Electrical Question

[Dog1]

What percentage of service calls are an electrical problem? Just wondering.

[flanders]

At least half for me.

[jmac00]

What percentage of service calls are an electrical problem? Just wondering.

In my market, I would say about 60% are electrical (residential)30% is refrigeration circuit and 10% uneducated customers :grin2:

[TriWorksInc]

All of the calls are electrical after a major thunder storm or a hurricane.

[stonewallred]

I see vastly more electrical problems than refrigeration problems, or airflow problems.

[sweat hog]

70%. Someone said if you cant fix it with a hammer you have an electrical problem.

[hvacrmedic]

What percentage of service calls are an electrical problem? Just wondering.

Define "electrical problem."

In other words, is a dirty flame sensor an electrical problem? Is a worn bearing in a condenser fan motor an electrical problem? Etc., etc..

My instructor stated that it was 85% of all calls. Maybe he defined electrical problem differently than I do. I figure it's probably closer to 50%.

How do you classify the calls that had both electrical and mechanical issues?

[PalmettoMaintPro]

:grin2:
70%. Someone said if you cant fix it with a hammer you have an electrical problem.

best news I have heard all day. This summer was summer of the Txv's for me personally . Although as I reflect for a moment , there was the backwards condenser motor (x2) . The fried three phase compressor from a really nice t storm and the caps , and a relay in a pear tree . There I think thats how it goes
:.02:

[timebuilder]

Let's see.

Disconnect tines/lugs
fuse
transformer
safety switch
limit
board
relay
contactor
thermostat (includes a loss of programming)
sensor
short
open
winding
capacitor
connector

a bearing is a mechanical problem

Electrical is 70 - 80%.

[Dog1]

Good info. Thanks everybody.

[Ford3517]

I agree with the above statements. My instructors always taught me that about 3/4 of all service calls are electrical. My experience has shown this to be pretty true. And my definition of an electrical problem would be something like this: Any system failure that occurs do to the interruption of of electrical power in any electrical component provided a mechanical problem isn't the cause.

For example: if a system experiences low suction pressure and opens the low pressure switch due to a restriction causing the system to pump down, this would be a mechanical problem. The flame sensor being dirty would be a mechanical problem because (assuming no other problems) the flame sensor would work if it had not been dirty. A thermostat with a broken bi-metal would be a mechanical problem. But a contactor with a burned coil would be an electrical problem. A bad Capacitor would be an electrical problem.

Categorize it as you will, that is just my opinion.

[5thRoot]

Whether its a mechanical or electrical problem, I have found that you must always use electrical trouble shooting skills to determine that. There are very very few, if any at all, times that I complete a call with out using a meter. So even if it isn't an electrical problem, your skills with electricity will be used on almost every call.

[john.0522]

About 70%.

[kls-ccc]

I guess it would depend on the tech. I would hope that my guys are checking the electrical charactoristics of the equipment every time to determine the health of the equipment wheather at a clean and check or repair. Some companies just fix and flee then wonder why they have to go back. I'd rather see the whole picture.

[Ford3517]

kls-ccc is right, the first tool I bring with me when I walk into a service call is a meter. My meter is equipped with a thermocouple so I can diagnose electrical problems and/or take temperatures and get an Idea of what is going on. The gauges are usually the last tool I turn to when diagnosing a system. Just reading the compressor current can tell you a lot.

[PalmettoMaintPro]

I guess it would depend on the tech. I would hope that my guys are checking the electrical charactoristics of the equipment every time to determine the health of the equipment wheather at a clean and check or repair. Some companies just fix and flee then wonder why they have to go back. I'd rather see the whole picture.

Good point. My boss I used to have made me check the caps and connections and any other electricly verifiable components when I did cleanings and repairs . His thought was a cap out of range could result in unwanted operational conditions.

[Snapperhead]

kls-ccc is right, the first tool I bring with me when I walk into a service call is a meter. My meter is equipped with a thermocouple so I can diagnose electrical problems and/or take temperatures and get an Idea of what is going on. The gauges are usually the last tool I turn to when diagnosing a system. Just reading the compressor current can tell you a lot. Yup, go armed with meter, phillips, and 5/16 - 1/4 bit on the drill.

[Snapperhead]

oops

[PalmettoMaintPro]

Yup, go armed with meter, phillips, and 5/16 - 1/4 bit on the drill.

thats the best way to roll to the door :tank:

[timebuilder]

Just a note based on the sig line, above.

I have a friend with an old Arkla Servel gas fired absorber, and it gets antifreeze every winter.

I'm just sayin'.

[jmac00]

Just a note based on the sig line, above.

I have a friend with an old Arkla Servel gas fired absorber, and it gets antifreeze every winter.

I'm just sayin'.

I got a propane fired Servel at my cabin and don't do 'nut'n to it, it just runs

[sholderle]

In my experience it seems to be around 60% electrical, 25% mechancial 10% refrigerant issues, and 5% customer education. However when I do install one of those multiprogramable thermostats I upfront educate the customer it's their responsibility to know how to program it.

[bigsky2011]

I have to agree with everyone else about 60 to 70%

[keekee]

70 %

[maintenanceguy]

I think I'm low, My gut says 50% electrical.

The other 50% is mostly mechanical and a small percentage refrigerant issues.

Who knew that most refrigerant repair work would have nothing to do with refrigerant?

[s1hello]

Jumper setting, bad crimpings inside connectors are frequent candidates that causes trouble.......

Tracing wires could be tedious sometimes......

[XcelTech]

I am gonna estimate 60% electrical, 35% Air flow, 5% other.

[keekee]

had one yesterday it was the customer he forgot to tell me he just replaced a light switch on the cooler and did it incorectly with a dead short.

[PalmettoMaintPro]

had one yesterday it was the customer he forgot to tell me he just replaced a light switch on the cooler and did it incorectly with a dead short.

forgot ,thats cute. How many calls are the customer tried themselves related ? (seriously):callpro: