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Originally Posted by hurtinhvac

wow. Had that one been hanging upside down it probably would have taken out the board.

I like these when hovering homeowners are right there. I get quiet, look at them directly with a serious but hesitant expression like I'm struggling with how to tell them very bad news. Just long enough for their lips to start quivering slightly and that deer in the head lights look creeps into their eyes: "What...OMG that looks awful..it's bad isn't it ($$$)?"

Sigh deeply one more time then smile: "Nah...just messy...probably have ya' going in twenty if all else is well..."

Ya' gotta break up the day somehow...

I gotta remember that one, and give it a try the next blown cap I see!

Originally Posted by mh heating

Had this one the other day. Worst one I've come across. Goodman Unit

wow. Had that one been hanging upside down it probably would have taken out the board.

I like these when hovering homeowners are right there. I get quiet, look at them directly with a serious but hesitant expression like I'm struggling with how to tell them very bad news. Just long enough for their lips to start quivering slightly and that deer in the head lights look creeps into their eyes: "What...OMG that looks awful..it's bad isn't it ($$$)?"

Sigh deeply one more time then smile: "Nah...just messy...probably have ya' going in twenty if all else is well..."

Ya' gotta break up the day somehow...

Originally Posted by Glennhvac

Thirty plus years and I have never come near replacing this many run caps in a season! I think in the past three weeks 75% of my calls have been blown caps in condensing units. Unfortunately that's about all that is blowing.

All I can figure is it's the power company dropping back the voltage during these 100 degree days.

I was just thinking this. I have replaced more caps this year than I think I have in the past 3 combined. But its been Mars, GE and Packard. The majority being Packard.
Some maybe due to the warmer temps. But I've also replaced quite a few that were only a few years old.

One other thing. We've been steady this summer. Not slammed, steady. So if it weren't for these cheap capacitors, I would have had as much work. Well between that and the cheap leaking A coils.

Didn't read the whole thread. Our suppliers sell Mars2 in Bestech boxes. These are made in mexico and aren't too bad. Recently the color of the box lettering changed to a lighter shade of blue and inside those boxes are chinese caps. Those suck.

Got the same problem here on commercial equipment as well. I have replaced many on a 1 HP 460 volt single phase motor which are common to use a run cap rated for 25 MFD. Got a service bulletin from Trane: RT-SVB 78A-EN which stated if the capacitor had a degraded performance of 10 % or more, that it must be replaced. So at 22.5 MFD it is no longer holding its charge and must be replaced. Trane is now stocking GE run caps which are suppose to be better.

So now on most calls I am checking and replacing them even if they are reading 23.5 MFD. This may be an indication that they are leaking and will soon fail. I have also found that if any lower than 22.5 MFD that the motor runs very hot which will lead to eventual winding/motor failure.

I have also found that the output of a good run cap has a higher RLA than actual motor RLA. For example if it were rated at say 2.7 RLA the out put of the run cap is running over 3.2 amps. But I have not established any true correlation yet.

I have also checked line voltage and its true that the power supply is low. a 460 volt unit is capable of running at a low 440 volts. So if you complain to the power company they will respond to the fact that the unit is rated to run at such a low power/line voltage.


Trouble shooting is not part of the repair..................understand the symptoms and you will find a solution.

Had this one the other day. Worst one I've come across. Goodman Unit

Originally Posted by Baycienda

<img src="http://HVAC-Talk.com/vbb/attachment.php?attachmentid=302961"/>
I think it is manufacturers trying to push the edge of cheap to sell more. I also wonder if you were to tell a customer "yeah, the system costs twice as much, but its twice as good" if they would actually buy it. I've seen a lot of newer style capacitors that are bad and the old ones just keep on going. I've also seen a couple hard start kits that were bad like this one.

I had 3 of those this week and it's not even hot anymore.

PCB's

Bring back the good ole PCB's. ....on second thought, this is great!!! $$$

Also caught more fried contactors along with the wires leading to the compressor. Couldn't keep the 30 amps on the parts room shelf and had to use a 30 on a 25 in a couple pinches.

You know...no tech practicing or even alive for the most part has ever experienced temps and humidity conditions as we have this past season. At least not in my neck of the woods. And few had AC's back in the dust bowl days.

Attachment 302961
I think it is manufacturers trying to push the edge of cheap to sell more. I also wonder if you were to tell a customer "yeah, the system costs twice as much, but its twice as good" if they would actually buy it. I've seen a lot of newer style capacitors that are bad and the old ones just keep on going. I've also seen a couple hard start kits that were bad like this one.

yep ,,, had 2 blow up today,,,, kinda messy...cheap fix though

Originally Posted by Glennhvac

Heck yes! Speaking of that what ever happened to that gadget I thought I heard of years ago to heat domestic water with the residential a/c unit.

http://www.heatandcool.com/DESUPERHE...p/dsh01-05.htm

I've seen similar devices installed on air source equipment.

Yup... Seen a lot more blown or bulged caps this year than recent years... Thought it was just me !!! But I guess not... Not sure what the deal is

[QUOTE=GrumpyPawPaw;13877731]The old caps with PCB's would last. Of course, if anything is good, it gets outlawed. But on the other hand, how much easier can a service call be?[/QUOTE]

So I thought as I threw in the disconnect, saw the fan spin, felt the lines and heard the brief buzz of the compressor. Easy peezy cap, last call of the day and five minutes from home and on the eve of a long vacation.

Who the hell's idea was it to hide a cap behind the electric panel in a separate compartment five inches from the compressor in an old Bryant? Old battleship grey looking thing.

Still pulling 4.12 out of five on the fan side but...damn that was awkward. Two minute diagnostic...30 minutes to change the damn thing.

The two biggest reason this country has the EPA is to shut the tree huggers up, and for the added money that section 608 and 609 brings in from licence fees, and fines! IMHO if R-22 was really that bad, they would just completly outlaw it and make us do a changeover anytime we worked on a unit containing R-22.

The old caps with PCB's would last. Of course, if anything is good, it gets outlawed. But on the other hand, how much easier can a service call be?

This happened in 2008 in my area. Couldnt find a cap anywhere.

Originally Posted by ironpit

I was told nordyne makes their own caps. is that true?

If they do, they are very bad at making them...

and here I was thinking it was UNIONS that was ruining manufacturing industry in America.

If overseen by same QA protocol, there's no reason why highly automated production line spits out better product by simply having the factory in USA.

Automation is the key to consistent and high quality parts.

Originally Posted by AC5096

Yes,the exploding ones.

I doubt it. The last Nordyne units I installed had Chinese caps.

Probably have a factory there