Rheem Central Air Not Working Issue

[nine4gmc]

Hey guys, it's hot as you know what down here and I woke up today with the ac not working. The thermostat is working, it is telling the house fan to circulate and the outside unit fan to kick on to cool the compressor(I guess) but it is NOT cooling. The large copper pipe that comes from the outside unit into the house is usually dripping wet, it is totally dry today. anyone know anything about a Rheem unit?

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

Is the outside unit coming on/making any noise?

 

[nine4gmc]

The fan is blowing on the outside unit, I can't tell if the compressor is running or not. Here is the relay/capacitors on the outside unit.

 

[Davefr]

Nine,
Is the outdoor compressor unit totally dead, outdoor fan only, compressor only or both outdoor fan and compressor operating?

 

[nine4gmc]

We posted at the same time Dave, the outside unit has the large fan running but that's all I can tell about it. Pic of the relay panel above.

 

[zmaxmotorsports]

It looks like it's already got a newer cap and a hard start kit on it,time to get a set of gauges and put them on there to see what the compressor is doing.

 

[Davefr]

We posted at the same time Dave, the outside unit has the large fan running but that's all I can tell about it. Pic of the relay panel above.

Nine,
If the unit's fan is running and the compressor is not, then it's likely one of the following:

1. Compressor's start cap is bad
2. Contactor is bad
3. Compressor is shot.

#1 is far and away the most likely. Just remove the hermetic cap(s) and test them.

If it's #2, you can manually engage the contactor by pressing in the contactors center button. (Be careful!!!)

For #3, you need to ohm out the compressor wiring legs.

Some HVAC systems also have safety circuits that shut down the unit if it looses the refrigerant charge or if pressure exceeds a certain threshold. That diagnosis requires gauges. However I doubt that's the problem since the OFM is running.

Good luck.

 

[Milton Shaw]

Check the overload that may be on top of the compressor. If its good check the ohms on each leg, most times they would be like 2,4,6 very low values and also check ohms to ground (use one of the copper outlet pipes as ground). With a hard start kit on it already would not be shocked to see compressor burned out. On a burn out it is important to flush out and use an acid neutralizer on the system to help get rid of burn out crud left in the system.

 

[SALIV8]

That coil (at least the small area i can see from your pic) looks filthy.

Could your compressor be stopping on overload? Get that unit shut down and clean the condenser coil and try again...

 

[Ohmthis]

After looking at it for a few seconds, the round cap is a dual cap and feeds both the fan and the compressor. With the oval one on there I'm guessing that at some time the fan side crapped the bed and it was replaced individually. Which leads me to believe the comp (herm) side of round cap **** itself. Check that and make sure you are getting correct voltage. To ohm the comp winding- take reading from start winding to common, then common to run winding, and finally run winding to start winding. Add the the first two readings together and it should equal (within reason) the last reading.

 

[nine4gmc]

Had it tested by two guys, both said the compressor is shot. It had a good life at 26yrs old, it's time to replace it.

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[Ohmthis]

I'm hearing taps right about now!!!

 

[nine4gmc]

I'm hearing fan noises right about now!!

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[nine4gmc]

Finally cooling!


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[Fixin'Stuff]

Yay for cool, dry air!

 

[Ohmthis]

 

[cajunfirehawk]

What brand is your new one? 3 ton?

 

[JerryC]

After looking at it for a few seconds, the round cap is a dual cap and feeds both the fan and the compressor. With the oval one on there I'm guessing that at some time the fan side crapped the bed and it was replaced individually. Which leads me to believe the comp (herm) side of round cap **** itself. Check that and make sure you are getting correct voltage. To ohm the comp winding- take reading from start winding to common, then common to run winding, and finally run winding to start winding. Add the the first two readings together and it should equal (within reason) the last reading.

I was thinking the same thing. I thought it was interesting that there was a hardstart kit attached to a capacitor that has a bad Fan output.

 

[nine4gmc]

The first guy that came out tried a new capacitor immediately, the second guy that came out tried several different things, including removing the hard start kit and rewiring everything. We changed every connector on the condenser unit but both guys said the compressor was shot in the end. It lasted 26 years so it did live a long life, no complaints.

Cajunfirehawk, both new and old are REEM brand, both 3 ton but the new condenser is MUCH larger than the old one as you can see. The openings on the coil was larger too, though the coils were practically the same outside dimensions.

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[crabjoe]

What brand is your new one? 3 ton?

That looks like a Rheem RP1436.

 

[nine4gmc]

Close, its a RA1436AJIMA and apparently I left the "H" out earlier but it is a Rheem.

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