The outside condenser fan motor went out two years ago. It was a 1/8 HP and
I replaced it with a 1/10 HP motor that was available at the time. I since
bought an exact copy of the 1/8 HP motor figuring it would be more efficient
in the heat of summer. I planned on installing it in the next few days but
tonight I noticed the compressor making a weird howling/hissing noise like
it was giving up the freon ghost. It really freaked out the cat which is a
twist since it's the cat that does the howling 'round here. After
confirming that I was still getting cool air out of the ducts I went outside
to check it out. The old 1/10 HP fan is running smoothly and the compressor
seems to run okay but every so often it makes a crackling noise. No sign of
freon leakage but an ominous hot electrical smell was observed. I'm
wondering if the run/start cap is in the process of self destruction. There
also seems to be an abundance of condensation moisture on and around the
compressor and return coolant lines. I shut it down and plan to test the
cap in the morning before running it anymore. Any suggestions or advice
would be much appreciated. I am well versed in electrical design but do not
have the equipment to recharge the freon if a compressor replacement is
warranted.

TIA, Tim

"TimH" wrote in message
...
The outside condenser fan motor went out two years ago. It was a 1/8 HP
and
I replaced it with a 1/10 HP motor that was available at the time. I
since
bought an exact copy of the 1/8 HP motor figuring it would be more
efficient
in the heat of summer. I planned on installing it in the next few days
but
tonight I noticed the compressor making a weird howling/hissing noise like
it was giving up the freon ghost. It really freaked out the cat which is
a
twist since it's the cat that does the howling 'round here. After
confirming that I was still getting cool air out of the ducts I went
outside
to check it out. The old 1/10 HP fan is running smoothly and the
compressor
seems to run okay but every so often it makes a crackling noise. No sign
of
freon leakage but an ominous hot electrical smell was observed. I'm
wondering if the run/start cap is in the process of self destruction.
There
also seems to be an abundance of condensation moisture on and around the
compressor and return coolant lines. I shut it down and plan to test the
cap in the morning before running it anymore. Any suggestions or advice
would be much appreciated. I am well versed in electrical design but do
not
have the equipment to recharge the freon if a compressor replacement is
warranted.

The electrical smell COULD be the capacitor, but it may be the wires about
to burn off of the terminals on the compressor. How old is the unit?

"TimH" wrote in message
...
It's pretty old. Maybe 20+ yrs. There doesn't seem to be a cap that's
accessible and the wires going into the unit are dark and toasty. Now the
compressor is no longer compressing. I guess it's time to call a service
guy.

I know people get in a hurry when they are without A/C, but if the unit is
DOA, get at least three different companies to give you a price (a QUOTE not
an "estimate"). Ask your friends and neighbors who they would use. Remember:
The installer is more important than the brand name....


"Dr. Hardcrab" wrote in message
news:OzqDe.7639$JJ.3711@trnddc09...

"TimH" wrote in message
...
The outside condenser fan motor went out two years ago. It was a 1/8
HP
and
I replaced it with a 1/10 HP motor that was available at the time. I
since
bought an exact copy of the 1/8 HP motor figuring it would be more
efficient
in the heat of summer. I planned on installing it in the next few days
but
tonight I noticed the compressor making a weird howling/hissing noise
like
it was giving up the freon ghost. It really freaked out the cat which
is
a
twist since it's the cat that does the howling 'round here. After
confirming that I was still getting cool air out of the ducts I went
outside
to check it out. The old 1/10 HP fan is running smoothly and the
compressor
seems to run okay but every so often it makes a crackling noise. No
sign
of
freon leakage but an ominous hot electrical smell was observed. I'm
wondering if the run/start cap is in the process of self destruction.
There
also seems to be an abundance of condensation moisture on and around
the
compressor and return coolant lines. I shut it down and plan to test
the
cap in the morning before running it anymore. Any suggestions or
advice
would be much appreciated. I am well versed in electrical design but
do
not
have the equipment to recharge the freon if a compressor replacement is
warranted.

The electrical smell COULD be the capacitor, but it may be the wires
about
to burn off of the terminals on the compressor. How old is the unit?

It's pretty old. Maybe 20+ yrs. There doesn't seem to be a cap that's
accessible and the wires going into the unit are dark and toasty. Now the
compressor is no longer compressing. I guess it's time to call a service
guy.

"Dr. Hardcrab" wrote in message
news:OzqDe.7639$JJ.3711@trnddc09...

"TimH" wrote in message
...
The outside condenser fan motor went out two years ago. It was a 1/8 HP
and
I replaced it with a 1/10 HP motor that was available at the time. I
since
bought an exact copy of the 1/8 HP motor figuring it would be more
efficient
in the heat of summer. I planned on installing it in the next few days
but
tonight I noticed the compressor making a weird howling/hissing noise
like
it was giving up the freon ghost. It really freaked out the cat which
is
a
twist since it's the cat that does the howling 'round here. After
confirming that I was still getting cool air out of the ducts I went
outside
to check it out. The old 1/10 HP fan is running smoothly and the
compressor
seems to run okay but every so often it makes a crackling noise. No
sign
of
freon leakage but an ominous hot electrical smell was observed. I'm
wondering if the run/start cap is in the process of self destruction.
There
also seems to be an abundance of condensation moisture on and around the
compressor and return coolant lines. I shut it down and plan to test
the
cap in the morning before running it anymore. Any suggestions or advice
would be much appreciated. I am well versed in electrical design but do
not
have the equipment to recharge the freon if a compressor replacement is
warranted.

The electrical smell COULD be the capacitor, but it may be the wires about
to burn off of the terminals on the compressor. How old is the unit?

TimH wrote:

The outside condenser fan motor went out two years ago. It was a 1/8 HP and
I replaced it with a 1/10 HP motor that was available at the time. I since
bought an exact copy of the 1/8 HP motor figuring it would be more efficient
in the heat of summer. I planned on installing it in the next few days but
tonight I noticed the compressor making a weird howling/hissing noise like
it was giving up the freon ghost. It really freaked out the cat which is a
twist since it's the cat that does the howling 'round here. After
confirming that I was still getting cool air out of the ducts I went outside
to check it out. The old 1/10 HP fan is running smoothly and the compressor
seems to run okay but every so often it makes a crackling noise. No sign of
freon leakage but an ominous hot electrical smell was observed. I'm
wondering if the run/start cap is in the process of self destruction. There
also seems to be an abundance of condensation moisture on and around the
compressor and return coolant lines. I shut it down and plan to test the
cap in the morning before running it anymore. Any suggestions or advice
would be much appreciated. I am well versed in electrical design but do not
have the equipment to recharge the freon if a compressor replacement is
warranted. TIA, Tim


If that unit is 20 plus years old, I wouldn't spend a lot of money on a
system that old.
A cheap fix; okay.

I would get a heatload done on your home for sizing and get bids on
replacing the condenser and evaporator.
Demand a scroll compressor and TXV refrigerant control on the evaporator.

I would also have the ductwork system checked for leaks and proper sizing.

If it is beyond your budget then forget it.

Use your own judgment! - udarrell

--
Optimizing Air-Conditioner Efficiency
http://www.udarrell.com/air-conditio...ator-coil.html

The noise was probably the bearing on the compressor starting to go. Once
it froze up(pun) the current to the compressor would have shot sky high
(start up current - only it is sustained instead of momentary). Eventually
the high current would cause significant heating in the wires and the
compressor windings until either a fuse blows or the thermal breaker on the
compressor opens up and shuts it off.

Either way as you already know, it is dead and not worth repairing. time to
get a new one. Hopefully the cold coils in your ductwork are in good shape
and can be reused.



"TimH" wrote in message
...
It's pretty old. Maybe 20+ yrs. There doesn't seem to be a cap that's
accessible and the wires going into the unit are dark and toasty. Now the
compressor is no longer compressing. I guess it's time to call a service
guy.

"Dr. Hardcrab" wrote in message
news:OzqDe.7639$JJ.3711@trnddc09...

"TimH" wrote in message
...
The outside condenser fan motor went out two years ago. It was a 1/8
HP
and
I replaced it with a 1/10 HP motor that was available at the time. I
since
bought an exact copy of the 1/8 HP motor figuring it would be more
efficient
in the heat of summer. I planned on installing it in the next few days
but
tonight I noticed the compressor making a weird howling/hissing noise
like
it was giving up the freon ghost. It really freaked out the cat which
is
a
twist since it's the cat that does the howling 'round here. After
confirming that I was still getting cool air out of the ducts I went
outside
to check it out. The old 1/10 HP fan is running smoothly and the
compressor
seems to run okay but every so often it makes a crackling noise. No
sign
of
freon leakage but an ominous hot electrical smell was observed. I'm
wondering if the run/start cap is in the process of self destruction.
There
also seems to be an abundance of condensation moisture on and around
the
compressor and return coolant lines. I shut it down and plan to test
the
cap in the morning before running it anymore. Any suggestions or
advice
would be much appreciated. I am well versed in electrical design but
do
not
have the equipment to recharge the freon if a compressor replacement is
warranted.

The electrical smell COULD be the capacitor, but it may be the wires
about
to burn off of the terminals on the compressor. How old is the unit?

udarrell wrote:
TimH wrote:

The outside condenser fan motor went out two years ago. It was a 1/8 HP and
I replaced it with a 1/10 HP motor that was available at the time. I since
bought an exact copy of the 1/8 HP motor figuring it would be more efficient
in the heat of summer. I planned on installing it in the next few days but
tonight I noticed the compressor making a weird howling/hissing noise like
it was giving up the freon ghost. It really freaked out the cat which is a
twist since it's the cat that does the howling 'round here. After
confirming that I was still getting cool air out of the ducts I went outside
to check it out. The old 1/10 HP fan is running smoothly and the compressor
seems to run okay but every so often it makes a crackling noise. No sign of
freon leakage but an ominous hot electrical smell was observed. I'm
wondering if the run/start cap is in the process of self destruction. There
also seems to be an abundance of condensation moisture on and around the
compressor and return coolant lines. I shut it down and plan to test the
cap in the morning before running it anymore. Any suggestions or advice
would be much appreciated. I am well versed in electrical design but do not
have the equipment to recharge the freon if a compressor replacement is
warranted. TIA, Tim


If that unit is 20 plus years old, I wouldn't spend a lot of money on a
system that old.
A cheap fix; okay.

I would get a heatload done on your home for sizing and get bids on
replacing the condenser and evaporator.
Demand a scroll compressor and TXV refrigerant control on the evaporator.

I would also have the ductwork system checked for leaks and proper sizing.

If it is beyond your budget then forget it.

Use your own judgment! - udarrell

--
Optimizing Air-Conditioner Efficiency
http://www.udarrell.com/air-conditio...ator-coil.html

My girlfriend owns the house and she is set on a whole new system as
money is not really an issue. I agree that it's not worth spending the
money on such an old system. And changing the fan motor was cheap and
easy for me but the compressor is beyond my abilities.

How will a heatload test tell me how big to size the system and what
numbers should I be looking for? The house is about 2600 ft2 including
the basement.

Besides a scroll compressor what are the other types and how is the
scroll better?

What does a TVX control do?

I'm also thinking about adding an electronic air cleaner. Does anyone
have advice on this and know about what it should cost?

Thanks,

Tim H

I'd agree with that. That, and the toasty wires.

That's a bad combination.
--

Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
www.mormons.com


"TimH" wrote in message
...
Now the
compressor is no longer compressing. I guess it's time to call a service
guy.

"Tim H" wrote in message
oups.com...


My girlfriend owns the house and she is set on a whole new system as
money is not really an issue. I agree that it's not worth spending the
money on such an old system. And changing the fan motor was cheap and
easy for me but the compressor is beyond my abilities.
CY: Please get three estimates from different companies. The guys I've
talked to like some brands, but not others. The cheapest bid will likely be
poor quality equipment, or installation.


How will a heatload test tell me how big to size the system and what
numbers should I be looking for? The house is about 2600 ft2 including
the basement.
CY: Others are more qualified than I, to describe this. However, the tech
should measure the house, consider the types of walls, and your location
(lattitude, climate, etc). S/he will end up with a figure of about how much
cooling power you need.


Besides a scroll compressor what are the other types and how is the
scroll better?
CY: The other types are piston, and rotary. The scroll is quieter, and uses
less electricity.


What does a TVX control do?
CY: A TXV stands for Thermostatic Expansion Valve. It is a valve that
reguates the ammount of freon going into the evaporator. Depending on the
heat load, an AC might need more or less freon to keep the coil cold. And,
so it adjusts the freon flow. This maintains a good cold temperature, and is
less likely to freeze the coil. It also reduces your electric bill. A coil
without a TXV uses capillary tubes or an orifice. Some folks call an orifice
a "piston" though I don't know why. Somehow, a hole that regulates the flow
of refrigerant isn't a piston in my mind.



I'm also thinking about adding an electronic air cleaner. Does anyone
have advice on this and know about what it should cost?
CY: Don't think I've ever installed one. Worked on one years ago, but don't
know what it costed.


Thanks,

Tim H
CY: You're welcome.