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FOR QUESTION 1: They do run independantly. What will happen when your compressor is running but your outdoor fan does not, the pressures in the system will go really high and compressor will overload. That outdoor fan is used to disipate all the heat that is transferred from the inside to the outdoor unit.
FOR QUESTION 2: If you hear humming it can be 2 things. FIrst one is that that capacitor went bad. Dependiing if its a dual run capacitor(which helps both compressor and fan motor) or they both have individual capacitors. The second would be a bad fan motor. OPen your service panel outside to the AC. Find your capacitor for you fan motor. if there are 2 , locate the one that goes to your fan motor. Check it out(if its blown physically youll will notice it like really bubbled, like swollen) then change itout. Or you will have a dual run capacitor that runs both compressor and fan motor. It will have the terminals marked (Fan, Common, Herm) Bsically check your capacitor mfd(micro fared rating, it will say on the capacitor what its rated) Get a multi meter and put in the "MFD' selection. Before you check any capacitor you have to discharge the the voltage charge it has. Use an insulated handle screwdriver and just place the metel part across the capacitor leads. Basicall short them out. Then proceed with checks...hope this helps( remember to always pull the disconnect out from the box outside to cut power)
Comments:
Aug 04, 2009
- yes, the capacitor stores voltage to "KIck start" the compressor and fan motor. If you its loosing its mfds, then you it wont have enoung "KIck" to start which ever side isnt working properly. In this case your fan motor. Ok, you said only one capacitor is in the service panel? then you have a dual run capacitor which runs both your compressor and fan motor. I would still try to checking it out first with a multimeter that can read MFD. ( In my last messege i sent you i explained how to check it. If you do want to check it refer to my last messege. ) They can still go bad without showing physcal damage. But check out tha capacitor if you have a multi meter. If you just wana change it out then go ahead and do so. Its less expensive then the fan motor but then again, if the capacitor isnt the problem then i would assume its the fan motor. And to be honest, whenever i change a fanmotor, i tend to put a new capacitor as well. But some people just change the fanmotr. It all depends on the person. But I like to change both since they are both working with eachother. Hope this helps.Aug 04, 2009
- so its me again and i didnt see see that link of the picture you sent. i just did right now. make sure your contactor is pulling in ok. Its the squar component where the power comes onto. then you have the 2 purple wires hooked on the side terminals. The theremostat wires are wire nuted together with the purple and then the purple are conected to the side termical of the contactor. You have whiteand black conected on the bottome of the contactor and blk and red on the top. Whne the thermostat calls for coolin it sends low vltage to the purple wire, which energize the coil winding in the contactor, which pulls in the contacor and allows the voltage fron the blk and white flow thru the top blk and red. Make sure that when you call for cooling you see the contactor pulled in. The center of it should if your looking at it should be pulled in. But anyways, i dont think thats bad but jus wanted to explain how that works and what that does. Try doing this: Pull the diconnect from outside out the panle. Go inside and call for cooling. GO back outside and then put the diconncet back in the panel. the compressor should start but the fan shoul still be actin up right? This test is to see if you comressor sill works. If it doesnt then try changeing the capacitor. pull the diconnect off and go turn off the thermostst...and put the disconect back where it was. let me kno if you have anymore questions...more than happy to help Aug 06, 2009
- Glad to help!!.I also do washers and dryers, so if your ever have questions, feel free to ask and ill do my best to help.
