Craig, as an HVAC-R instructor, I just wanted to give huge Kudos for everything you do. You have the heart of a teacher and you are an outstanding technician. Thank you.
and so many "techs" especially with the companies that advertise locally will tell you it will cost $1,200.00 to fix. All I can say is when you have HVAC problems and some company is trying to charge you $$$$ for a fix, get a 2nd opinion. I bought a new system, made calls and found a licensed HVAC guy who did it for $1,300 less then the big companies wanted to install the indoor and outdoor unit. I helped him when it came to hanging the indoor unit and he did all the rest. They have to charge $$$ to pay for all those commercials they run which are never ending where I live.
@trvman1 you can't knock em for trying to make money but I agree with the second opinion... our skills are very valuable and we deserve to make a good living
Most usefull video on the internet! Our A/C guy was just changing the capacitor... When it failed a second time, he said it was time to change the unit! Turns out the emf relay was busted! Thanks!
What I love about this instructor is not only the information given, but how tight he keeps his lesson. Then to put it together with video editing, two camera shoots, and excellent sound, just a job well done sir. Thank you.
Holy Crap!!! Due to the 4-day, 90+ degree weather in NJ, my A/C stopped working yesterday....we called for repair and the technician showed up around 9 PM last night. Guess what he found? THE CAPACITOR BLEW! I'm gratified to get a repair so quickly...incidentally, the total cost for parts and emergency labor call was about $330.00. However, I'm a little creeped out that this happened yesterday and UA-cam pushes this video to me today....big brother is watching.
Simple..the government stuck their noses in the HVAC business and it was determined that the capacitor manufacturer's could no longer fill them with oils for cooling the capacitors. The result is the capacitors cannot take the heat, resulting in failure due to overheating.
Congratulations on passing your school and obtaining your Universal EPA certification! That's a significant achievement, and I'm thrilled to hear that my videos continue to be a valuable learning resource for you!!
Video is great & to the point. My run capacitor quit on our 4 year old Rheem AC. Replacement lasted 2 1/2 days. Next replacement lasted less than 1 hour. I will now check the relay. Thank you.
I am almost sure that's what just happened to my unit...the thing that blew is on the inside of the unit near the ground below the blades...yours is conveniently on the side easy to repair...Thank you for you video
I really like this illustration. Also, keep in mind to use multimeter to test the Start Relay before it burns. Proper position of relay is crucial because terminals stay in right position if not affected by gravity. 1- Terminal 1 & 2 should have continuity and NO resistance reading. Any resistance reading means the Terminals 1&2 are making poor contact. This justifies a preventive replacement. But, if necessary, it is better to get more evidence. 2- Resistance reading on High Resistance Coil, between 2 & 5, should be very close to 5K Ohms, anything higher means the coils is failing. It should be replaced. 3- Any brown round/oval stain close to terminal 5 is a visual sign of coil overheating and should be replaced.
This was very helpful. As in right now I’m going to trade school to become a hvac technician. And one of the things my professor said was. When you check a component that failed not just replaced the part that failed but also try to find out why it failed. In this video you showed what made the capacitor failed not just the capacitor is bad because the MFD are lower. Great video
The “MFD” rating is the size of its capacity rated in units called “micro farads.” Your explanation was helpful. My previous supervisor did not feel it was necessary to clean the condenser if you could still see daylight through the coil. I am sure that this resulted in higher head pressures. So when cycling it would be harder for the compressor to start because the unit would still be hotter than normal. He was constantly having to put in the hard start kit’s. It was very helpful to see how extreme the results are of the start capacitor when it fails. One of your readers wrote about getting hit in the face by the discharged oil and gases. I can see the need to wear safety glasses more clearly now. Thanks
I also believe that the oil in old AC units deteriorate, resulting in less lubrication and harder starts. I put in an ounce of the oil recommended for the compressor, and they run much smoother and have easier starts.
I've seen many 'Welded' contacts on '20/40 pressure switches' for water pumps. Now i know what to look for in my AC that went bang. Great instructional vid 👍
My fan start cap went bad, but I think it just dried out after 10 years, it didn't leak/rupture. I cleaned the start circuit's enclosed relay contacts and removed the dead wasps that were jammed between the exposed motor contactor contacts. Back in business, and now I do a periodic check for wasp nests. I'm glad I didn't spend $500 to get this fixed. The capacitor was around $8, shipped to my house.
Excellent video, I just had the A.C. capacitor replaced, the unit is only a year old, the tech. replaced the capacitor, but now I will check the relay as shown on this video. Thanks for sharing 👍
You have a natural teaching capability. I enjoy learning anything and this lesson was a easy to understand and capture the information given. No gasps missing. Great job.
Your are my hero. So smart and easy to understand. Love your videos especially the ones explaining subcooling and superheat measuring. They have saved me a ton of money. Thank you and keep up the great videos.
I’m not an AC guy but I learned something from you today. I thought the start capacitors burned out because they were low quality made in China. Thanks.
Great video. I believe that the reason why the relay fails over time is the same reason 12v relays fail on vehicles. corrosion at the connectors (in the wiring circuit) causes the voltage to drop. Since Power = volts x amps, when the voltage goes down; the amps go up across the contacts and burns them up. Same thing happens on relays, solenoids and starters on cars. Poor quality relays today may also contribute to the failure. In other words the Electrical Engineers don't design for the extra amps due to the extra corrosion resistance.
That was a great video. The only thing i would add is the resistor is there to prevent carbon build up on the contacts from arcing when it makes and breaks.
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The unit at my old house was so close to the den window that when a capacitor failed years ago I hit the floor because it sounded like a shotgun blast when it blew. A week later the replacement capacitor blew as well. I now have A/C PTSD.
great video bc us techs rarely get to actually see when a Start cap blowS & lets the smoke OUT !!! .LOL ...what a mess , Thanks for all you Do for this industry & us Techs out in the Field
Once the start cap goes, you should also monitor for high start and run current draw when the new cap is installed. Some shorted windings could lower the start winding resistance to the point that higher starting currents will continue to eat capacitors and will eventually take out the system circuit breakers, too. Plus, burned windings change the inductive reactance of the coil which will make this machine run inefficiently and hot (motor winding resistances are so low (1-10 ohms) that a multimeter cannot supply enough current to give accurate resistance readings, so run-start current is a safer test).
Best video ever to watch things blow ....lol, My well pump had a blown Capacitor , took your advice to also replace relay wile doing repair . Thanks for vid
Sounds like the answer is 'no' they did not replace the relay or thermistor. Although the video says "the thermistor will fail in an OPEN condition" which seemingly would protect the start cap, as long as your tech is at your AC, may as well pay a bit extra for the part and tell them "can you please replace the relay or thermistor, whichever of those my compressor unit has". The cost of a service call if you need to call them back out again is probably more than the cost of the relay or thermistor.
@@bobboscarato1313 If the starter capacitor remains in the circuit due to a bad relay, the tech who got paid to replace the cap is getting called back anyway. If a service tech comes out the first visit and fails to fix the actual source of the problem - a bad relay - the new starter capacitor is going to fail soon enough. Unethical service techs think "I'll get a 2nd call and then I'll replace the capacitor AND the relay". What ends up happening is, that tech loses that customer permanently because it will be clear they failed to do the job right the first time, when they come back out to replace the same part as before. "This tech was not thorough enough" is what most customers will think, then never hire that company again. HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AS A TECH 1) troubleshoot thoroughly to find the source of the failure 2) tell the owner "I have to replace the starter capacitor to get your compressor and thus your A/C working again. But I found the source of the blowout of the capacitor - a bad relay. If you don't want me to replace the relay, I will make a note on your bill that you need a new relay, and I have to warn you that the new capacitor will fail before too long, because the bad relay is why the starter capacitor failed in the first place." In other words, give the owner the full knowledge of the trouble, note it on their bill, so when the cap blows up again, at least you have a clear conscience, and you were 100% ethical in trying to help the customer, and the customer will blame themselves. I'd wager about 50% of customers will say "fix the relay too then" and 50% won't.
@@Greg_Chase A good tech worth any salt would never just change the start cap , you left out 3) all these kits are made in malaysia 3 month warranty on O.E.M. RECOMMENDED KIT NOT LABOR ! 4) recommend ICM LINE MONITOR.
I was glad to see your video in my recommendation. Your explanations were great. I wished I had seen this few weeks ago to help me trouble shoots my ac problem.
I'm sorry to hear that you had a similar experience!! It can definitely be a messy and unpleasant situation when you're dealing with the internal liquid!
I'm an electrical engineer. That was very good description of this failure. It's hard to get that stuff across sometimes to the trades people but, you did it. Thanks!
I liked how you described "amperage crossing" from Run cap to Potential relay! This morning I taught two courses on our Kickstart product line (which comes w a bleed resistor, btw). Bc of the amperage crossing, I stress the need to test the existing Run Cap while the system is RUNNING. I'd be happy to discuss more of these topics, HSK's just happens to be the most exciting...lol.
Would the compressor be able to start with a good hard start kit installed on a unit with a failed run capacitor, and what would be the effect on the compressor?
i hardly see these in AC anymore , most of our gear is inverter now and if its not its usually PSC which is pretty easy to do with a scroll compressor like copeland ZR series as they start virtually unloaded
It is also my understanding that the potential relay should be mounted with the mounting hole facing up, which is why there is only one mounting tab for these relays. This will mount the switch inside the relay vertically, increases relay switch "pull off time", and increase the chances of the relay failing open if it fails. From what I see, the relay is not mounted correctly.
Nice video! I just tried to install a hard start kit for my Goodman 4 Ton last week. I hooked it up and after the first start it ran fine and then on the second time the AC started up the hard start cap popped on me. I thought maybe it was abad hard start cap but now I'm wondering if it was the potential relay.
On my trane ac, I try to always keep a spare capacitor and contactor on hand just in case of failure. Plus my ac man can't always show up that same day (understandable), cause it gets hot here quick in summer in MS.
Great video Craig, I also found your book and other resources very informative! It was nice talking with you at the HVAC symposium a few weeks back 🍻 from Florida!
@@throttlebottle5906 it won’t take hours, yes it’s not as fast as other methods, I didn’t claim it was either, but if a meters all you have it will work.
Hey Josh, please provide the value for the bleed resistor....Chuck thinks its maybe 10K Ohms (below) is that about right? I assume the wattage value of the resistor doesn't need to be very high.....
@@chuckyounger7298 they're usually 10 to 20K ohm an 2watt rated, make sure the voltage rating is high enough. 15K ohm at 2watt rating is what one of the aftermarket replacement ones are, with female spade terminals staked on.
Great video Is there a video of how to add a start capacitor to an existing AC that’s having issues with the compressor starting? Run cap is good but it doesn’t have a start cap, thanks
I don't work in this industry but I'm told that start (and run) capacitors are often replaced whenever one replaces a compressor. This kind of failure shown in the video would seem obvious, but why would one replace the cap (when it looks and tests normal with a meter) when the compressor has failed? Is it because they are cheap and the meter can miss some kinds of cap failure?
Nice Video. Thank You. Just blew a 5-2-1 Soft start Cap yesterday...was 3 years old from CPS Products via Amazon.com Will order a replacement kit this week...be disassembling the relay too...Thanks again.
Greatly appreciated all the efforts you do for the community and money saving for homeowners and even A/C technician, thanks graig muchas gracias amigo
Nice presentation of physical differences between start and run capacitor, but most folks incorrectly understand how they actually work. It is true that a run cap in a fan must be matched since it is needed to correct the phase angle altered by the inductive load. As mentioned, you can roast the armature & field windings. On a start cap, although not necessary, you can certainly over value cap in Uf or voltage without issues being that it is seen momentarily in the circuit.... Not as some "Boost" or Extra Charge to help spool up the electromotive force for rotation......IN fact, it's quite the opposite as it simply pulls down one leg to assist in rotation. Think of standing on a bicycle, try to push both pedals down with all of your force.......you go nowhere and only have a locked condition, now lift one leg and then stater the rotation! Not certain how this video came up but was fun to watch & appears to be a great resource to anyone with interest.
I did some work on my brothers AC unit last year where the compressor just stopped running, and the HVAC place I got parts from said basically the same thing: even without testing it’s common practice to replace the relay with the start cap because the relay is pennies on the dollar compared to the capacitor, and even if the relay is still good, it will fail before the capacitor does. Those running caps never seem to completely fail, just degrade over time. You know when they are going especially on a blower because it doesn’t maintain a smooth operating speed.
I've changed a few of those on some Frigidaire A\C window units for family and friends with breaking ac during summertime. I also changed ALOT of circuit boardd for about 65$. It seams that they design window units so that condensation will perfectly fall and accumulate the bay
Wow thank you so much I have a seven-year-old Lennox unit I replaced The run capacitor it and it fired right up. The other capacitor and the trans dermal I have to watch again sorry I did not replace. It’s been good for five years since I did the run passenger.I may be getting my term analogy wrong I can’t remember but the unit blew warm air I replaced one of those cylindrical capacitors and it got ice cold once again. Believe it or not the unit warranty was up six months after this happened the original guy wouldn’t do a thing for me but want it for 100 bucks I replaced it for 12 now I’m gonna replace the relay and the other capacitor this summer. Just because!! It was a $10,000 unit at the time ... heater and air conditioner! I’ll definitely subscribe, thank you
Is this relay the same as the one you typically see on a 5-2-1 hard start kit??? Loved the video, learned a lot. The AC season is starting here on the east coast so how about a “ride along / apprentice “ program. One lucky subscriber gets to carry the tools😂 of one of your NJ guys. Sign me up !!
Yes. Aftermarket 5-2-1 kits use a potential relay and a start capacitor like the system shown in the video. The 5-2-1 kit's name comes from the fact that it just refers to the terminal numbers. :)
Thank you so much for the info :) - This is exactly what is wrong with my air conditioner. I have identified the hard start capacitor's model number, but the relay is just a little black box. How do I identify it to get a replacement? appreciate any assistance.
This is helpful.. I'm having challenge with a hermetically compressor at work. After running for about 40 sec, the relay would start sparking and this normally stops the compressor. What could be the problem?
Nice format of the video. It was very interesting.👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 I've learned something new. Because it's not a really common issue, it was not clear in my mind.
I wish I would've seen this before the AC guy condemned my 19 yr old unit for having a bad compressor. He never checked that relay or pointed out the hole in the start capacitor. "I've seen this problem a lot" he says. Followed by a quote for a new system. I replaced the start cap to watch it blow twice before replacing the relay. The ol York is up and running in 114⁰ heat 👍
Wow, the first year after you bought a new AC?? I got my AC exactly a year ago and it stopped cooling this morning, i'm thinking is the cap. The filter was changed so is not clogged and the fan turns on, but no cold air.
Craig, as an HVAC-R instructor, I just wanted to give huge Kudos for everything you do. You have the heart of a teacher and you are an outstanding technician. Thank you.
As a vegas hvac 1st year student that also plays bass, hopefully our paths soon cross
and so many "techs" especially with the companies that advertise locally will tell you it will cost $1,200.00 to fix. All I can say is when you have HVAC problems and some company is trying to charge you $$$$ for a fix, get a 2nd opinion. I bought a new system, made calls and found a licensed HVAC guy who did it for $1,300 less then the big companies wanted to install the indoor and outdoor unit. I helped him when it came to hanging the indoor unit and he did all the rest. They have to charge $$$ to pay for all those commercials they run which are never ending where I live.
@trvman1 you can't knock em for trying to make money but I agree with the second opinion... our skills are very valuable and we deserve to make a good living
Most usefull video on the internet!
Our A/C guy was just changing the capacitor... When it failed a second time, he said it was time to change the unit!
Turns out the emf relay was busted!
Thanks!
What I love about this instructor is not only the information given, but how tight he keeps his lesson. Then to put it together with video editing, two camera shoots, and excellent sound, just a job well done sir. Thank you.
I have no idea why this was in my recommended videos. But I enjoyed watching it and learn something new.
It's in your recommended because youtube algo is fucked right now.. just click "don't show this in my recommended" and this idiot will go away.
Larry and Leroy are probably right. However, getting "out of your lane" is a healthy exercise for the brain.
Excellent video. Hvac tech 20+ yrs and have never got to see start cap fail. Ty
Holy Crap!!! Due to the 4-day, 90+ degree weather in NJ, my A/C stopped working yesterday....we called for repair and the technician showed up around 9 PM last night. Guess what he found? THE CAPACITOR BLEW! I'm gratified to get a repair so quickly...incidentally, the total cost for parts and emergency labor call was about $330.00. However, I'm a little creeped out that this happened yesterday and UA-cam pushes this video to me today....big brother is watching.
The same thing happend to me last week.. Had a heat wave and mine went out
This is a great example for why root-cause analysis is so important.
Simple..the government stuck their noses in the HVAC business and it was determined that the capacitor manufacturer's could no longer fill them with oils for cooling the capacitors. The result is the capacitors cannot take the heat, resulting in failure due to overheating.
that is what makes a great tech, fix the problem, not the symptom
@@randallgreen6746 Removing toxic PCB-based oil? Oh, the horror!
great video ..... i just pass my school and got my Universal EPA .... but i am still learning from you ... thanks for great video...
Congratulations on passing your school and obtaining your Universal EPA certification! That's a significant achievement, and I'm thrilled to hear that my videos continue to be a valuable learning resource for you!!
Video is great & to the point. My run capacitor quit on our 4 year old Rheem AC. Replacement lasted 2 1/2 days. Next replacement lasted less than 1 hour. I will now check the relay. Thank you.
I've seen the after effect but never seen it in action. Love the slow camera reaction on this. Great job. Sub for life
I would not want to be next to it when it blew while taking voltage readings. Man, talking about getting the crap scared out of yourself.
Damn!
I am almost sure that's what just happened to my unit...the thing that blew is on the inside of the unit near the ground below the blades...yours is conveniently on the side easy to repair...Thank you for you video
Very,very professional. SINCERELY.
I’ve watched several vids on how this process works. This resonates better than all of them. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
I really like this illustration. Also, keep in mind to use multimeter to test the Start Relay before it burns. Proper position of relay is crucial because terminals stay in right position if not affected by gravity.
1- Terminal 1 & 2 should have continuity and NO resistance reading. Any resistance reading means the Terminals 1&2 are making poor contact. This justifies a preventive replacement. But, if necessary, it is better to get more evidence.
2- Resistance reading on High Resistance Coil, between 2 & 5, should be very close to 5K Ohms, anything higher means the coils is failing. It should be replaced.
3- Any brown round/oval stain close to terminal 5 is a visual sign of coil overheating and should be replaced.
On your point #2, is that reading when the relay is disconnected from everything?
Always disconnect wires when checking a load for ohms.
This was very helpful. As in right now I’m going to trade school to become a hvac technician. And one of the things my professor said was. When you check a component that failed not just replaced the part that failed but also try to find out why it failed. In this video you showed what made the capacitor failed not just the capacitor is bad because the MFD are lower. Great video
Elctro plat oil oit comeing over over oiy systom bacal th.......$
One of the best videos I've seen on AC in a very long time
Our "Old Faithful" start capacitor! Thanks for the great demonstration.
Glad it was helpful!
Between this guy and hvac school these are the two best hvac channels out here on youtube
The “MFD” rating is the size of its capacity rated in units called “micro farads.” Your explanation was helpful. My previous supervisor did not feel it was necessary to clean the condenser if you could still see daylight through the coil. I am sure that this resulted in higher head pressures. So when cycling it would be harder for the compressor to start because the unit would still be hotter than normal. He was constantly having to put in the hard start kit’s. It was very helpful to see how extreme the results are of the start capacitor when it fails. One of your readers wrote about getting hit in the face by the discharged oil and gases. I can see the need to wear safety glasses more clearly now.
Thanks
I also believe that the oil in old AC units deteriorate, resulting in less lubrication and harder starts. I put in an ounce of the oil recommended for the compressor, and they run much smoother and have easier starts.
Nikola Tesla's name was bestowed to a car company - all Michael Faraday got a was a capacitance unit. We owe him a bit more than that!
I've seen many 'Welded' contacts on '20/40 pressure switches' for water pumps. Now i know what to look for in my AC that went bang. Great instructional vid 👍
Well explained. I was a hvac serviceman for 38 years. I changed a few of them!
How long do those kits usually last?
Very well explained and demonstrated. Thank you for this. As a homeowner, you want as much information on the equipment in the house as possible.
Glad it was helpful!
Yes craig we can't get enough the more u know the more it helps the newbies thanks again 👍👍
Glad the videos helped Esmar!
My fan start cap went bad, but I think it just dried out after 10 years, it didn't leak/rupture. I cleaned the start circuit's enclosed relay contacts and removed the dead wasps that were jammed between the exposed motor contactor contacts. Back in business, and now I do a periodic check for wasp nests. I'm glad I didn't spend $500 to get this fixed. The capacitor was around $8, shipped to my house.
That information is worth a million bucks!! Excellent presentation. Thanks for sharing.
Poorly made Electrical Relays ..Too. .
This is the best explanation with an example with a failed relay. Thank you!
Good job on the presentation!
I just had one blow today with an enormous blast.
I'll examine the relay tomorrow!
Excellent video, I just had the A.C. capacitor replaced, the unit is only a year old, the tech. replaced the capacitor, but now I will check the relay as shown on this video. Thanks for sharing 👍
All of your training videos are Excellent! I really loved this one 💯💯💯💯💯
Thanks a lot Brandon!
You have a natural teaching capability. I enjoy learning anything and this lesson was a easy to understand and capture the information given. No gasps missing. Great job.
Thank you so much!
That was an awesome video. Really liked the way you staged the failure of the Start Capacitor. Great slo mo shots as well. Thanks !
Your are my hero. So smart and easy to understand. Love your videos especially the ones explaining subcooling and superheat measuring. They have saved me a ton of money. Thank you and keep up the great videos.
I appreciate that!
Wow. I just learned something about ac that’s probably only learned at school. Thanks for sharing.
I love videos about planned component failures and their effects. Please do more!
Huge thank-you for that demonstration.
Looks like a lot of clean up work!
I’m not an AC guy but I learned something from you today. I thought the start capacitors burned out because they were low quality made in China. Thanks.
Thanks for sharing
they mfg based on the American specs.. most of the AC units are mfg'ed in Mexico, not in China..
Craig you’re the excellent instructor of my life I showed, much appreciated for sharing your knowledge with us.
Great video. I believe that the reason why the relay fails over time is the same reason 12v relays fail on vehicles. corrosion at the connectors (in the wiring circuit) causes the voltage to drop. Since Power = volts x amps, when the voltage goes down; the amps go up across the contacts and burns them up. Same thing happens on relays, solenoids and starters on cars. Poor quality relays today may also contribute to the failure. In other words the Electrical Engineers don't design for the extra amps due to the extra corrosion resistance.
Fantastic demonstration
Love it when you expand away from the basics
Thanks Jeff!
That was a great video. The only thing i would add is the resistor is there to prevent carbon build up on the contacts from arcing when it makes and breaks.
Why research & development is so so critical for an excellent product - Awesome analysis
Great video, very informative! The day was not a waste, I learned something new. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.
Glad you enjoyed it!
This guy is amazing! Awesome instructor. Guys new should watch this guy. You will learn the right way to do things! Keep up the good work.
I appreciate that!
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I can smell this video. Excellent instruction, actually helped me with a different electronic.
The unit at my old house was so close to the den window that when a capacitor failed years ago I hit the floor because it sounded like a shotgun blast when it blew. A week later the replacement capacitor blew as well. I now have A/C PTSD.
Lmfaooooo
Boom! :-) Totally. I think you'd have to be either wealthy or numb to not have the jitters.
Get yourself a capacitor shrink.
Wow - sure am glad I clicked on this video! Not sure relay is a DIY project for me though. I was just going to swap the capacitor out.
Thank you so much for the time and effort putting in toward this demonstration.
great video bc us techs rarely get to actually see when a Start cap blowS & lets the smoke OUT !!! .LOL ...what a mess , Thanks for all you Do for this industry & us Techs out in the Field
Once the start cap goes, you should also monitor for high start and run current draw when the new cap is installed. Some shorted windings could lower the start winding resistance to the point that higher starting currents will continue to eat capacitors and will eventually take out the system circuit breakers, too. Plus, burned windings change the inductive reactance of the coil which will make this machine run inefficiently and hot (motor winding resistances are so low (1-10 ohms) that a multimeter cannot supply enough current to give accurate resistance readings, so run-start current is a safer test).
Best video ever to watch things blow ....lol, My well pump had a blown Capacitor , took your advice to also replace relay wile doing repair . Thanks for vid
Glad it helped!
Thank you. My mom has had to replace the start capacitor twice last summer, now I need to check her invoices or see if tech did anything with relay..
Good idea!!!
Sounds like the answer is 'no' they did not replace the relay or thermistor. Although the video says "the thermistor will fail in an OPEN condition" which seemingly would protect the start cap, as long as your tech is at your AC, may as well pay a bit extra for the part and tell them "can you please replace the relay or thermistor, whichever of those my compressor unit has". The cost of a service call if you need to call them back out again is probably more than the cost of the relay or thermistor.
@@Greg_Chase That's very true but some customers will always complain about $$.
@@bobboscarato1313 If the starter capacitor remains in the circuit due to a bad relay, the tech who got paid to replace the cap is getting called back anyway.
If a service tech comes out the first visit and fails to fix the actual source of the problem - a bad relay - the new starter capacitor is going to fail soon enough.
Unethical service techs think "I'll get a 2nd call and then I'll replace the capacitor AND the relay".
What ends up happening is, that tech loses that customer permanently because it will be clear they failed to do the job right the first time, when they come back out to replace the same part as before. "This tech was not thorough enough" is what most customers will think, then never hire that company again.
HOW TO PROTECT YOURSELF AS A TECH
1) troubleshoot thoroughly to find the source of the failure
2) tell the owner "I have to replace the starter capacitor to get your compressor and thus your A/C working again. But I found the source of the blowout of the capacitor - a bad relay. If you don't want me to replace the relay, I will make a note on your bill that you need a new relay, and I have to warn you that the new capacitor will fail before too long, because the bad relay is why the starter capacitor failed in the first place."
In other words, give the owner the full knowledge of the trouble, note it on their bill, so when the cap blows up again, at least you have a clear conscience, and you were 100% ethical in trying to help the customer, and the customer will blame themselves.
I'd wager about 50% of customers will say "fix the relay too then" and 50% won't.
@@Greg_Chase A good tech worth any salt would never just change the start cap , you left out 3) all these kits are made in malaysia 3 month warranty on O.E.M. RECOMMENDED KIT NOT LABOR ! 4) recommend ICM LINE MONITOR.
I was glad to see your video in my recommendation. Your explanations were great. I wished I had seen this few weeks ago to help me trouble shoots my ac problem.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Amazing, I learned more today about HVAC Capacitor in 5 minutes than my entire life...
This is so awesome to see! I had the same fluid explode everywhere. Smells terrible by the way.
I'm sorry to hear that you had a similar experience!! It can definitely be a messy and unpleasant situation when you're dealing with the internal liquid!
Awesome video. I love learning new stuff. Caps have always kind of mystified me but you helped me a ton here.
I'm an electrical engineer. That was very good description of this failure. It's hard to get that stuff across sometimes to the trades people but, you did it. Thanks!
As a Trades person it hard to get stuff across to engineer's...CHEERS
Thanks. Excellent video and explanation on causality of the problem.
Glad you liked it!
I liked how you described "amperage crossing" from Run cap to Potential relay! This morning I taught two courses on our Kickstart product line (which comes w a bleed resistor, btw). Bc of the amperage crossing, I stress the need to test the existing Run Cap while the system is RUNNING. I'd be happy to discuss more of these topics, HSK's just happens to be the most exciting...lol.
Would the compressor be able to start with a good hard start kit installed on a unit with a failed run capacitor, and what would be the effect on the compressor?
Great knowledge..... I had this problem with one of the units and I nearly gave up until this video shows up.....
Thanks a lot guys.....
Outstanding training presentation and demonstration.
Thank you very much!
I use your book and videos for classroom trading. This is one of the best yet. Thanks.
Thanks a lot Jerry and if you need anything, email me at questions@acservicetech.com thanks for the note!
What book do you use?
Great book and a wonderful teacher! Thank you
Thank you so much for your encouragement!!!
i hardly see these in AC anymore , most of our gear is inverter now and if its not its usually PSC which is pretty easy to do with a scroll compressor like copeland ZR series as they start virtually unloaded
It is also my understanding that the potential relay should be mounted with the mounting hole facing up, which is why there is only one mounting tab for these relays. This will mount the switch inside the relay vertically, increases relay switch "pull off time", and increase the chances of the relay failing open if it fails. From what I see, the relay is not mounted correctly.
This was a phenomenal video.
Had same problem with my flux capacitor but Doc Brown was able to fix it
Back to the Future?
Wow. I now finally understand this system. Thanks. Good teacher.
Glad it was helpful!
Nice video! I just tried to install a hard start kit for my Goodman 4 Ton last week. I hooked it up and after the first start it ran fine and then on the second time the AC started up the hard start cap popped on me. I thought maybe it was abad hard start cap but now I'm wondering if it was the potential relay.
On my trane ac, I try to always keep a spare capacitor and contactor on hand just in case of failure. Plus my ac man can't always show up that same day (understandable), cause it gets hot here quick in summer in MS.
Why not do it yourself? Just asking not being mean
Thanks. Finally I understand the small circle on the top of the start capacitor.
Glad it helped
Great video Craig, I also found your book and other resources very informative! It was nice talking with you at the HVAC symposium a few weeks back 🍻 from Florida!
Jeremy, Thank you very much and great to talk with you! It was amazing being there!
@@acservicetechchannel it sure was! I hope you and your family are well, and take care!
Excellent video, so well and clearly explained and demonstrated.
Glad it was helpful!
If you don’t have a resistor, which a lot of people probably don’t, you can use your multimeter set to Volts to bleed the residual voltage off.
that would takes many hours...
@@throttlebottle5906 it won’t take hours, yes it’s not as fast as other methods, I didn’t claim it was either, but if a meters all you have it will work.
What value resistor do you suggest for the bleed? In the neighborhood of 10 K or higher?
Hey Josh, please provide the value for the bleed resistor....Chuck thinks its maybe 10K Ohms (below) is that about right? I assume the wattage value of the resistor doesn't need to be very high.....
@@chuckyounger7298 they're usually 10 to 20K ohm an 2watt rated, make sure the voltage rating is high enough.
15K ohm at 2watt rating is what one of the aftermarket replacement ones are, with female spade terminals staked on.
That capacitor didn't fail, it lived a great life!
Ha ha, yup good little guy!
after divorcing it's multi-prong needy relay wife :))
Capacitive juices...lmao
Glad you found the "capacity" to post on the matter.
@@throttlebottle5906 #BeenThereDoneThat
Outstanding demo and information.
Thank you kindly!
Exactely today happend to mee .explose starting cspacitore .thnx 4 this information. Ineed change new relais 🙂👍
Love your videos! Very clear and easy to follow presentation. You have a gift of beating a great teacher!
Great video
Is there a video of how to add a start capacitor to an existing AC that’s having issues with the compressor starting? Run cap is good but it doesn’t have a start cap, thanks
I don't work in this industry but I'm told that start (and run) capacitors are often replaced whenever one replaces a compressor. This kind of failure shown in the video would seem obvious, but why would one replace the cap (when it looks and tests normal with a meter) when the compressor has failed? Is it because they are cheap and the meter can miss some kinds of cap failure?
Nice Video. Thank You. Just blew a 5-2-1 Soft start Cap yesterday...was 3 years old from CPS Products via Amazon.com
Will order a replacement kit this week...be disassembling the relay too...Thanks again.
Greatly appreciated all the efforts you do for the community and money saving for homeowners and even A/C technician, thanks graig muchas gracias amigo
Nice presentation of physical differences between start and run capacitor, but most folks incorrectly understand how they actually work.
It is true that a run cap in a fan must be matched since it is needed to correct the phase angle altered by the inductive load. As mentioned, you can roast the armature & field windings. On a start cap, although not necessary, you can certainly over value cap in Uf or voltage without issues being that it is seen momentarily in the circuit.... Not as some "Boost" or Extra Charge to help spool up the electromotive force for rotation......IN fact, it's quite the opposite as it simply pulls down one leg to assist in rotation. Think of standing on a bicycle, try to push both pedals down with all of your force.......you go nowhere and only have a locked condition, now lift one leg and then stater the rotation! Not certain how this video came up but was fun to watch & appears to be a great resource to anyone with interest.
Craig is a great instructor teacher And technician
You're truly a great teacher and very knowledgeable thanks
I appreciate that!
I did some work on my brothers AC unit last year where the compressor just stopped running, and the HVAC place I got parts from said basically the same thing: even without testing it’s common practice to replace the relay with the start cap because the relay is pennies on the dollar compared to the capacitor, and even if the relay is still good, it will fail before the capacitor does. Those running caps never seem to completely fail, just degrade over time. You know when they are going especially on a blower because it doesn’t maintain a smooth operating speed.
I've changed a few of those on some Frigidaire A\C window units for family and friends with breaking ac during summertime. I also changed ALOT of circuit boardd for about 65$. It seams that they design window units so that condensation will perfectly fall and accumulate the bay
Wonderful information. Clear and concise. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Wow thank you so much I have a seven-year-old Lennox unit I replaced The run capacitor it and it fired right up. The other capacitor and the trans dermal I have to watch again sorry I did not replace. It’s been good for five years since I did the run passenger.I may be getting my term analogy wrong I can’t remember but the unit blew warm air I replaced one of those cylindrical capacitors and it got ice cold once again. Believe it or not the unit warranty was up six months after this happened the original guy wouldn’t do a thing for me but want it for 100 bucks I replaced it for 12 now I’m gonna replace the relay and the other capacitor this summer. Just because!! It was a $10,000 unit at the time ... heater and air conditioner! I’ll definitely subscribe, thank you
absolutamente good demostracion !! Thank You good Techs
Is this relay the same as the one you typically see on a 5-2-1 hard start kit??? Loved the video, learned a lot.
The AC season is starting here on the east coast so how about a “ride along / apprentice “ program. One lucky subscriber gets to carry the tools😂 of one of your NJ guys. Sign me up !!
Yes. Aftermarket 5-2-1 kits use a potential relay and a start capacitor like the system shown in the video. The 5-2-1 kit's name comes from the fact that it just refers to the terminal numbers. :)
@@mannys9130 great, thanks !!
Thank you so much for the info :) - This is exactly what is wrong with my air conditioner. I have identified the hard start capacitor's model number, but the relay is just a little black box. How do I identify it to get a replacement? appreciate any assistance.
Great information and superb presentation. Thank you.
Glad it was helpful!
Excellent teacher
Great information
Definitely buying your book
Probably Great info there too
Thank you so much!!
Thanks for watching and for picking up my book! I hope you enjoy it!!
This is helpful..
I'm having challenge with a hermetically compressor at work. After running for about 40 sec, the relay would start sparking and this normally stops the compressor. What could be the problem?
Nice format of the video. It was very interesting.👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼 I've learned something new. Because it's not a really common issue, it was not clear in my mind.
Got ya, thanks for letting me know and thanks for your support!
I wish I would've seen this before the AC guy condemned my 19 yr old unit for having a bad compressor. He never checked that relay or pointed out the hole in the start capacitor. "I've seen this problem a lot" he says. Followed by a quote for a new system. I replaced the start cap to watch it blow twice before replacing the relay. The ol York is up and running in 114⁰ heat 👍
I really like how you kept touching the CAP terminals that would FRY YOU if you didn't bleed it down ..
Mine blew in the first year, then I got an extra heavy duty one by a good MFR. 10 years running so far.
Wow, the first year after you bought a new AC?? I got my AC exactly a year ago and it stopped cooling this morning, i'm thinking is the cap. The filter was changed so is not clogged and the fan turns on, but no cold air.
Excellent video and clear explanation! Thank you very much
Glad it was helpful!