed some
oil in the bottom when I was checking it out when he first
set it in place before we ran the a/c because it looked
like the paint in the bottom of the condensor had runs in
it but on closer inspection later I found it was oil and
NOT paint runs. Do scroll compressors have a relief valve
that would give off oil if compressor is started with
service valves closed? Would a few seconds of running
with service valves closed damage compressor? I later
sprayed out the bottom of unit with water to rinse out the little bit of oil in the bottom and to see if more oil returned when I ran the condensor some more. No more
oil showed up and unit seems to run fine, but I need
to know if unit was damaged by earlier startup with
valves closed. Could oil in the bottom possibly be
there from spillage during manufacture or installer unhooking freon line with freon valve still open.
Any opinions welcomed. Should I call Carrier to see
what they say? Thanks in advance, Jack

[billva]

why did he have to come inside to turn it off. he could have pulled the disconnect.

[Gunnery Sergeant Hartman]

Originally posted by billva
why did he have to come inside to turn it off. he could have pulled the disconnect.

Probably no disconnect...

[mx5ed]

Why he didn't pull the disconnect I don't know, it's mounted
on the wall next to the a/c condensor. He had pulled it
before when he was wiring up the condensor. I guess he
though he could stop me from turning in on in the first
place. Not really sure why he did't just pull disconnect.
Jack

[Mr Bill]

Originally posted by BSCHVAC

Originally posted by billva
why did he have to come inside to turn it off. he could have pulled the disconnect.

Probably no disconnect...

What no low voltage wire also to cut or pull? :rolleyes:

[dougfamous]

A few seconds of running with the service valves closed likely did not do any damage. I run into this a lot in new construction - the electricians install disconnects and leave them on, and the customer runs them even if we haven't done a startup.

I had one run 12 hours with the service valves closed, after fixing the lines and letting it sit, it started right back up. I also had one run 8 hours like this, it sounded like someone pouring gravel into a coffee grinder.

A few seconds should be no problem. Don't worry about it. I wouldn't worry about oil in the base pan on a new unit - this could just be from the manufacturing process.

[t527ed]

if unit has low pressure switch there is no way running unit would damage it. it would do the same thing as pumping the unit down this is a procedure we do all the time. as said before oil is probably from manufacturing. if charge was ok when unit was started up i would not worry about it.

[smokin68]

Originally posted by mx5ed
I
Installer said the a/c condensor never kicked in because it was on a delay
but I tried it for myself after he left and found the condensor starts about 1 second before the furnace blower
motor kicks in so I'm pretty sure the a/c condensor DID
startup even though he said it didn't.



It might have a time delay in the t-stat or unit for x amount of minutes after a power outage. You don't sound very trusting of your installer....someone off the street corner or a friend of a friend of a second cousin?

[mx5ed]

Thanks for the replies. Condensor ran fine all day today.
After reading the replies it sounds like the compressor
probably will be OK. That's a relief.

Thanks, Jack

[star882]

Originally posted by mx5ed
The condensor is
a 13 seer Carrier scroll compressor with high and low
pressure switches. Is it possible the pressure switches
prevented the compressor starting up, or is there a chance
the compressor was damaged by this startup with the service
valves closed? The compressor probably only ran for a
few seconds if it did start up, would this be long enough
to damage the compressor?
The low pressure switch would have cut out right away. A few seconds shouldn't break anything anyways.

BTW, my Goodman condensing unit had some oil in the bottom when it was new. I think it's to protect the condenser from corrosion during shipping. I'm not sure what type of oil it is, but it does not harm landscaping. Don't worry about it.

[frigetater]

don't worry..be happy

[mjk_na]

Should not be a problem. Even air conditioner pump down is carried out by closing the liquid line service valve.

It's a relief isn't? All the best :)