Bad Breakers?

[mpire]

So I got a quick question.

So my neighbors AC is dead and wont come on.

So I go over to look at it with him just to check things out.

The inside unit has a panel breaker, and another breaker ON the unit.

Plus another breaker in the panel outside for the compressor.

I put a multi-meter on the breaker and I was getting power at the unit.

The contacts were pretty corroded though, not sure if that matters, it was installed in 2011. The blower/coil is installed in the garage so maybe it gets a lot of moisture in Florida.

So how do I test the breaker to make sure its good if I am getting 118v from both phases?

 

[kd3pc]

IF you have voltage at the unit, then the breaker is closed and supplying power. Beyond that - testing of the breaker, might include turning off the breaker and making sure that the power drops to zero at the unit. No further user testing is available for the breaker. You might slowly approach the face of the breaker with the back of your hand to see if it is "hot" to the touch, be careful as you do this!!!

I am not sure where the "contacts" that you are seeing, are - but you really need to be careful in this area, as many parts of the AC unit can be energized (AC power on those contacts) automatically...

Given this scenario, it is best that your neighbor calls a trained HVAC tech......

 

[Norcal]

Be careful it is common for HVAC to only have one leg go through the contactor on single phase equipment, not being careful will get you, it's best to have qualified people service HVAC equipment.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Pics??

 

[mpire]

Since it had a 10 year warranty, the tech came out and he ended up replacing the breaker.

I had power to the wires that went to the unit, and the board had power but did not light up, and I assume there is an inverted that provided the 24v power. Anyway, after checking everything it all had power as far as I could tell.

The breaker was replaced and apparently everything worked again, so I was just wondering.

I didn't disconnect anything, I was just trying to determine if it had power, and my uneducated guess was that it did and apparently I was wrong.

 

[slow]

what brand of panel?

 

[mpire]

Square D

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

So I got a quick question.

So my neighbors AC is dead and wont come on.

So I go over to look at it with him just to check things out.

The inside unit has a panel breaker, and another breaker ON the unit.

Plus another breaker in the panel outside for the compressor.

I put a multi-meter on the breaker and I was getting power at the unit.

The contacts were pretty corroded though, not sure if that matters, it was installed in 2011. The blower/coil is installed in the garage so maybe it gets a lot of moisture in Florida.

So how do I test the breaker to make sure its good if I am getting 118v from both phases?

are you get 120 or 240 V to the outside unit?
What is coming on and what isnt?