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I have ca Gooodman rooftop AC unit. The unit was working fine until yesterday. One of the motor bearings froze and the motor wouldn't turn. mI repaired the motor, and now the contactor won't engage. If I manually push the contactor everything turns on and the unit works fine. Any ideas??
I know this is old, but it saved me thousands. My ac unit kept blowing the 3 amp fuse on the board, I had checked every wire, thermostat, grounds, and couldn’t figure out what was going on. I watched a video that showed to check the ohms from the sides of the contactor. I checked and mine was only at 1.9 ohms. The video I watched said it should be over 17 up to 20 something. I ordered the $15 part reluctant that it was going to work. Well I switched it and the ac works great!!! These videos are money savers. Thank you for posting this video!!! Hope this helps someone
Had 2 free estimates to fix my AC that wouldn't turn on. 1st wanted $1500. Told me compressor needed to be replaced. 2nd told me contactor was bad and wanted #165 to replace. Watched your video, replace both my contactor, which was working buy old and dirty, and my capacitor. Cost me less that $30 on Amazon. Glad I watched this video !!
Good video. My only issue as a 45 year industrial maintenance electrician would be never depress the live contactor with the cover off and no safety glasses. I've seen too many of these arc if you have a short down stream or a frozen compressor rotor. The arc flash can blind you or throw copper plasma into your face. Just a thought. Most of the voltages I worked with were 480 vac or 4160 vac. But that doesn't mean 240 can't get you.
Great video Ben! I just yesterday removed and replaced my single pole Packard contactor with a new one. The old one was 4 years old or something and cost like $20. Cheap maintenance and only takes like 15 minutes. As an aside, I took the old one completely apart. It was a Packard just like the one you had. It was really easy to remove all the individual components and see how badly the contacts were pitted. They were pitted to a certain extent and had black carbon on them from all the arching. I used a drywall sanding block and wire brush to clean up the contact surfaces.. I then reassembled and put it in storage for future use in case of an emergency. Cleaning it up made it almost new again I would say but it will definitely due good enough on a weekend if needed. The bottom contacts remove easily with just a screw removal. The only tricky part was removing the top contacts that move down when the coil is engaged and where you manually push it in as you demonstrated. The little spring has to encircle a dimple on both mating surfaces in order to stay in place and function. That was a little tricky to remove and to replace the spring back. But you have to remove it since it allows you to turn the one piece contact 90 degrees and remove it out of that its holder for access to the surfaces. Very fun project. One you could educate you son on like I did with my 20 yr old! Thanks again!
Thank you for your clear and detailed presentation! I've watched a number of home HVAC repair videos and this was far and away the most helpful. Never worked on HVAC before in my life but got my AC running again for less than $75 (including the multimeter) with your help.
@@dianawilliams6700 Hi, it was not the outside unit, the interior condensation pipe was clogged. I tried calling a hvac company, but pricing was ridiculous. Fortunately my friend's husband helped me for minimal fee. I have fixed many things in my home by watching youtube videos, even my old washing machine. Good luck.
If your OEM contactor is rated at 25A....would a higher Amp rated replacement be considered good.....like a "heavy duty" version? Costs only a few bucks more and in most cases I'm finding that the mounting footprint is no different for a 25A unit vs a 30A or 40A unit.
Your video was SUPER HELPFUL. I am replacing my single pole contactor (30 amp). In your video you didn’t talk about the LRA numbers on the contactor. My old one shows 150 my new one shows 180. Can I still use the new one?
New subscriber Thankyou for sharing ! I had a condencer fan that would not shut off even with the ac thermostat set to off this was a simple fix. Out of all the repairs I've done on this ac and all the self made over complicated videos that I've watched, your videos are straight forward and simple to follow without all that confusing jargon that's confusing for most people like me.
Awesome video! Thanks to you I was able to trouble shoot my condenser; found the problem was the contactor, and was able to replace it saving me $730 and AC company was trying to charge me for fixing a "very complicated issue." Thank you for an epic video!!
That was a very thorough explanation and process. I would add that at the end, you discovered the spade connector on one side of the 24V coil wasn't tight. This may be the reason the contactor wasn't pulling the contacts closed solidly. So when the contactor vibrates as you showed, the quality of the coil connections should also be suspect. Sometimes, its easy to find fault with a part when it may be something else that could cause the same behavior. Having a new contactor with higher quality should provide trouble-free service for the life of that unit, though.
Excellent vid, great info and very detailed! Thanks Ben and you look so young with so much knowledge of your craft!💪🏼 I’m a DIYer, don’t really call a professional unless it’s way over my head or don’t have the necessary equipment. So I find your vids very enlightening! Keep it up! You got my subscription!
@Islandma Ben is excellent, at giving very informative information. I'm trying to find a video, so i can replace my compressor on my 2-ton AC unit. In my outside unit, it's been out for awhile. And i really need to replace my compressor in my outside unit, as soon as possible. Iive in the State of Ohio. But i am in need for a compressor for a 2-ton AC unit outside. Of my house, of course. If anyone knows where i can find one, please let me know. Have a Wonderful 4th of July weekend, to all of his community. 🇺🇸
I do everything myself too, but do deep research before getting into something. My problem is admitting something is over my head, or realizing when I've reached the point of diminishing returns. Lolol.😮😮😮
Excellent - you are a great communicator - very focused - great teacher - great video and audio!!! My contactor needs 'cleaning the contacts they are buzzing-sticking (goofy guy who installed the OUTDOOR Electrical Panel - failed to use 'weather stripping' on the perimiters of the box - moisture and corrosion) plus the contactor is about 15 yrs old! ha
I was the Handyman for an apartment building in North Hollywood for a couple years and had problems with grains of sand getting between the contact points in the roof-top A/C fan-units. The Building Manager thought I was a super guy because I kept fixing these A/C problems for her, saving tons of money.
You should have told her there was an awful problem each time and had her give you money for parts that really never needed to be replaced pocket the money, be the hero win win.
@@MattHelmSA Yeah...that would be typical, wouldn't it? I based my business on showing all receipts and buying back all unused material, including paints, etc. When my brother got his General Contractor's License he told me that essentially it was a license to steal. People despise contractors for good reason. Most of my business was finishing the last 10 % of other contractor's jobs or fixing what they screwed up. I'm retired, I'm happy and my conscience is clean.
very thorough and informative. My unit was buzzing but the fan was not rotating ....... So I guess I need to see your other viseo. Thank you so much .....
I like the video great job. I been having problems with my AC not turning on or humming which has me thinking it’s the fan motor or contractor, but I think I’ll let the professional figure it out
Awesome presentation, thoroughly explained, great job! A question though. Does short cycling the AC causes damage to it. I thought y AC stopped working, so I lowered the thermostat and it ran, and then turned up the thermostat, so now it doesn't run anymore.
Hello, your videos are fantastic, very detailed and right to the problem. I paid for a monthly maintenance plan every season. There is a problem with the furnace or air conditioner. They came and said replace parts. I canceled two month ago and there is the problem with AC one week ago. I just fix with your video and a tester it they disconnect one of the wire that goes to the AC UNIT with the video with drawing I was able to identify the problem in the motherboard. and called another technician to fix it and see what he said. Thank you
Awesome video. thank you for all the clarity. The only place that I am still unclear is the two 120 wires feeding the AC contactor are stranded. Should they have a crushed lug metal connector and then inserted in the new AC contactor that has the screws?
Great Video I changed my single pole conductor because the old one kept getting stuck down causes the unit to freeze up. Well now since I put new conductor in ,now it won't pull in ,unless I do it manually it works and stays down , but then it still won't open to turn unit off ... Please tell me what's wrong , could it just be a bad new conductor or is it something not making the magnets work to open or close .. thanks 👍
Always validate your meter in voltage mode. Remove electrical access panel on condenser unit. Checked for 240 going into L1 and L2 of the contactor. If you can read 240vac between L1 & L2 and 120vac through each to ground, this validates meter functionality. Then pull the disconnect and check again for “0”vac shift at previous points. If no voltage is not present, disconnect action is correct.
Thanks for the video. This gave me a better appreciation of how low voltage control wiring can easily be energized with lethal power if back fed from the condensing unit. California electrician here and yes our laws suck.
Exactly! If you were to slide one of those 24v wires onto the top or bottom of the contactor you'd instantly have a 120 volt thermostat. I have seen it happen before! I'm not very familiar with California electrical code. What about it is not as good in your opinion? I've heard from others that you can still use metal staples with NM cable but other than that I haven't heard much that is very different than the rest of the States. Thanks for your comment!
@@BenjaminSahlstrom Do you have a video of replacing a compressor in a 2Ton AC unit? Mine got taken out from the thunderstorm, and it's been out for a few years. So I need to find myself a new compressor, to put in my outside unit. If anybody on this page knows or if there's any videos, please let me know. It would be very well appreciated everybody.
You're very detailed to your explanation. Although I replaced the Capacitor I still didnt get the Fan to turn however heard the clicked tried to turn on. Could it be the Contactor?
Benjamin, I'm a bit confused during your description of 1-pole vs 2-pole, because after listening to the video I got the impression you could wire the 2-pole just like the 1-pole. I replaced a 1-pole heat pump contactor with a 2-pole and just wired it up identical to the 1-pole. Are you saying it is necessary to move the connections at the top of the 2nd pole to the bottom? I'm wondering if it is part of a defrost circuit that might need to remain on when the compressor is turned off. It works fine in the summer, but I wonder if winter will bring some problems.
Thanks for this nice vid. For my outside unit, the fan is working but the compressor is just making a booming sound and the refrigerant lines are not getting cold. Do you recommend to replace the contactor as well as the capacitor if I can't do a proper voltage tests both for the contactor and the capacitor? Thank you!
Great explanation. If only one switched leg is needed, I would never go with two. Two switched legs gives you two additional contact points that can potentially fail. Reliability is what I strive for.
Thanks for sharing this video. My current problem is that the thermostat is in the "off" and it won't change to hot or cold. What could be the issue? Thx
I have the same looking contactor on my HVAC but the label is unreadable. How do I know which amp I need to buy for replacement? 30 amp vs 40 amp like yours in the video.
Thanks for the great video. But I have one question. My unit is single pole contactor and thinking to replace with 2 pole since can't find 1P. If I connect 2P contactor exactly like the way 1P without making it into single pole connection, would it be OK?
Buen video amigo, mi papa y mi hermano se llaman tambien Benjamin. He visto varios videos de usted sobre carros Hondas, water heaters y ahora sobre aire acondicionado. Usted esta por todas partes en youtube usted es un verdadero handyman lo felicito saludos y que Dios le bendiga... Good video friend, my dad and my brother are also called Benjamin. I have seen several videos of you about fixing Hondas cars, water heaters and now on air conditioning. You are everywhere on TH-cam, you are a real handyman. I have subscribed to your channel I congratulate you, greetings and God bless you...
I try to always get the same square D contactor in my unit, but i have to replace it every other year.(i have an old unit from the 70's) why do you think that is? Also, if i replace it with one of these double pull ones, would it last longer? Four Season HVAC wanted $1200 to replace the contactor. I bought a $14 one from ebay and watched other youtuber vids and vioala! Now that i found your chanel i feel even more confident messing with my AC.
Ben----wonderful video!!! One question though....maybe I missed it. How did you discharge the thermostat wires from the inside? Thanks a bunch....Jesus bless.
Quick question - my current contactor is fla of 32 and res of 40. LRA 150 Can I put one on there that's a little higher? IE FLA 40 and RES of 50, LRA 250? All the other numbers match like 24v, and 240vac
I thought my capacitor was bad, because it had gone out before and I had replaced it with a cheapo, so I replaced it with a better one and still no luck (still a worthwhile upgrade), then I realized that neither the compressor nor the fan came on, and I wasn't even hearing that distinct coil buzz, which pointed to the contactor. But, I was reluctant to mess with that since there were more wires and I didn't yet fully understand how everything worked with it. This video made it very easy to understand how the coils work, as well as how to properly connect them, so I'll be able to replace that part with no problem. Steps I took to test: 1) Tested that I do have 240+ volts across the main power when the 240 circuit is active, and zero when the break bar is flipped over. 2) Tested that I have 24ish volts from either thermostat wire to ground when the AC system is trying to start the compressor. 3) Tested that I have 0 volts across the coil when the system is trying to send that cooling signal. 4) Pressed the coil manually using a sharpie with the break bar in the on position and the unit powered up correctly. So yep, definitely a bad contactor, should be an easy fix! Thanks!
What would cause you to look into the contactor going bad/not working? What symptoms appear. No cooling? of needing a new contactor, even after putting in a new capacitator?
If the contacts were stuck closed when not calling for cooling at the thermostat. They can also cause low voltage shorts and blow those little 3 or 5 amp fuses if the coil is bad. A more complicated symptom to identify is whether the plunger is having trouble closing the contacts. This can drop the voltage across the switch, actually causing current to spike in compressor or fan motor, which will overheat the windings. If the contactor is super noisy, it's a good sign it should be replaced.
Just a comment on a working contactor, good thermostat, good run capacitor, good coolant charge everything kept looking good but no 24 volts to engage the contactor???? Rats had got into the unit and ate 3 wires in two. I have now sealed all openings with hardware cloth to prevent them from getting in. This is the second time....unfortunately the first time I just used traps and bait but did not seal off the openings in the outside unit. Expensive learning experience.
somebody used indoor romex wire with paper liner instead of outdoor rated wire on supply lines. I had same problems with my unit I like those big screw down terminals but i actually found a weird design flaw instead of a flat bottom to clamp wire it has a recessed hole and with smaller wires to unit under the screw insert it actually just sheared the wire off if you tightened it too much i don't know why the screw insert goes down into a hole rather than a flat bottom to clamp wires. on mine the capacitor was actually good despite being 25 years old and all rusty so i could not read it had to get values from compressor data and fan motor. the fan motors bearing had dried out on mine not sure if that messed with contactor, but fan was a bit sluggish to turn after manually turning it to loosen it up unit started when pressing in contactor. but i replaced motor and the contactor to be on safe side.
Good and great ! Just miss what what the main issue for the full unit not power on completely . The fan or the capacitor And the video other than that all good 👍
I can manually activate the contactor by placing a screwdriver in, and it turns on, but the thermostat is not turning on the unit. Did you say that we can test the thermostat wires at the entry point of the contactor? They have no voltage from the thermostat could be the transformer inside the blower housing that runs to the thermostat? My issue was that the fan was on, but it wasn’t kicking in the condenser. After confirming that the capacitor was bad and it’s selling a new one. The AC unit will not turn on at the thermostat, but it will indeed kick on if I press on the contacter. I believe I read an Arco telling that situation to mine, and they discovered that the transformer went bad even though it was working before installing the new capacitor .
So it's normal for the buzz to happen with the thermostat on? Shit. I thought that may have been my problem. My house isn't cooling and Im going to change the capacitor tomorrow and I really hope that works. The fan works. I can't tell if the compressor is actually on or not cuz I don't have a multimeter unfortunately so im just trying the capacitor replacement and hoping for the best
FYI, a blockage in your liquid line, contaminated dryer or a failed TXV, can possibly cause your compressor high limit switch to trip and shut off the compressor just as soon as it turns on (within a few seconds), especially when it's hot out. Really need gauges to check. A tenant's unit has this very issue as I write this.
Just when California is in the midst of a weeklong intense heat wave, my 33 yo house AC gives up on me. On opening the YT channel on my iphone the first vid I saw was yours. It was an excellent presentation, you made the troubleshoot look simple and easy. I am a diy person myself and I thought I could troubleshoot my AC myself. However, I’m too scared to handle a major electrical job like this so I’ll just leave it to a pro. I’ll surely watch more of your vids that I can make use of.
8.31.21 Ben, very good video on how to replace the contactor. Do you have a video that shows how to replace the capacitor and using the jumpers to set for correct volts? I have a byrant heat pump that needs a new contactor.
Some compressors are designed to use the start winding as a crankcase heater using a single pole contactor wired such that the start winding remains energized. Thus the single pole contactor just might serve a valuable function. Also, why is it better to hold both dvm probes in one hand? That seems a little risky.
This was a GREAT video!!!! I can now check to make sure all my wiring is correct, and working correctly. I definitely give this a 10. Thanks! Now subscribed. 👍🏻
Thanks! I'm doing my best to get better at making my videos easy to follow and understand. It's actually more challenging than I thought it would be but I'm going to keep at it!
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I have ca Gooodman rooftop AC unit. The unit was working fine until yesterday. One of the motor bearings froze and the motor wouldn't turn. mI repaired the motor, and now the contactor won't engage. If I manually push the contactor everything turns on and the unit works fine. Any ideas??
I know this is old, but it saved me thousands. My ac unit kept blowing the 3 amp fuse on the board, I had checked every wire, thermostat, grounds, and couldn’t figure out what was going on. I watched a video that showed to check the ohms from the sides of the contactor. I checked and mine was only at 1.9 ohms. The video I watched said it should be over 17 up to 20 something. I ordered the $15 part reluctant that it was going to work. Well I switched it and the ac works great!!! These videos are money savers. Thank you for posting this video!!! Hope this helps someone
Had 2 free estimates to fix my AC that wouldn't turn on. 1st wanted $1500. Told me compressor needed to be replaced. 2nd told me contactor was bad and wanted #165 to replace. Watched your video, replace both my contactor, which was working buy old and dirty, and my capacitor. Cost me less that $30 on Amazon. Glad I watched this video !!
Best presentation of a repair I've ever seen. Clear and concise.
A single pole contractor is less apt to go out, one pole instead of two
Good video. My only issue as a 45 year industrial maintenance electrician would be never depress the live contactor with the cover off and no safety glasses. I've seen too many of these arc if you have a short down stream or a frozen compressor rotor. The arc flash can blind you or throw copper plasma into your face. Just a thought. Most of the voltages I worked with were 480 vac or 4160 vac. But that doesn't mean 240 can't get you.
6x6th
100%
Found the snowflake..after doing industrial electrical work for 15+ yrs never seen a 24v contactor throw an arc flash?!
@@jacobalbright3715”found the snowflake” talking about electrical safety cmon man😭
Thanks for sharing that tip!
Great video Ben! I just yesterday removed and replaced my single pole Packard contactor with a new one. The old one was 4 years old or something and cost like $20. Cheap maintenance and only takes like 15 minutes. As an aside, I took the old one completely apart. It was a Packard just like the one you had. It was really easy to remove all the individual components and see how badly the contacts were pitted. They were pitted to a certain extent and had black carbon on them from all the arching. I used a drywall sanding block and wire brush to clean up the contact surfaces.. I then reassembled and put it in storage for future use in case of an emergency. Cleaning it up made it almost new again I would say but it will definitely due good enough on a weekend if needed. The bottom contacts remove easily with just a screw removal. The only tricky part was removing the top contacts that move down when the coil is engaged and where you manually push it in as you demonstrated. The little spring has to encircle a dimple on both mating surfaces in order to stay in place and function. That was a little tricky to remove and to replace the spring back. But you have to remove it since it allows you to turn the one piece contact 90 degrees and remove it out of that its holder for access to the surfaces. Very fun project. One you could educate you son on like I did with my 20 yr old! Thanks again!
Simply one of the best repair presentations I have seen on TH-cam. Well done!!
Thank you for your clear and detailed presentation! I've watched a number of home HVAC repair videos and this was far and away the most helpful.
Never worked on HVAC before in my life but got my AC running again for less than $75 (including the multimeter) with your help.
Thank you so much. I am a sixty-year-old woman and your directions are perfect, easy to understand.
V V I'm 56 and I need to replace my contactor. Did you get your ac up and running?
@@dianawilliams6700 Hi, it was not the outside unit, the interior condensation pipe was clogged. I tried calling a hvac company, but pricing was ridiculous. Fortunately my friend's husband helped me for minimal fee. I have fixed many things in my home by watching youtube videos, even my old washing machine. Good luck.
@@VV-th5is Thank you!
Benjamin! You Rock Sir! Thank you for explaining in detail what my A/C guy wouldn't. You Sir should open a school! You have TALENT!
If your OEM contactor is rated at 25A....would a higher Amp rated replacement be considered good.....like a "heavy duty" version? Costs only a few bucks more and in most cases I'm finding that the mounting footprint is no different for a 25A unit vs a 30A or 40A unit.
Your video was SUPER HELPFUL. I am replacing my single pole contactor (30 amp). In your video you didn’t talk about the LRA numbers on the contactor. My old one shows 150 my new one shows 180. Can I still use the new one?
New subscriber Thankyou for sharing ! I had a condencer fan that would not shut off even with the ac thermostat set to off this was a simple fix. Out of all the repairs I've done on this ac and all the self made over complicated videos that I've watched, your videos are straight forward and simple to follow without all that confusing jargon that's confusing for most people like me.
Excellent video you explained the contactor so clearly.
Thanks for the video, for all the steps and details you've covered in it. I fixed my AC today based on that video - it was dead 35A fuse.
I like the way this young man explained it! good job!
Awesome job explaining 1 Pole vs 2 Pole Contactors and a great deal more. You have a gift Ben, thank you for the tutorial brother
Awesome video! Thanks to you I was able to trouble shoot my condenser; found the problem was the contactor, and was able to replace it saving me $730 and AC company was trying to charge me for fixing a "very complicated issue." Thank you for an epic video!!
That was a very thorough explanation and process. I would add that at the end, you discovered the spade connector on one side of the 24V coil wasn't tight. This may be the reason the contactor wasn't pulling the contacts closed solidly. So when the contactor vibrates as you showed, the quality of the coil connections should also be suspect. Sometimes, its easy to find fault with a part when it may be something else that could cause the same behavior. Having a new contactor with higher quality should provide trouble-free service for the life of that unit, though.
Excellent vid, great info and very detailed! Thanks Ben and you look so young with so much knowledge of your craft!💪🏼 I’m a DIYer, don’t really call a professional unless it’s way over my head or don’t have the necessary equipment. So I find your vids very enlightening! Keep it up! You got my subscription!
@Islandma
Ben is excellent, at giving very informative information. I'm trying to find a video, so i can replace my compressor on my 2-ton AC unit. In my outside unit, it's been out for awhile. And i really need to replace my compressor in my outside unit,
as soon as possible. Iive in the State of Ohio. But i am in need for a compressor for a 2-ton AC unit outside.
Of my house, of course. If anyone knows where i can find one, please let me know. Have a Wonderful 4th of July weekend, to all of his community. 🇺🇸
I do everything myself too, but do deep research before getting into something. My problem is admitting something is over my head, or realizing when I've reached the point of diminishing returns. Lolol.😮😮😮
Excellent - you are a great communicator - very focused - great teacher - great video and audio!!! My contactor needs 'cleaning the contacts they are buzzing-sticking (goofy guy who installed the OUTDOOR Electrical Panel - failed to use 'weather stripping' on the perimiters of the box - moisture and corrosion) plus the contactor is about 15 yrs old! ha
I was the Handyman for an apartment building in North Hollywood for a couple years and had problems with grains of sand getting between the contact points in the roof-top A/C fan-units. The Building Manager thought I was a super guy because I kept fixing these A/C problems for her, saving tons of money.
You should have told her there was an awful problem each time and had her give you money for parts that really never needed to be replaced pocket the money, be the hero win win.
@@MattHelmSA Yeah...that would be typical, wouldn't it? I based my business on showing all receipts and buying back all unused material, including paints, etc. When my brother got his General Contractor's License he told me that essentially it was a license to steal. People despise contractors for good reason. Most of my business was finishing the last 10 % of other contractor's jobs or fixing what they screwed up. I'm retired, I'm happy and my conscience is clean.
@@choimdachoim9491 Amen!
very thorough and informative. My unit was buzzing but the fan was not rotating ....... So I guess I need to see your other viseo. Thank you so much .....
I like the video great job.
I been having problems with my AC not turning on or humming which has me thinking it’s the fan motor or contractor, but I think I’ll let the professional figure it out
Awesome presentation, thoroughly explained, great job! A question though. Does short cycling the AC causes damage to it. I thought y AC stopped working, so I lowered the thermostat and it ran, and then turned up the thermostat, so now it doesn't run anymore.
Hello, your videos are fantastic, very detailed and right to the problem. I paid for a monthly maintenance plan every season. There is a problem with the furnace or air conditioner. They came and said replace parts. I canceled two month ago and there is the problem with AC one week ago. I just fix with your video and a tester it they disconnect one of the wire that goes to the AC UNIT with the video with drawing I was able to identify the problem in the motherboard. and called another technician to fix it and see what he said. Thank you
Awesome video. thank you for all the clarity. The only place that I am still unclear is the two 120 wires feeding the AC contactor are stranded. Should they have a crushed lug metal connector and then inserted in the new AC contactor that has the screws?
This helped me fix my AC. THANK YOU.
Great instructions, clear, concise and super useful. Thanks a lot.
Great Video I changed my single pole conductor because the old one kept getting stuck down causes the unit to freeze up. Well now since I put new conductor in ,now it won't pull in ,unless I do it manually it works and stays down , but then it still won't open to turn unit off ... Please tell me what's wrong , could it just be a bad new conductor or is it something not making the magnets work to open or close .. thanks 👍
Your explanations are very clear,thank you .
Bless you! A very good instructor , wonderful video presentation. Very helpful.
Great demonstration, one of the best I’ve seen, very easy to understand and concise. I like that you include safety tips as well. 👍👍
Always validate your meter in voltage mode. Remove electrical access panel on condenser unit. Checked for 240 going into L1 and L2 of the contactor. If you can read 240vac between L1 & L2 and 120vac through each to ground, this validates meter functionality. Then pull the disconnect and check again for “0”vac shift at previous points. If no voltage is not present, disconnect action is correct.
Good job, Benjamin! Very informative and practical.
Thanks for the video. This gave me a better appreciation of how low voltage control wiring can easily be energized with lethal power if back fed from the condensing unit. California electrician here and yes our laws suck.
Exactly! If you were to slide one of those 24v wires onto the top or bottom of the contactor you'd instantly have a 120 volt thermostat. I have seen it happen before!
I'm not very familiar with California electrical code. What about it is not as good in your opinion? I've heard from others that you can still use metal staples with NM cable but other than that I haven't heard much that is very different than the rest of the States. Thanks for your comment!
It wouldn't be a thermostat very long at 120v
@@BenjaminSahlstrom
Do you have a video of replacing a compressor in a 2Ton AC unit? Mine got taken out from the thunderstorm, and it's been out for a few years. So I need to find myself a new compressor, to put in my outside unit. If anybody on this page knows or if there's any videos, please let me know. It would be very well appreciated everybody.
Great video really helpful concerning contractors
You're very detailed to your explanation. Although I replaced the Capacitor I still didnt get the Fan to turn however heard the clicked tried to turn on. Could it be the Contactor?
Really clear explanation 😅😅
Benjamin, I'm a bit confused during your description of 1-pole vs 2-pole, because after listening to the video I got the impression you could wire the 2-pole just like the 1-pole. I replaced a 1-pole heat pump contactor with a 2-pole and just wired it up identical to the 1-pole. Are you saying it is necessary to move the connections at the top of the 2nd pole to the bottom? I'm wondering if it is part of a defrost circuit that might need to remain on when the compressor is turned off. It works fine in the summer, but I wonder if winter will bring some problems.
Thanks for this nice vid. For my outside unit, the fan is working but the compressor is just making a booming sound and the refrigerant lines are not getting cold. Do you recommend to replace the contactor as well as the capacitor if I can't do a proper voltage tests both for the contactor and the capacitor? Thank you!
Help a lot with your videos. Thanks
Thanks for the information on the Contacts!
You got your little helper. Good job man. Thanks
Great video. I learned a LOT. Gotta fix my outdoor unit and with knowledge I will get it done. Thanks!👍🏾
Great job and explanation. Thanks
Thanks for the video, saved me a service call.
Thanks for explaining the reason for power with the disconnect out.
Thanks, very good. Saved me a lot of money.
Very informative and clear. one question. are you saying that if you depress the button and your unit fires up, the contactor is good?
No. He explained in the beginning about checking the contactor with a multimeter.
Great explanation. If only one switched leg is needed, I would never go with two. Two switched legs gives you two additional contact points that can potentially fail. Reliability is what I strive for.
Thank you for the great video 👍👍👌👌👌 you Son is so cute 🥰🥰
Thank you TH-cam University.
I got my A/C running again.
It was the Contactor not making contact. I just blew it out with a can on compressed air.
Thanks for sharing this video. My current problem is that the thermostat is in the "off" and it won't change to hot or cold. What could be the issue? Thx
I have the same looking contactor on my HVAC but the label is unreadable. How do I know which amp I need to buy for replacement? 30 amp vs 40 amp like yours in the video.
Good vid. Question: Why does the compressor not try to start with the single pole contactor, since one leg is always hot (when the power is on)?
Thanks for the great video. But I have one question. My unit is single pole contactor and thinking to replace with 2 pole since can't find 1P. If I connect 2P contactor exactly like the way 1P without making it into single pole connection, would it be OK?
Exactly what I’ve been looking for Ben. Great video. Thank you.
Nice very clear explanation....
Buen video amigo, mi papa y mi hermano se llaman tambien Benjamin. He visto varios videos de usted sobre carros Hondas, water heaters y ahora sobre aire acondicionado. Usted esta por todas partes en youtube usted es un verdadero handyman lo felicito saludos y que Dios le bendiga... Good video friend, my dad and my brother are also called Benjamin. I have seen several videos of you about fixing Hondas cars, water heaters and now on air conditioning. You are everywhere on TH-cam, you are a real handyman. I have subscribed to your channel I congratulate you, greetings and God bless you...
I try to always get the same square D contactor in my unit, but i have to replace it every other year.(i have an old unit from the 70's) why do you think that is?
Also, if i replace it with one of these double pull ones, would it last longer? Four Season HVAC wanted $1200 to replace the contactor. I bought a $14 one from ebay and watched other youtuber vids and vioala! Now that i found your chanel i feel even more confident messing with my AC.
You are a very good teacher. Please make more video.
This is very in-depth, detailed video about the outside AC circuit. Thanks!
This was very helpful, thank you sir.
You're the best, Ben. I love your videos men, thank you. God Bless you all.
Ben----wonderful video!!!
One question though....maybe I missed it. How did you discharge the thermostat wires from the inside?
Thanks a bunch....Jesus bless.
Do you have a video about the contactor on a heat pump, or is it pretty much the same?
Great tutorial,, thank you much.
Quick question - my current contactor is fla of 32 and res of 40. LRA 150 Can I put one on there that's a little higher? IE FLA 40 and RES of 50, LRA 250? All the other numbers match like 24v, and 240vac
I thought my capacitor was bad, because it had gone out before and I had replaced it with a cheapo, so I replaced it with a better one and still no luck (still a worthwhile upgrade), then I realized that neither the compressor nor the fan came on, and I wasn't even hearing that distinct coil buzz, which pointed to the contactor. But, I was reluctant to mess with that since there were more wires and I didn't yet fully understand how everything worked with it. This video made it very easy to understand how the coils work, as well as how to properly connect them, so I'll be able to replace that part with no problem.
Steps I took to test:
1) Tested that I do have 240+ volts across the main power when the 240 circuit is active, and zero when the break bar is flipped over.
2) Tested that I have 24ish volts from either thermostat wire to ground when the AC system is trying to start the compressor.
3) Tested that I have 0 volts across the coil when the system is trying to send that cooling signal.
4) Pressed the coil manually using a sharpie with the break bar in the on position and the unit powered up correctly.
So yep, definitely a bad contactor, should be an easy fix! Thanks!
Very well done. Clear and well explained. You covered a lot of clarifying points that might have been skipped over.
Excellent presentation.
It was almost distracting to see so much knowledge coming from such a young person. I am highly impressed with your presentation. I also subscribed.
Great video, my AC is humming so I am going to change mine Contactor
What would cause you to look into the contactor going bad/not working?
What symptoms appear. No cooling? of needing a new contactor, even after putting in a new capacitator?
If the contacts were stuck closed when not calling for cooling at the thermostat. They can also cause low voltage shorts and blow those little 3 or 5 amp fuses if the coil is bad. A more complicated symptom to identify is whether the plunger is having trouble closing the contacts. This can drop the voltage across the switch, actually causing current to spike in compressor or fan motor, which will overheat the windings. If the contactor is super noisy, it's a good sign it should be replaced.
Excellent information 👍
Glad it was helpful!
Helps thank you easy to understand
Just a comment on a working contactor, good thermostat, good run capacitor, good coolant charge everything kept looking good but no 24 volts to engage the contactor???? Rats had got into the unit and ate 3 wires in two. I have now sealed all openings with hardware cloth to prevent them from getting in. This is the second time....unfortunately the first time I just used traps and bait but did not seal off the openings in the outside unit. Expensive learning experience.
somebody used indoor romex wire with paper liner instead of outdoor rated wire on supply lines.
I had same problems with my unit I like those big screw down terminals but i actually found a weird design flaw instead of a flat bottom to clamp wire it has a recessed hole and with smaller wires to unit under the screw insert it actually just sheared the wire off if you tightened it too much i don't know why the screw insert goes down into a hole rather than a flat bottom to clamp wires.
on mine the capacitor was actually good despite being 25 years old and all rusty so i could not read it had to get values from compressor data and fan motor.
the fan motors bearing had dried out on mine not sure if that messed with contactor, but fan was a bit sluggish to turn after manually turning it to loosen it up unit started when pressing in contactor.
but i replaced motor and the contactor to be on safe side.
Good and great ! Just miss what what the main issue for the full unit not power on completely .
The fan or the capacitor
And the video other than that all good 👍
I can manually activate the contactor by placing a screwdriver in, and it turns on, but the thermostat is not turning on the unit. Did you say that we can test the thermostat wires at the entry point of the contactor? They have no voltage from the thermostat could be the transformer inside the blower housing that runs to the thermostat?
My issue was that the fan was on, but it wasn’t kicking in the condenser. After confirming that the capacitor was bad and it’s selling a new one. The AC unit will not turn on at the thermostat, but it will indeed kick on if I press on the contacter.
I believe I read an Arco telling that situation to mine, and they discovered that the transformer went bad even though it was working before installing the new capacitor .
Just replaced the contactor (same ac model as the one in the vid), it lasted about 8 hours. Don't know if it was a defective one or something else.
Master class, mate. Appreciate the links and you have a new subscriber.
love you! thank you for sharing your knowledge!
Great, where is the 24 volt transformer located ( for the contractor ) I have no 24 volts there when I turn it on. Thank you
So it's normal for the buzz to happen with the thermostat on? Shit. I thought that may have been my problem. My house isn't cooling and Im going to change the capacitor tomorrow and I really hope that works. The fan works. I can't tell if the compressor is actually on or not cuz I don't have a multimeter unfortunately so im just trying the capacitor replacement and hoping for the best
FYI, a blockage in your liquid line, contaminated dryer or a failed TXV, can possibly cause your compressor high limit switch to trip and shut off the compressor just as soon as it turns on (within a few seconds), especially when it's hot out. Really need gauges to check. A tenant's unit has this very issue as I write this.
Just when California is in the midst of a weeklong intense heat wave, my 33 yo house AC gives up on me. On opening the YT channel on my iphone the first vid I saw was yours. It was an excellent presentation, you made the troubleshoot look simple and easy. I am a diy person myself and I thought I could troubleshoot my AC myself. However, I’m too scared to handle a major electrical job like this so I’ll just leave it to a pro. I’ll surely watch more of your vids that I can make use of.
Master class thank you so much
👍 awesome information and helpful. Thanks, appreciate.🙏🇺🇲
Your explanation is clear and concise! A Great video . You earned another subscriber
8.31.21 Ben, very good video on how to replace the contactor. Do you have a video that shows how to replace the capacitor and using the jumpers to set for correct volts? I have a byrant heat pump that needs a new contactor.
good video and good explain clearly thank you love it.
You have it together and on target! Very, very good and easy to undersand. Thaks!
So clearly presented. Love it.
Good helper. Lovely little guy.God bless. Be safe.
Should there be a humming noise even after pulling the disconnect?
Some compressors are designed to use the start winding as a crankcase heater using a single pole contactor wired such that the start winding remains energized. Thus the single pole contactor just might serve a valuable function. Also, why is it better to hold both dvm probes in one hand? That seems a little risky.
He explained exactly what you just wrote. Why did you just repeat it?
This was a GREAT video!!!! I can now check to make sure all my wiring is correct, and working correctly. I definitely give this a 10. Thanks! Now subscribed. 👍🏻
Very interesting & instructive.
young and very good , i like it . best job & real good talk .
One of your best videos yet! Thanks Ben!
Thanks! I'm doing my best to get better at making my videos easy to follow and understand. It's actually more challenging than I thought it would be but I'm going to keep at it!