compressor or start capacitor?

[pshelc]

I have a coleman package unit A/C and it just stopped working. the compressor won't start. I checked the charge and it is fine. How can I tell if the compressor is bad or the start capacitor is bad? How do I test the capacitor?

Thanks

 

[rickairmedic]

First thing to look at is the capacitor if the top of it where the wires hook to it is rounded up and not flat you most likely have a bad capacitor . DO NOT TOUCH THE WIRES BEFORE KILLING THE POWER TO THE UNIT AND ALSO SHORTING THE LEADS AT THE CAPACITOR ( AFTER KILLING THE POWER ) WITH A SCREW DRIVER . Capacitors can hold up to 440 volts in a residential unit and will knock you flat on your *** . You need a Multi meter with a capacitance mode or a capacitor testor to test the capacitor .


Rick

 

[Todd.Brock]

Rick is beyond qualified to answer your question. I did stay at a Holiday Inn last night though....

My start capacitor crapped out a couple years ago. It looks like a pop can thats dropped on pavement but didnt explode. It had this huge bulge in the top. The A/C company charged 120 bucks and was done in 15 minutes. I didnt bat an eye b/c it was better than the 2-3k for a new compressor! My neighbor is an HVac guy and chuckled that it was about a 10 dollar part. I said it was 7 a.m. in the middle of the week in August and it was already 84 degrees. It wasnt the time to save a few bucks.

 

[Mike007]

My start capacitor crapped out a couple years ago. It looks like a pop can thats dropped on pavement but didnt explode. It had this huge bulge in the top. The A/C company charged 120 bucks and was done in 15 minutes. My neighbor is an HVac guy and chuckled that it was about a 10 dollar part.

Your neighbor chuckled because he is a tech and not a business owner. If he was a business owner he would understand that the customer gets more then just a $10 cap for their money. The actual cost of parts have very little impact on what you the customer pay. It's the cost of doing business that costs you. Customers complain they can get the part for $X from "here". And I am charging $***. I ask is "here" going to send a truck out loaded with tools, parts, an experienced tech to tell you what part they need and install it, and warranty it for $X? Ironically these people are usually in a home I could never afford.

 

[Todd.Brock]

Agreed. He understood. He just said I hate to see people I know spend extra when I could help them with a part I have in my garage. Equivalent to me doing brakes on my buddies car for free. I have the tools and know how, etc... He was just being neighborly.