Buzzing from outside AC unit - outside fan is running
AngryOldWhiteGuy
the outside unit is UAKA- 037JAZ. It's been very hot here in Texas - over
100 all day long, but the system is working OK and cooling the house -
plenty of cool air coming out of all the vents - the AC runs a lot these
days, but it always has when it's very hot outside since we've lived here -
I guess that's because it's an older unit (1996) and not as efficient as
some of the newer units. The filter has always been changed regularly.
For several months now, I'm hearing a loud buzzing noise from the outside
unit when it's running - the fan spins OK and there's hot air coming off of
the unit - the noise is nothing that keeps us awake at night, but certainly
noiser than my neighbor's units - they were replaced within the past few
years and they're newer.
Is this kind of noise typical of the older units?? If not, what am I likely
to hear is the main problem from the AC repair guy if the unit goes out and
I need to make a repair call?
I had something on the outside unity replaced a few years ago - I think it
was the start capacitor.
Thanks!
RBM
"AngryOldWhiteGuy" <AngryOldWhiteGuy@i_am_a_minority_too_dammit.com> wrote
in message news:i1vj69$bt3$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
What you are hearing is the relay , or contactor,inside the condenser. It
receives 24 volts from the blower unit, which energizes it's coil, pulling
in the relay,sending 240 volts to the condenser motor . When these relays
get old or worn, then start making humming or buzzing noises. It's not an
expensive part and with limited electrical experience, can be changed by a
homeowner.
>
>
AngryOldWhiteGuy
"RBM" <rb...@live.com> wrote in message
news:4c4351a0$0$14417$607e...@cv.net...
"with limited electrical experience" - I've never electrocuted myself - I
guess that qualifies my experience as limited, but I think I'll call a
repair guy to do the work anyway.
Much appreciated!
Joe
RBM
"AngryOldWhiteGuy" <AngryOldWhiteGuy@i_am_a_minority_too_dammit.com> wrote
in message news:i1vjt0$eu7$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
For most people, calling the professionals is advisable. Here is a link to a
typical condenser contactor. It is a double pole relay with a 24 volt
electromagnetic coil:
http://www.ecrater.com/p/6264911/24-volt-2-pole-a-c-contactor-air-conditioning#
>
celt...@aol.com
> "AngryOldWhiteGuy" <AngryOldWhiteGuy@i_am_a_minority_too_dammit.com> wrote
> in messagenews:i1vjt0$eu7$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
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> > "RBM" <r...@live.com> wrote in message
> >news:4c4351a0$0$14417$607e...@cv.net...
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> >> "AngryOldWhiteGuy" <AngryOldWhiteGuy@i_am_a_minority_too_dammit.com>
> >> wrote in messagenews:i1vj69$bt3$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
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I agree with calling a professional. Limited electrical experience
aside, limited AC experience might lead to enough confusion to cause
problems. It is good to knkow the likely problem, though, so it can
be priced out, and to avoid the laundry list of possible expensive
fixes.
AngryOldWhiteGuy
<celt...@aol.com> wrote in message
news:eb964f3d-f33b-4403...@z10g2000yqb.googlegroups.com...
Absolutely - I didn't wanna have a guy come by and tell me "contactor" and
give me a bill for $500. The part is around $30 - with labor, I'm thinking
that the total should be around $100.
Thanks again, guys!
Stormin Mormon
condensor. He should spray on some chemical, onto the outdoor radiator
grille. This will foam up after a minute or two. He should rinse it
all off with a garden hose, and might need a second or third cleaning.
Cleaning the condensor will help with efficiency, and lower your
energy bill.
Do this after replacing the conactor, so he's not kneeling in water.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
"AngryOldWhiteGuy" <AngryOldWhiteGuy@i_am_a_minority_too_dammit.com>
wrote in message news:i1vjt0$eu7$1...@news.eternal-september.org...
Stormin Mormon
when the unit has a crankcase heater.
--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.
"RBM" <rb...@live.com> wrote in message
news:4c435d82$0$31275$607e...@cv.net...
AngryOldWhiteGuy
"Stormin Mormon" <cayoung##spamblock**@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3XK0o.40185$Ls1....@newsfe11.iad...
> While the repair guy is at your home. Please ask him to clean the
> condensor. He should spray on some chemical, onto the outdoor radiator
> grille. This will foam up after a minute or two. He should rinse it
> all off with a garden hose, and might need a second or third cleaning.
> Cleaning the condensor will help with efficiency, and lower your
> energy bill.
>
> Do this after replacing the conactor, so he's not kneeling in water.
>
> --
> Christopher A. Young
> Learn more about Jesus
> www.lds.org
> .
metal pieces surrounding the coils and hosed them off real good - I think I
actually sprayed some kitchen cleaner \ degreaser on the coils after I hosed
them off the first time, and then after spraying them down with the
cleanser, hosed them off again. When I started, there was an unbelievable
amount of grass clippings and other, accumulated gunk in the coils.
Thanks for the suggestion !!
Molly Brown
When was the last time anyone lubricated your condenser fan motor?
RBM
"Molly Brown" <recycl...@charter.net> wrote in message
news:ab035592-fd69-449f...@x18g2000pro.googlegroups.com...
Probably when it was built, and sealed at the factory
cl...@snyder.on.ca
Last time mine buzzed I just tightened the loose screws on the housing
and everything was quiet again. That was about 10 years ago - the AC
is about 35 years old.
The Daring Dufas
Most home owners don't realize that they must turn off the AC when
cutting the grass. The condensing (outdoor) unit is like a giant
vacuum cleaner and will inhale a lot of dirt and dust. I always try
to get customers to cut back the hedges from the unit and lay a bed
of pea gravel around the base of the unit and keep the pine straw
and other landscape fill away from the condenser.
TDD
The Daring Dufas
The buzzing is caused by a bit of rust or believe or not an insect
caught in the armature of the contactor. When the contactor pulls
in, it will buzz if the flat surfaces of the electromagnet is in
any way interfered with. Sometimes a simple whack with a screwdriver
handle will clear the debris and the buzzing will go away. Cleaning
the contactor with contact cleaner or heaven forbid, WD-40 will often
flush out the bugs, dirt and rust.
TDD
mm
That qualifies my experience as limited, you say.
Even more limited than if you had electrocuted yourself.
Now that would have been an experience
mm
It's not the fan motor. Even if it needed lubrication, it woudln't
make the noise he dscribes.
>>
>>Probably when it was built, and sealed at the factory
>>
>Last time mine buzzed I just tightened the loose screws on the housing
>and everything was quiet again. That was about 10 years ago - the AC
>is about 35 years old.
A very good idea. And something one with little experience can try
first. He can put his hand on the panels and see if any is vibrating.
If not that, it's the contactor and I thind Dufas has some good ideas.
Keep that up, Dufas, and you'll lose your right to your name.
Meat Plow
> The buzzing is caused by a bit of rust or believe or not an insect
> caught in the armature of the contactor.
<nods>
Heard this sound many, many times. Doesn't take much rust on the
laminated core of the contactor or the plunger to make them hum.
--
Altopia.com $12/m 10 unlimited connections
AngryOldWhiteGuy
"Meat Plow" <mhy...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:pan.2010.07...@hahahahahahahah.nutz...
> On Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:24:37 -0500, The Daring Dufas wrote:
>
>> The buzzing is caused by a bit of rust or believe or not an insect
>> caught in the armature of the contactor.
>
> <nods>
>
>
>
> Heard this sound many, many times. Doesn't take much rust on the
> laminated core of the contactor or the plunger to make them hum.
>
>
Stormin Mormon
The Daring Dufas
> On Sun, 18 Jul 2010 22:24:37 -0500, The Daring Dufas wrote:
>
>> The buzzing is caused by a bit of rust or believe or not an insect
>> caught in the armature of the contactor.
>
> <nods>
>
>
>
> Heard this sound many, many times. Doesn't take much rust on the
> laminated core of the contactor or the plunger to make them hum.
>
>
>
There was a whole article in an EE magazine about converting AC
contactors to DC to prevent the buzzing which can cause overheating
of the contactor coil.
TDD
Meat Plow
Makes sense. Gap causes eddy currents I suppose. Same things apply for
transformer/inductor core design.
jeff_wisnia
In my experience, when the relay is located outdoors and not well sealed
from the environment, what happens is that the D shaped copper "shading
coil" at the armkature end of the relay coil corrodes into nothingness
and can no longer serve its function of creating an out of phase AC
magnetic field to prevent the buzzing of the relay armature.
(More than you needed to know, huh?)
Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10e12 furlongs per fortnight.