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Need A/C help

Discussion in 'HVAC' started by Boomer, Jul 7, 2020.

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  1. Boomer, Jul 7, 2020
    #1
    Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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    Ac stopped working...when I turn it on, the fan runs and when the compressor kicks in, it pops the breaker on the power pole...pinellas county florida...any ac guys in the area to diagnose and fix/replace?
  2. dewald, Jul 7, 2020
    #2
    dewald

    dewald Member

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    Give Bimini Marine Air a call, ED Thomas, great guy.
  3. Boomer, Jul 7, 2020
    #3
    Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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    Thank you sir! AC worked on Friday morning...Saturday the boat was hot and breaker tripped...not the water pump either..switched do them out
  4. dewald, Jul 7, 2020
    #4
    dewald

    dewald Member

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    www.Biminimarineair.com should have given you the web site in first post. Check your sea strainer, cleaned mine about 2 weeks ago, was getting kicked off with HP alarm. Was in the bilge today, checked the strainer and it was a mess. Tampa Bay is hot and things are growing.
  5. Boomer, Jul 7, 2020
    #5
    Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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    Strainer is clean.. that was my first thought
  6. NYCAP123, Jul 7, 2020
    #6
    NYCAP123

    NYCAP123 Senior Member

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    Filter clean? Compressor iced?
  7. Capt J, Jul 7, 2020
    #7
    Capt J

    Capt J Senior Member

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    Compressor is most likely fried......can you put an amp meter on the a/c wire and see what it's drawing........Sure sounds like a locked compressor to me.
  8. Capt Ralph, Jul 7, 2020
    #8
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Hang on.
    Just had another call last week and all thought the compressor locked up. The start Cap blew. Breaker lasted about 1/2 second and popped.
    Sadly, the trouble shooting with a clamp on amp meter takes some time to get the feel of it.
    The only thing you can do is open the condensing controller box up. That stupid box with all the wires going to it.
    Should be 2 capacitors in there. Look at the cap tops. Look really well at the smaller one. Is it clean and shinny as new or dirty with s**t blown every ware?

    Take some pictures and send them to me.

    Just discovered the Ace hardware shop in East Palatka has an inventory of Caps on the back wall. F M

    BTW, next call, same issue. It was the compressor. Took 30 minuets to confirm with my current clamp, DVM and hammer.
    Lets hope for the best for you. You have been thru enough and I have no fish in the mail yet.......

    Humm, What does that mean???

    ,rc
  9. Boomer, Jul 8, 2020
    #9
    Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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    And yes the bay is getting bad...barnacles are growing quickly
  10. ranger58sb, Jul 8, 2020
    #10
    ranger58sb

    ranger58sb Senior member

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    On the off-chance... remove the wires from the compressor terminals, clean up the posts and the wires, put it all back together and see if that helps. Worked for me, once... and you might get lucky. The wiring didn't show any visible signs of corrosion but...

    -Chris
  11. Boomer, Jul 8, 2020
    #11
    Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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    Filters and strainers are all good...no ice anywhere...will definitely check the caps though...great thought!! Sorry...no fish by yet....
  12. Boomer, Jul 8, 2020
    #12
    Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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    Will check the terminals also...thanks for the ideas
  13. dewald, Jul 8, 2020
    #13
    dewald

    dewald Member

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    Give me a call, I can tell you some of the things Ed told me to check before he comes out. I - Ed replaced one of my condenser units in 2018.
    David
  14. Boomer, Jul 8, 2020
    #14
    Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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    Hi david... he is scheduled for next week...also checking the caps and terminals tomorrow night...I might get lucky...he did say my old marvunit is no longer in business
  15. Capt Ralph, Jul 8, 2020
    #15
    Capt Ralph

    Capt Ralph Senior Member

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    Split or Self contained?
    I still have 2 self contained MarvAir units in storage.
  16. Boomer, Jul 8, 2020
    #16
    Boomer

    Boomer Senior Member

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    Split...compressor under back deck and air handler in the salon ceiling...16000 or 18000 btu I believe
  17. Pascal, Jul 8, 2020
    #17
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Lack of water flow will cause a high pressure error not trip a breaker.

    mid the breaker trips as soon as compressor starts it is easy a fried compre$$or or a fried start capacitor
  18. Pascal, Jul 8, 2020
    #18
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    Marvairs were very good. Made in the Us until domestic bought them out. I had bought one a few years ago when one of my old split had failed. I used for a a year before getting my chiller system installed then sold it to a neighbor. It s still ticking.
  19. Dj239, Jul 8, 2020
    #19
    Dj239

    Dj239 Member

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    Take out the caps and check the uf with meter. If cap is bad it will show low. Make sure cap is discharged before testing
  20. rtrafford, Jul 9, 2020
    #20
    rtrafford

    rtrafford Senior Member

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    I've seen this cause a breaker trip, too. Typically, you're right, the high pressure safety trips, but the breaker will, too, if sensitive enough. I've installed the sea water pump through a contactor to allow for easy engagement of the pump to verify flow apart from the compressor as well as for general maintenance.
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