Mini Split - Tale of Woe

[danieldd]

Anybody knows what happens electrically when you reverse the RUN and START wires on a new compressor? This happened to me on a new compressor I bought for my mini split. I had a 2nd technician come out and diagnose it and was informed the original tech that installed it, got the RUN and START wires crossed, which caused the new compressor to fail (rather quickly I might add).

1st guy says this is not possible, that it would not run. However all indications are that it will run regardless of how you wire it, its just that if you wire it the wrong way, it kills the compressor.

Anybody really know the scoop on what happens when you wire an HVAC backwards?

 

[Milton Shaw]

Most likely the compressor would not start and that would burn up the compressor shortly or burn out the thermal overload from tripping. Did the unit have a thermal overload on top of the compressor or did it have one inside the compressor that cannot be replaced. I have seen compressors built both ways. Was the compressor still hot when the 2nd tech checked it. If so when cooled off the overload may reset inside the compressor and then run correctly after being rewired.

 

[danieldd]

The compressor did indeed start with it being mis wired originally and it was noisy too. I pointed this out to the tech, but it was ignored. Pressures wouldn't come up after several minutes of running, so he dumped another pound of R22 into it (initial fill was albs). Still no dice and then suddenly you could hear the "whoosh" of the reversing valve and the unit appeared to be working. I went inside and stuck an IR gun in the air stream - 120F !!. The tech quickly purged the freon to get the pressures back down. He said I had a bad reversing valve.

2nd tech (new guy from a different company) said the mis wiring of the compressor burnt it up. When the 2nd tech disconnected his gauges, he mentioned the residual R22 from removing the gauges looked and smelled bad. Said the compressor is ruined along with the system now being contaminated.

 

[KoRNTERA]

How old is this unit? R22 units have not been legally manufactured for many years, are you sure it's not R410a?
Did you buy the unit yourself and hire somebody to install? If so you may be up a creek because those online units are not warranties by local distributors in my area, they keep records on units they sell and if they didn't sell it, they don't warranty it.
If you hired a pro and bought from a pro then they should be talking to their local Fsr(field service rep) to have them diagnose the problem. These units are the most reliable when installed properly, but when done wrong they will be a never ending nightmare.

 

[joel63]

Anybody knows what happens electrically when you reverse the RUN and START wires on a new compressor? This happened to me on a new compressor I bought for my mini split. I had a 2nd technician come out and diagnose it and was informed the original tech that installed it, got the RUN and START wires crossed, which caused the new compressor to fail (rather quickly I might add).

1st guy says this is not possible, that it would not run. However all indications are that it will run regardless of how you wire it, its just that if you wire it the wrong way, it kills the compressor.

Anybody really know the scoop on what happens when you wire an HVAC backwards?

Without going into a lot of technical talk:
1. the motor will run.
2. the motor's start winding will burn up within 3 to 5 minutes.

 

[98ssuck]

I went inside and stuck an IR gun in the air stream - 120F !!. The tech quickly purged the freon to get the pressures back down. He said I had a bad reversing valve.

Did he purge it to atmosphere? If so your tech is breaking the law and a hack.

 

[Will S.]

Without going into a lot technical talk:
1. the motor will run.
2. the motor's start winding will burn up within 3 to 5 minutes.

What he said!~

Current flow through the start windings is interrupted once the motor starts spinning up. Those windings cannot stand constant-run current, so yes, that will burn out. Unfortunately, that compressor is shot.

 

[danieldd]

I figured it was shot, but when I emailed him and told him he wired it backwards, all I got was a nasty reply. He said if he had wired the compressor backwards, that it wouldn't run.

I guess we all know that is not necessarily the case....

In my email, I wrote the failure was his responsibility and for him to pay me for the compressor. Guess I won't see that check in the mail any time soon.

I bought the compressor directly from the manufacturer (soleusair) myself and had the tech install it. This was a replacement compressor for my unit.

All in all, it was an unfortunate turn of events for me. I'm out $400 and a casual friendship has been lost.

I have decided to just replace the whole mini split unit instead of buying another compressor and going thru the pain of having someone install, evacuate, and refill. The unit is 8 years old and I can simply buy a new one for around $750..

Granted, this is not the top of the line mini split like Daiken or Mitsubishi, but if I can get another 8-10 years out of a new unit, then I guess I'm okay with the price.

 

[Bronson]

Damn, that is an expensive mistake.
I wonder how many other units He has destroyed?
Video Him dumping Freon to atmosphere and turn Him in for the reward.

 

[danieldd]

Damn, that is an expensive mistake.
I wonder how many other units He has destroyed?
Video Him dumping Freon to atmosphere and turn Him in for the reward.

Not worth it. Lesson learned and moved on….