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Tony Miklos[_2_] Tony Miklos[_2_] is offline
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Default Blew another damn transformer on my Trane XB80

On 4/10/2011 9:47 PM, Jeff Thies wrote:
On 4/10/2011 7:47 PM, Phil Allison wrote:
"Jeff Thies"
Phil Allison wrote:
"robb"


Yep, My A/C unit blew another transformer. Pictures (and wiring
diagram)
he

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bbqboye...7626457562742/

http://www.trane.com/webcache/un/fur...7_04012009.pdf


As you can probably see in the pictures, there is visible charring of
the
115V leads going into the transformer, and of course the 115V
circuit is
open (again).


** From the damage to the tranny visible in the photos - the primary
has
developed an internal short ( due to insulation failure) and since
there
is
no fuse link in series, the resulting current was high enough to
make an
exposed wire leading to the terminals explode.

An internal short could develop due to heat alone because of an
overload
on
the tranny - but this requires a fault to exist on the secondary side
which
seems not to be the case.

High voltage spikes on the primary could also cause insulation failure
leading to the damage seen in the pics - lightning does this sort of
thing.
So also could back emfs from the blower fan if the is a bad
connection in
the AC supply feed.

I suggest you provide the next replacement for that vulnerable tranny
with
some "protection" - firstly an in-line fuse of say 1/4 amp AND a
capacitor wired across the primary of say 1uF rated for continuous use
across the AC supply.

If there is an overload on the tranny, the fuse will blow.

The 1uF capacitor should suppress spike voltages enough to save the
tranny
from harm.

1 uF sounds a little high.



** No it ain't.


I thought you had simply misspoke and that this was an honest error.

The reactance of a 1uF cap at 60Hz is: 2652 ohms (1/(2*pi*F*C)
Online calculator:
http://www.kusashi.com/reactance-c.p...&stage=results

V^2/R = W

Assuming primary, as why would you put it on the secondary:

120^2 / 2652 = 5.43 W

Does that not seem wrong to you?

If not then go buy a 200V non polarized 1uF cap. It is no easy chore.


I have some big ass mylars, I think they are 4uF @ 200v.