On Jul 13, 1:43 am, mm wrote:
On Sat, 12 Jul 2008 22:13:20 -0700 (PDT),
wrote:

Ok I believe that a transformer changes voltage from x to y, either
raising or lowering the voltage as required for the application. For

You may believe that, but home repair is not built on faith.

example, the a/c charger for my phone lowers the voltage, and an
inverter (like to power my laptop in my car) would raise it.

An inverter changes DC to AC. Another part of the circuit might
change the AC voltage.

If I am
wrong please set me straight.

I was wrong thanks for setting me straight.

Now to the big questions . . .
Is there a transformer located in the condenser (outside part) of a
central air conditioning system.
Is there a condenser unit manufactured in the last 15 year that
requires replacement of the condenser


Do you mean the entire condensor box with everything inside? That's 2
feet cubed or so?

Or is there any chance your talking about the capacitor (which in
radio is often called a condenser)? Which is about 8" by 4 inches,
usually with 3 wire connectors on one end.

But you mean the entire box or you wouldn't be posting, right?

Right

if the transformer fails, as
opposed to just replacing the transformer itself.

I don't think there are any transformers in the condenser cabinet, in
any unit I've seen.

OBSOLETE paragraph: Isn't there a wiring diagram on the inside of the
cover panel? Or maybe a manual folded and stuffed in the cabinet
under that panel? Oh, I was thinking the other meaning of condensor,
and her outside unit has been replaced by now.

We are in different cities (5 hours away). I wasn't there, and she
wouldn't have a clue about a manual.
From our conversations it sounds like the entire outside unit was
replaced. We also talked about making sure both the interior and
exterior units matched in tonnage

I am asking because my friend was told her condenser needed
replacement because the transformer was bad.

I have only experience with oil and gas heat with electric AC, and
there's a small transformer inside the house, in the furnace, that
provides 24 volts for the control circuit (thermostat, furnace relay,
AC solenoid).

Ok that akes sense.

Most failures are "opens" and that woudln't damage anythign, and even
if the voltage were too high, it wouldn't damage the whole outside
unit because it only powers the solenoid in the outside unit. It
woldn't even hurt that.

However condenser units do fail sometimes of course. Why did she
call a repairman in the first place? How old was the system? Did it
work at all?
Problem was no cold air from the system, blower worked. About 15 yo
worked since she bought the house in May.

Yes she did have it
replaced. I am asking because this sounds "suspicious" to me. I
imagine that it should be relatively easy to procure a replacement
transformer and install it, instead of replacing the whole condenser.
She has gone to sleep so I do not have specific brand or type info
except that it is what most people would call "central air" in a home
about 15 years old.

I am by no means an expert so hopefully more knowledgeable people can
help.

I am an amateur too. And might be wrong in almost anything I say.

Sound as if you are a better amateur than I

Thanks in advance,
Dan

Friends of mine are selling their home and they had a guy who fixed up
another home for sale (and did a good job according to the friends of
my friends who first hired him) come over, and one of the things he
said was that they needed interconnected smoke alarms in every bedroom
to comply with code, and that he could get wireless ones so they
didn't have to run wires.

Turns out, they only need one battery powered smoke alarm on their
first floor and one in the basement (no other floors)
People do lie, it seems.

That last line is my concern, of course.

Thanks again,
Dan