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This I just can't believe
Got a call to to York Heat pump condenser that was shaking all over the place. Charge looked good, cap was good. Shaking my head on this one. The only thing I noticed when I pulled the disconnect was that the contactor was making an awful lot of noise. So I was thinking that maybe the contactor was making and not making repetitively causing it to shake the condenser. So I replaced the contactor and all was good. Is this even possible?
By the way, I replaced the rusted condenser fan in the fall, so I was pretty sure that was not the problem.
Time will tell if that was the problem.
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The shader ring probably failed. In short, it helps keep magnetism during the AC swings between positive and negative. When you hear a buzzing contactor, that's what failed causing the noise. Depending on the design of the contactor, it may momentarily drop out.
-----Stop, step back, relax and have another go at it.-----
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Sound reasonable.
Thanks. Just never saw this happen before.
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Was the control voltage a little low or right at 24V, or up around 27V? Could have been a combination of both.... especially if both rings failed.
-----Stop, step back, relax and have another go at it.-----
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Originally Posted by
BennyD
Was the control voltage a little low or right at 24V, or up around 27V? Could have been a combination of both.... especially if both rings failed.
Didn't check low voltage.
This was a Hail Mary. I had no idea what was going on. I did check amp draw and it was bouncing around a little, maybe about 1/2 to 1 amp. I thing is was making and not making so fast that my meter could not record it accurately.
Realize this condenser was shaking so bad that it looked like it was getting ready for lift off from Kennedy Space Station.
I still have my fingers crossed that this was the problem. Just never have seen a contactor cause this issue. I have see a condenser dance on a roof due to ice on the condenser fan blades, but not this.
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Contactor buzzing can be from rust on the armature poles. Usually a high moisture environment. When desperate I've taken the contactor apart and swiped the rusty part over some emery cloth.
I've seen ants cause this problem too. Squished in the armature. More than once.
But as for your problem I doubt it's the contactor. Buzzing and walking out of the room are very different. If you have a max/hold button on your meter you might have a better idea. See it the temp difference between the HG and suction is what you'd expect. Just wondering about a broken chingadera in the compressor.
We are here on Earth to fart around ......Kurt Vonnegut
You can be anything you want......As long as you don't suck at it.
USAF 98 Bomb Wing 1960-66 SMW Lu49
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" condenser that was shaking all over the place."
" So I replaced the contactor and all was good."
Anytime, I've seen a unit "Shaking" it was usually the Condenser fan &/or the unit hadn't been leveled properly , & even when a "Monsoon Rain" washed out the ground under the unit's pad, ........ But, a Contactor, causing the shaking of the unit?????
NEVER.
But, ... I reckon that there's always the first time for anything in Today's World.
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Originally Posted by
joemach
Didn't check low voltage.
This was a Hail Mary. I had no idea what was going on. I did check amp draw and it was bouncing around a little, maybe about 1/2 to 1 amp. I thing is was making and not making so fast that my meter could not record it accurately.
Realize this condenser was shaking so bad that it looked like it was getting ready for lift off from Kennedy Space Station.
I still have my fingers crossed that this was the problem. Just never have seen a contactor cause this issue. I have see a condenser dance on a roof due to ice on the condenser fan blades, but not this.
Have you thought about Calling a Priest, & having an Exorcism performed on the Unit?
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Originally Posted by
DavidDeBord
" condenser that was shaking all over the place."
" So I replaced the contactor and all was good."
Anytime, I've seen a unit "Shaking" it was usually the Condenser fan &/or the unit hadn't been leveled properly , & even when a "Monsoon Rain" washed out the ground under the unit's pad, ........ But, a Contactor, causing the shaking of the unit?????
NEVER.
But, ... I reckon that there's always the first time for anything in Today's World.
Me either. That is why I can't believe it.
Above I said I replaced the fan in the Fall, just a few months ago because it was rusted out.
I am baffled by this as well.
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was it running backwards?
Nest is POO!!
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Originally Posted by
HVAC_Marc
was it running backwards?
That is a possibility that I didn't consider. I really don't know. What could make it do that? Never saw it before on single phase unit.
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Depending on how the connections are made in the motor, some motors can be made to run in either direction. Had this happen with the burner motor on a furnace. I had replaced pump and motor, I couldn't figure out why I couldn't get the pump to bleed. It eventually dawned on me that it was running in reverse. Took another look at the diagram on the motor, swapped the leads, and pump bled.
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Originally Posted by
joemach
That is a possibility that I didn't consider. I really don't know. What could make it do that? Never saw it before on single phase unit.
A short interruption of the power can cause it. Contactor chatter, brownout, short cycling, etc. The rotor slows just enough and is in the right position vs, the stator that the when the power comes back on the magnetic field is strong enough to flip it in the opposite direction.
Nest is POO!!
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Originally Posted by
joemach
Got a call to to York Heat pump condenser that was shaking all over the place. Charge looked good, cap was good. Shaking my head on this one. The only thing I noticed when I pulled the disconnect was that the contactor was making an awful lot of noise. So I was thinking that maybe the contactor was making and not making repetitively causing it to shake the condenser. So I replaced the contactor and all was good. Is this even possible?
By the way, I replaced the rusted condenser fan in the fall, so I was pretty sure that was not the problem.
Time will tell if that was the problem.
Well I could see how this can happen. I'm glad you posted this to the site so others can know how to correct this problem if they run into it too.