Bad HVAC Capacitor | I Make a Big Mistake
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- Опубліковано 5 жов 2024
- Welcome to Israelhvac's UA-cam Channel. On this channel i bring you along on HVAC Service calls, HVAC Maintenance and pretty much anything else HVAC related. Enjoy and thanks for watching.
Brilliant demo! There's a special place, beyond the pearly gates, for guys with the stones to show their mistakes to the world. Gotta wonder how many burns and lives you've saved with a simple video. I'll never forget this one.
Rule 1- always check for power before and after switching the breaker.
Rule 2- never trust another technician, always confirm power yourself.
Make it a habit to always treat electrical as if it's live.
I always do.
Best habit I was ever taught, always treat cables as if they're live even when u know its dead. I never put on spade lugs with my fingers, never touch anything, best way to stay safe
I treat electrical wires like they’re high voltage
Thanks for sharing, I just got a mild shock yesterday, the worst incident was when my brother and I were practicing music and I reached in to turn on a lamp. There was no bulb in socket and somehow since my fingers were facing inward I couldn't let go and my brother had the smarts to kick me free. That was such an eye opener. I couldn't move and felt the current paralyzing me. Thanks again for sharing...
I’m very proud of you my friend!!!... you didn’t need, if you didn’t want it, to show your mistake but instead you put the full video... recognizing your mistake, to help others not to do the same. No many of the professionals like to show their mistakes so when they are recording, they delete those mistakes... You have wisdom and I respect you very much for that and your professionalism.
Excellent advice! Thank you. Had a young HVAC guy come out today not even concerned about cutting off the breaker switch in the garage....just cutting off the power on the outdoor switch and trusting that. Luckily, I ran into my garage really quickly and shut the breaker switch off before he began working on installing a new capacitor. He was about 19 years old. I wish he was trained by someone like you.
Hopefully he survived. Sometimes they don't.
Not a problem if as the video suggests he checked the wires for power before replacing the cap. That’s the foolproof method.
Never trust a disconnect without confirming no power with a meter. Even though you had insulated pliers to put the wires back on, you were holding the capacitor with your hand. If you had missed the terminal and hit the capacitor, you would’ve been hit again. But definitely a learning experience. Glad you shared it.
Leather palm gloves are great against slip hazards...! js
You should see the scars on some of my tools...smh
The other problem with holding that huge aluminum capacitor: All the surface contact area!!! Gripping that much surface area can pass a lot of current, even if the voltage wasn't that high. OUCH!!!!!
There was another reason not to work it hot. Look at the video again and watch when the connector slips out of the strippers how close it comes to grounding out to the cabinet. If it had, the time saved by not positively killing the power would have been negated by having to fix the damage done.
The problem with typed in responses is that you can't send the tone you are intending. I have the upmost respect, especially for a seasoned veteran, to show his or her mistake and help others. Thanks to the other responders sharing their hard learned experience.
@@vincentrobinette1507
Not if he himself wasn’t grounded eh? Big rubber soled work boots are good.
Complacency is the enemy, for the professional.
As a homeowner, I benefit from a healthy fear of the electrons. I am the over-cautious guy wielding the multimeter, testing the power leads, condenser frame, and my dog for stray voltage.
Taught my dog CPR too... just in case. Ha.
I hope you don't use the sharps on your dog ;)
I love you for just being HONEST, it is so rare these days
Its not that rare
I just sold a new disconnect for the same reason. I avoided getting shock, but my pliers had to be replaced. I have 14 years of experience, and it still happened to me. keep up the good work, and thank you for being honest.
Was the disconnect an EATON that you replaced, there is a recall and we got like 4 of them here in the plant on the ac units that are recalled.
I would have left the 14 years experience out
@@matthewportnoy4146 More than you will ever have riding your mom's couch!
Electrician here... Please, always check for voltage after turning off disconnect or breaker as stated on this video.. And thank you for this video.
I ’ll say this my friend. Masters have failed twice as much as most have even tried.
Mistakes are lessons learned.
I applaud your complete sincerity.
Believe you were more in a hurry, than lazy. Anyone who has ever done any electrical or maintenance work has been there for sure.
Glad you're ok, Rule #1 of doing electrical work, Always TEST for power. never rely on anything. but glad you're ok.
A buddy of mine bought me an AC voltage tester as a sort of joke, since I have shocked myself more often than not. I use that 6 dollar tool all the time now lol
Excellent video showing that complacency can lead to disaster. Don't make assumptions.
Hey John, thanks for sharing your knowledge. Also thanks for showing and letting people know your mistakes, that is how we all learn. Thanks again.
Your a great man for showing your mistake. People should appreciate that!
*You're
Foka Lor Thanks for the English class
@@ABM261-zi2gl No problem, I could tell you needed it.
Happened to me along time ago, always now check each line to ground, I’ve also scene on a roof top, someone wrote “disconnect not working” on the side of the unit away from the disconnect, what a way to kill a fellow tradesmen.
as a maint mechanic and electrician, I have always respected ecectricity, and only been stung by 60 and 120 volts and low voltage DC that I thought was too low to sting me....but at 65yo I got hit hard by 220 volts...lucky it was a brush by, but it woke me right up.....my heart never wants to feel that again.......220 is a great teacher.
Kudos for posting this video. I'm not an electrician, but knowledgeable.
I switched out the a/c compressor cut-offs on my 1941 house, last year. No mishaps and everything is working well. I'm just about to replace the fan motor (which has a noisy, worn bearing) on one of the units. I've always just used the shut-offs, shorted the caps, then checked for voltage, but now I will also kill the main supply switch to the house ... just to be safe.
Lively content, made interesting by your revealing the little "shortcuts" everyone is tempted to take. Glad you were not injured by the discovery of live power situation, and very much appreciate your repeated emphasis to check power at the AC terminals. BTW, as you handled the insulated part of the capacitor body, I wondered what would have happened with a short-to-ground situation, in which the capacitor body, itself, may pose a hazard.
I am an advanced DIY guy, and I respect the fact, that I am not a professional. As such, I work on all kinds of things. Even my HVAC. However, I really appreciate your candor with the video and voice over. I usually wear gloves, just in case, but your demonstration and message are well received. Thanks
John, you are a good and honest man who I respect. Thanks for posting. You may have saved someone's life. Keep up the great work you do and share with us.
we've all been there , I would have done the same thing but your right its better being safe then sorry
Been there, done that... except I was working on a 460V RTU, standing on metal roof. Didn’t check power to all legs and went to repairing a burnt wire with an uninsulated Leatherman multi-tool. Several years ago and I can still feel the “tingle” when I think back on it. Great video!
lol.
Thank you for including the Mistake. Probably saved someone.
Hey John, this may be 4 years old but it helped me diagnose what was wrong with my outside unit. I tried the jump start but it only spun slowly but that let me know the motor was ok. Indside the coil was making a swishing sound so the compressor was trying to circulate. So I ended up just replacing the coil that was 20 yrs. old and SHAZZAM, fan started right up and went inside to check the vents and it was coming out at @ 55-60 degrees depnding on the part of the house. Best of all it cost me about 21 bucks all in and a bit of time. Once the house has cooled of for a bit I'm going out to give the unit a good cleaning!
Cheers, Graham. 👍👍❄❄
Very big of you to show us all what happened. I will always remember this video when Im out there. Thank you
A tip my Dad gave me years ago when I was learning how to work on tube amplifiers, treat every circuit as a live circuit regardless of whether it is or not. I have carried that advice into RHVAC career, and it has served me well.
smart fella your pops, everything should be considered live ;)
also tube amps are way higher voltage and usually have enough capacitance to really hurt you. the fun ones are 3KV+ you likely wont get a second chance in there and it will jump to get you. good rule is no jewelry, headphones, cabling and nothing grounded around you, elevated/isolated flooring, never lean on/into against things and always keep one hand in your pocket. worst case, only one hand/arm gets nailed. I can attest that it's no fun landing across the room.
Thanks for the reminder and I hope you marked the disconnect plus inside the unit that the disconnect doesn't work. We all get lazy but I'm glad you didn't get hurt. Also I would have wired it hot like you did because you knew at that point it was indeed live. Keep safe!
Great reminder to always check for power. Good video!
Your safety out there comes first. We all wanna go home to our fam let's not rush things. And you can't trust the last person that worked on the equipment. This video is much appreciated
Thank you! Most people searching UA-cam are DIYer. They need to hear this!
You should use a non-contact voltage detector that beeps rapidly if hazardous voltage is present. Check all the wires for an "unsafe" signal. This can save your life should this happen again.
Those things are not reliable. They are helpful, but the cheap ones are mostly junk. They beep all the time or not when you need them.
Great teacher, always stand up and when you make a mistake, Own IT. Thanks John, learn from this video. Great job.
Yes, appreciate your honesty. You could easily have buried this video.
I got zapped years ago (1998) like that due to a bad compressor / capacitor a darn near 💩 on myself! I bought my senses on that mistake now I check & recheck to make sure the power is OFF!
Was replacing a receptacle live. It was a stab type. Cut the neutral. The downstream circuits went to 220. That ceiling fan really started spinning. Cooked a couple of transformers. NEVER break the neutral on a 3 wire system.
Been there, done that.
It just goes to show how true it is that what does not kill you makes you stronger, and wiser.
Glad that you showed what could happen if disconnect is wired wrong hope you fixed the disconnect for the next guy .
Disconnects in visual sight of the unit are a "second line of defense", (first line being that muscle between your ears), nice and frequently required by code. Always knock the power off to the entire HVAC system at the main box. And, test, test, test for current throughout the unit. As part of the local home "grid", God knows from where they may be getting power.
Get yourself a little beeping light pin like what electricians use one you can use a real fast to see if there is electricity there.. that little thing is saved my life many times..
That thing is mandatory for HVAC troubleshooting, makes alot of problems obvious with a single tap.
Also for looting copper.
Alf Beef what’s the official name before I can’t afford to buy a $60 meter
Home Depot has them for $7.99 it's called a Dawson voltage meter, just a little heads up them things are not guaranteed. Be sure to take all the proper precautions while using..
Alf Beef totally agree. Make sure you test it on a hot circuit before using it to verify a dead circuit.
A multimeter with a capacitor test function is essential for residential service. In fact, have a backup meter. Also a bad 3 terminal capacitor can be replaced with a separate capacitor for the fan and compressor. Also a 20uf added together with a 15 uf will make a 35 uf capacitor. Just have to wire in parallel.
We are all human we all forget stuff or are lazy to do stuff and I’m a 20 year old from California just starting in Hvac love my job and I always diagnose the problem first and then turn on my breaker panel, and check for 240v or 120v. And I just started watching your videos very helpful for me especially going into this industry
I did that on my very first no ac call. Now I check for power every time. Thanks for showing that we’re not all perfect we’re only human! Glad your ok!
Exactly right get up and turn the power off at the breaker panel inside the house. Replace the disconnect switch then finish fixing the condenser unit. Yes always check your power first! A lot of us get complacent or lazy and that’s when bad stuff happens! Good video! Thanks for being honest! Glad you wasn’t hurt bad! 👍😊
Dude! This has happened to most all techs. I had a service call, went to the condenser panel and saw a blown cap. The customer was standing there with me the whole time and told me he would change it himself after I give him the price. Ok, fine with me, I collected the service call and continued my day. A few days later I get a call from his wife wanting to know what the hell I did because her husband got hit pretty damn hard due to a jumped disconnect. I explained, and all was understood. I'm just glad no one was hurt any worse.
Good learning video, keep em up.
Takes some balls to show you made a mistake show we are all human not super tech!
Schweddy balls.
@@brnmcc01 AMEN!!!!!
@@nickv4073 Classic SNL
It takes a real man to share his mistakes so that his fellows can learn from the experience. It takes a real friend to smack you in the back of the head, and tell you to put some gloves on.
People are learning work habits from you, show them how safety is self respect.
I recently had a blade in the disconnect break. It stayed in the closed position. The other blade opened. Needless to say it was a reminder, use meter to confirm all power removed. It was also a example of why the mechanical knife switches aren’t recommended. The pull plugs are better.
Oh man! Good thing you weren’t hurt badly. I’m so sorry that happened!
It was a relaxing Sunday and you let your guard down.
Every time I fix our unit I shut off the emergency switch on the condenser , the furnace, shut it off at the box, and I pull the disconnect. I get my gloves because
I do not like to get shocked!
I was reviewing videos on how to add the hard starter kit and came across this video.
Sorry that happened to you! Thank you for the video to remind people like my husband who doesn’t turn it off at the box.
Good opportunity to replace disconnect and wire correctly. Thanks for sharing
Thank you John for sharing your mistake with us. We all make them and we thank god when we get to go home to our family at the end of the day.
Point taken!
Thank you so much for teaching us shoemakers how to fix this stuff (The 20% of the time I don't blow something up or cause a fire). Really cool we can all learn from youtube. Thank you.
Thanks for sharing this crucial mistake, we all tend to get too comfortable and neglect to do what should always be done. Electricity can kill. Respect it.
Thanks for putting this out for everyone to learn from. Next time I DIY anything with an AC unit, I will cut the breaker first. The same with discharging old and new capacitors if I ever need to replace one.
My dad was working on a 440v machine, he needed to check/adjust breaker contacts. He killed the power, but didn't lock out the box and someone turned it back on. Luckily the body of his feeler gauge set was touching the grounded chassis of the machine so when he stuck the feeler into the live breaker it only blew up the feeler and didn't send any power through him. I still have that feeler set with one blade that is blue/brown and about 1/3 the length of the rest of them.
Glad you're still with us! Good lesson for everybody! Thanks!
Thank you for explaining and sharing your mistake. I will never rely on disconnect again and I will always check the power to the disconnect.
I guess that everyone of us did this mistake in past. Always check the power cable after the disconnect! Thank you for your videos!
It has happened to me. Makes me feel "So Alive". When I was a young technician I was remove hard start after getting compressor running and zapped the "F****!" Out of myself that I yelled. I felt it thru my chest. NEVER AGAIN! I had a habit of of just pulling low voltage off contactor to work on replacing capacitor or replace motor. I have been zapped doing that too. Washing down condenser and while removing hoses from an old Fedders unit got zapped by fan motor housing (bad ground).
The worst disconnect I've ever seen are the square D with the switch. I like the removable blade type. But still always check voltage. And always work everything like it's hot!
Those can be bypassed too. I came across one once.
I always go around with one of those none contact voltage sticks first, see if theres anything live inside a piece of equipment before I start working on it.
Bet there was some pretty colorful language when you made that discovery.
Voltage sniffers are life savers! Especially when you can't get to any bare copper with a volt meter.
Ditto. They don’t pick up 24 volts though. I’ve been hit by that numerous times.
I’ve quit trusting 24 volts as well.
ya I’ve been bitten a few times wiring up either the inside or outside. Get caught up doing something else or the phone rings. It happens. A stern reminder to check first before you stick your paws inside.
Your video saved me from getting shocked yesterday I never check power at contactor when I take out disconnect
Having seen that you advertised to the world that you made a mistake, I know that you are the type of person I would want servicing my AC. Everyone makes mistakes, but it takes a person of good character and humility to admit to it. Happy to see that you are such a man.
And thanks for the video. You may have saved lives with it.
I appreciate the comment
Thanks for taking time to remind people to use meter safety When doing electrical work never trust a disconnect especially in closed switches the knife can break internally and one leg can still be energized good video 👍
Thank you for sharing!! Appreciate your help over the phone...God bless!!
I was doing my friend ac. Yes, I was putting a new capacitor after I have watched many videos on how to do it. I pulled the disconnect handle and trusted that there wasn't power. Got my capacitor wired up and went to put it back in place. But, as maneuvered it in place, it touched the contactor and kaboom it burned a hole on the capacitor. There still was 240 volts. The disconnect doesn't really disconnect. I made that mistake to trust what I see. I have done it to my ac. But, I shut the power from the breaker box and also did the disconnect handle. I forgot to ask my friend to shut the power off and it almost cause my life. This guy at least he realized there was power in the line on time.
Very good advice. I am glad you did not get hurt!
I could see and hear the exact moment when you went to what I call "auto mode", it's dangerous and it happens to most of us at certain point, the good thing is that we will never forget about double checking, specially electrical, same as you I was troubleshooting a semi hermetic 230V compressor and flipped the disconnect off, good thing was once I removed the terminals wires cover at the compressor I checked with my meter, yeah... still got power due to a sticking blade at disconnect. Stay save guys.
Good man for keeping this video and explaining things. I have a degree in electricity, meaning I am a new electrician, and I can't stress enough, the importance of knowing your power is off. You could have lived on this earth for 40 whole years. Then one day you decide to do this without checking power, and a tenth of a second of an electrical discharge, can take away 40 years of life from you. PLEASE BE CAREFUL AND ALWAYS TURN THE POWER OFF WHEN WORKING WITH APPLIANCES.
This is a great video. I always check for 240 after pulling the disconnect, but never check individual legs. This could save someone’s life.
Great, lessons brother. I just replaced a capacitor on a 6ton trane unit and I didn't retest to confirm no energy. Safety 1st fellas
Agreed. Always. Always. Always. Check your power input. From the source. Plus he could have just undone the wire nut. “Hot”. Then put it back together.
Crazy way to do repairs with the power on!; I found a few bad disconnects which allowed power thru!
I actually signed back in to give you a thumbs up! I not only like to check the source with my meter "Before" I pull it but after as well. I check it before to make sure my meter is actually working and not lying to me when I pull the power. I have been bitten by that when the meter said there was no power when in fact there was. I got zapped because meter was a bad and the power was still applied. Thanks for sharing. Best Wishes & Blessings. Keith Noneya
Also need to check your voltmeter to a known source first then to your load side of the opened disconnect to ensure that your meter is OK.
In my former career I have experienced open voltmeter leads so inportant that you start with a known source.
My testing of potential would be as follows - voltmeter measures known, then to unknown, back to known.
Like you said in video don't trust disconnect, must test for potential after turning off disconnect.
Thanks for sharing.
whether using an insulated set of pliers or not. this is an excellent video of what osha would not want you to do... certain things as such, are due to bad breakers/ground. therefore in order to have completed the job the breaker in the disconnect, or in the panel should have been changed resolving said issue. without a working disconnect on a unit. there is no way to stop it at the source except a breaker panel. which code is to have one at the unit to make sure for ease of turning off power
I have 3 Carrier units, all different sizes. A/C guy showed me the change the capacitor trick for inop fan. i always just used the disconnect but no more. I hate working with 110/220 and I have been severely shocked once before when I was onboard ship in the NAVY. Even though I kinda knew you were gunna get bit by the way you talked, I still got a little ill in my stomach. Circuit breakers off before I ever pull the panel from now on, I don care if my disconnects work or not. Thanks for a video to remember and glad you only caught one leg of power.
yep, I think we all have been there , get complacent, take disconnects for granted, when I worked in the field after getting bit because only one leg was wired through disconnect I always checked each line to ground..good job John. getting bit doesn't feel to good either.
Wow.. like others said.. glad are ok and that you shared this experienced for others to learn from! Had it been raining out and you sitting in some wet area, it could have been so much worse.
Mr. Isreal is an excellent, highly trained expert in his field ,of the highest caliber
It was replaced the next day by an electrician WTF
Replaced my motor and capacitor a few weeks ago..it was the first time working on an air conditioner but I've had extensive experience in electronics. Luckily, I was a little nervous, so aftershorting the contacts to discharge the cap, not only did I measure all of my contacts before touching anything, I also used insulated gloves. Glad I saw this video though, so next time I have to work on it I don't fool myself into being over-confident.
Thanks for the video as fellow HVAC contractor I have seen the exact same thing more than once on rental property. I have a several appartment complexes that I do work for. They have some guy who goes around putting freon in and rigging things. These type people who do these things are the ones that get people seriously hurt. Glad you are ok and be safe
I had the same thing happen to me changing out a 40 hp motor on a rotary screw air compressor. I checked across from leg to leg on the bottom of the VFd, but did not check to ground. One of the knife disconnects had broken off inside the panel and was still hot. I had my hand on the motor as I grazed across the bare wire end. I definitely did not need any more caffeine that day. Live and Learn
Good reminder.. we all get busy and start moving fast, thats when we get bit.
That just smartened me right up! I've been tempted to take a short cut. I won't even be tempted anymore! Thx
If it's a "real disconnect" meaning you physically pull it out, I all ways pop or unscrew the cover to make sure it's not by-passed and if it's a breaker type "disconnect" I ALL WAYS check both legs to ground I never trust the breaker types for that same reason.
It hurts but it only takes that one time for it to happen and you'll never let it happen again.
Also another reason why you always discharge the capacitor before pulling it loose. We get too complacent out there in the field and that’s how we get hurt. I have an old bent up insulated screw driver, that I use just for that. Always discharge the capacitor, even after you have checked for power with your meter. If you would have discharged, you would have known it was still live and potentially have saved your own life. Remember, It only takes that one to kill you or cause permanent damage. There’s no such thing as an accident.
I always double check and protect myself, it sometimes seems you don't have the time, BUT YOU DO!!.. And have a talk with whomever wired that unit.. Thanks for the insight, even a pro sometimes makes a mistake!!! Be safe, Make dough and enjoy your life!!
yeah I was working on a neighbors unit once and found that the contactor was not pulling in. I was showing him how his unit would come on when you manually pushed the contacts closed when I saw a single bead of sweat going down my finger and I had time to think "no way that could get me shocked" when I stood up involuntarily. I was High as frig for a hot second there and remember thinking so that is why they shock mental patients lol.
Glad you're ok...thanks for the video: I had the same problem with my unit, which I have just fixed. I always thought it was loud, but seeing it is loud in the video too, I'm now reassured.
I had one disconnect with "fuses". The "fuses" were 3/8" copper tubing! Wired so when you 'killed' power, those "fuses" were still hot. Just goes to show, there are two kinds of techs: those that don't trust anything, and those that are either dead or have permanently curly hair. Always check power to chassis ground. If you want to be extra sure, jump the supposed dead lead to chassis with a good sized wire.
I’ve had brush ups with 208 volts. 120 still hurts but doesn’t light up my nerves nearly as much. But i concur with treating wires like they’re hot. I personally work on small appliance sized heat pumps (water-sourced) in a recurring lab setting but when i was first messing with the disconnects this was a thing i went to check regularly when i had to directly wire in a unit to the disconnect.
I got shock with a neutral wire and power was off, I always remember this video, Thanks John..it is embedded in my brain.
Same thing happened to me today. I was able to catch that the unit still had power going to it because a few LEDs were still on saying "power". Better than that the breakers were not labeled!
I have a few customers in a condominium from the 70s I normally service. Why I mention the 70s is because the "disconnect switch" they used are literally light switches. One time my father switched one off, and did his repair, turned it on for it not to work. So I normally don't trust them either. He will work with live electricity if he does contactor switch outs, and he's been in the trade for 40 years, I can't do that and I've been working for 3 years in the trade. I find it's up to the technician and if they are comfortable doing it. I feel in some cases it's not laziness more than you dont want to go down several flights to turn off power, or wait 30 minutes for the property manager to let you in the house.
Then again it's your life, I rather work safe, nice video.
It happen to me 2 or 3 time when customer said yeah i close the braker!! But take a shock on it, .. Just take 2 min to see if the brake or disconnect is really close. Thnx bro for this video.
Oh wow!
Brother, I'm glad you're okay!
I am SO GLAD that I watched this video. I am in school right now for HVACR, and I am trying to soak up as much knowledge and wisdom from every tech out there that I possibly can before I get out there on my own. It's videos like this one that make me 'smash' that Like button and subscribe to other people's channels.
And it's techs like you (who admit when they make a mistake) that desires me want to model after.
Thanks a lot, bro; you probably saved my life in the future. Now I have something new to teach my 13yr old son, who will be following in my footsteps after I am gone.
Can't help but remembering when I was a newly minted teen-ager we had a 1948 RCA 16" console that kept blowing a black and white tube. So instead of calling the TV repair man for another $16.75, I went down to the local Kresge's 5 and 10, and bought a replacement tube. I got home, took off the cardboard back of the TV just like I saw the repair man do a couple of times, and pulled the burnt tube. I touched the CAPACITOR [key word for this video] and got instantly knocked ass over kettles for a good six or seven feet -- ( learned later that force equals mass times acceleration: I weighed about 80 pounds - since I got thrown about 6 feet I later calculated that that puny resistor exerted about 500 pounds, with clothes on, and ever since have had a deep abiding respect for capacitors, whether they be on a PCB board, a 1/2 HP motor, or in an HVAC circuit! (Just as an aside, but come to think of it, my Labrador Retriever shares the same respect after peeing against an electric fence, but for a different set of reasons!)
I clicked a new category (to me) Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning and you were one of them so you are subscribed and I hit the bell for ALL!