To CJT, Jeff, Speedy Jim, mm, Storming Mormon

Progress !!! Still not 100% fixed but progress....

You guys are great... mentioned that the Neutral was probably open... Hmmmm.... I
decided to check out the disconnect box which is separate from the inhouse power
distribution panel.. Our AC disconnect boxes are wall mounted on the outside wall
of the condo house. The maintenance people said "just open the one that belongs
to your unit". So I did, pulled the disconnect (the old fuse panel pull out
type)....and GUESS WHAT !!! I still had power to my AC unit. Tried working over
the phone with maintenance people who said..."look if the disconnect didn't work, you
must be getting power from someplace else and we can't help you". I said...this AC is
pulling 30 amps so where is it coming from...not a wall receptacle I hope.

Anyway...it seems that several of the boxes all had incorrect condo unit numbers stenciled
on them. Building maintenance finally came down (they didn't want to, talk about
attitude problems) and we finally located the proper disconnect box. Two fuses in
the box...one was blown open, the other was good..... So to all.... your diagnosis of
an open wire (neutral) was 100% ACCURATE !!!..... Good Work !!!

Replaced the fuse....system started up... At that time BGE Home finally pulled into
the parking lot (8 days late) so they checked out the system.

Compressor was running hot. Head pressure was high, 375 versus expected of 350.
Suction was low about 55 instead of 65. and they found a slight leak at a connection
point, although freon level was adequate.

They said head pressure was high because the coil needed to be cleaned out.


So they said, we'll clean out your coil and replace the leaky connection.... Flare
nut to metering valve. It will cost you between 650 to 850 dollars. We suggest that
you purchase a new system, instead of putting that money into the old one.

How does one clean out the coils ??? I'd like to try that to see if it makes a
difference...before blindly going ahead and replacing the unit for $5000.00.

Your thoughts ???

Peter

On Mon, 31 Jul 2006 22:56:03 -0400, Peter wrote:

To CJT, Jeff, Speedy Jim, mm, Storming Mormon

Progress !!! Still not 100% fixed but progress....

You guys are great... mentioned that the Neutral was probably open... Hmmmm.... I
decided to check out the disconnect box which is separate from the inhouse power
distribution panel.. Our AC disconnect boxes are wall mounted on the outside wall
of the condo house. The maintenance people said "just open the one that belongs
to your unit". So I did, pulled the disconnect (the old fuse panel pull out
type)....and GUESS WHAT !!! I still had power to my AC unit. Tried working over
the phone with maintenance people who said..."look if the disconnect didn't work, you
must be getting power from someplace else and we can't help you". I said...this AC is
pulling 30 amps so where is it coming from...not a wall receptacle I hope.

Anyway...it seems that several of the boxes all had incorrect condo unit numbers stenciled
on them. Building maintenance finally came down (they didn't want to, talk about
attitude problems) and we finally located the proper disconnect box. Two fuses in
the box...one was blown open, the other was good..... So to all.... your diagnosis of
an open wire (neutral) was 100% ACCURATE !!!..... Good Work !!!

Replaced the fuse....system started up... At that time BGE Home finally pulled into
the parking lot (8 days late) so they checked out the system.

Compressor was running hot. Head pressure was high, 375 versus expected of 350.
Suction was low about 55 instead of 65. and they found a slight leak at a connection
point, although freon level was adequate.

They said head pressure was high because the coil needed to be cleaned out.


So they said, we'll clean out your coil and replace the leaky connection.... Flare
nut to metering valve. It will cost you between 650 to 850 dollars. We suggest that
you purchase a new system, instead of putting that money into the old one.

How does one clean out the coils ??? I'd like to try that to see if it makes a
difference...before blindly going ahead and replacing the unit for $5000.00.

Your thoughts ???

Peter

You need to have a competent tech look at it. The pressures you gave
are wrong, wrong, wrong! If clogged condenser was causing high
pressure then both numbers would be high. with the pressures you
describe, something else is going on. They suggest, among other
things, clogged condenser AND evaporator coils, clogged filter,
possible overcharge of refrigerant... You really need to have a
competent tech look at it because whoever showed up was not either.

Peter wrote:

To CJT, Jeff, Speedy Jim, mm, Storming Mormon

Progress !!! Still not 100% fixed but progress....

You guys are great... mentioned that the Neutral was probably open... Hmmmm.... I
decided to check out the disconnect box which is separate from the inhouse power
distribution panel.. Our AC disconnect boxes are wall mounted on the outside wall
of the condo house. The maintenance people said "just open the one that belongs
to your unit". So I did, pulled the disconnect (the old fuse panel pull out
type)....and GUESS WHAT !!! I still had power to my AC unit. Tried working over
the phone with maintenance people who said..."look if the disconnect didn't work, you
must be getting power from someplace else and we can't help you". I said...this AC is
pulling 30 amps so where is it coming from...not a wall receptacle I hope.

Anyway...it seems that several of the boxes all had incorrect condo unit numbers stenciled
on them. Building maintenance finally came down (they didn't want to, talk about
attitude problems) and we finally located the proper disconnect box. Two fuses in
the box...one was blown open, the other was good..... So to all.... your diagnosis of
an open wire (neutral) was 100% ACCURATE !!!..... Good Work !!!

Replaced the fuse....system started up... At that time BGE Home finally pulled into
the parking lot (8 days late) so they checked out the system.

Compressor was running hot. Head pressure was high, 375 versus expected of 350.
Suction was low about 55 instead of 65. and they found a slight leak at a connection
point, although freon level was adequate.

They said head pressure was high because the coil needed to be cleaned out.


So they said, we'll clean out your coil and replace the leaky connection.... Flare
nut to metering valve. It will cost you between 650 to 850 dollars. We suggest that
you purchase a new system, instead of putting that money into the old one.

How does one clean out the coils ??? I'd like to try that to see if it makes a
difference...before blindly going ahead and replacing the unit for $5000.00.

Your thoughts ???

Peter

My first thought is that the neutral should not be fused. So I wonder
whether you actually have a 220V transformer. But it's perhaps moot
now -- you know where to look for the disconnect and fuses, which seems
like important information.

My second thought is, I wonder whose AC you disconnected when you pulled
the one with your Apt. # -- I hope you put that back as it was.

Cleaning the coils is probably best done with a garden hose and some
gentle brushing. You don't want to damage them; they can be delicate.

$5K is a lot of money if you can avoid spending it. Even if the AC
isn't optimal, the worst of the summer should soon be behind us.
Cheapskate that I am, I'd try working the problem a bit before
I'd commit to a new unit.

--
The e-mail address in our reply-to line is reversed in an attempt to
minimize spam. Our true address is of the form .

Wow, that sounds expensive for a coil cleaning. Seems like you ought
to find a coil cleaning descrip on the web some whre. Essentially, you
disconnect the power. take the top off the outdoor unit. Rinse the
fins from the inside out, to rinse out the dirt. There are cleaning
chemicals sold to AC guys, but not sure you'll find anyone to sell
them to a home owner.

--

Christopher A. Young
You can't shout down a troll.
You have to starve them.
..

"Peter" wrote in message
...
To CJT, Jeff, Speedy Jim, mm, Storming Mormon

Progress !!! Still not 100% fixed but progress....

You guys are great... mentioned that the Neutral was probably open...
Hmmmm.... I
decided to check out the disconnect box which is separate from the
inhouse power
distribution panel.. Our AC disconnect boxes are wall mounted on the
outside wall
of the condo house. The maintenance people said "just open the one
that belongs
to your unit". So I did, pulled the disconnect (the old fuse panel
pull out
type)....and GUESS WHAT !!! I still had power to my AC unit.
Tried working over
the phone with maintenance people who said..."look if the disconnect
didn't work, you
must be getting power from someplace else and we can't help you". I
said...this AC is
pulling 30 amps so where is it coming from...not a wall receptacle I
hope.

Anyway...it seems that several of the boxes all had incorrect condo
unit numbers stenciled
on them. Building maintenance finally came down (they didn't want
to, talk about
attitude problems) and we finally located the proper disconnect box.
Two fuses in
the box...one was blown open, the other was good..... So to all....
your diagnosis of
an open wire (neutral) was 100% ACCURATE !!!..... Good Work !!!

Replaced the fuse....system started up... At that time BGE Home
finally pulled into
the parking lot (8 days late) so they checked out the system.

Compressor was running hot. Head pressure was high, 375 versus
expected of 350.
Suction was low about 55 instead of 65. and they found a slight
leak at a connection
point, although freon level was adequate.

They said head pressure was high because the coil needed to be
cleaned out.


So they said, we'll clean out your coil and replace the leaky
connection.... Flare
nut to metering valve. It will cost you between 650 to 850
dollars. We suggest that
you purchase a new system, instead of putting that money into the old
one.

How does one clean out the coils ??? I'd like to try that to see if
it makes a
difference...before blindly going ahead and replacing the unit for
$5000.00.

Your thoughts ???

Peter

Peter wrote:
To CJT, Jeff, Speedy Jim, mm, Storming Mormon

Progress !!! Still not 100% fixed but progress....

You guys are great... mentioned that the Neutral was probably open... Hmmmm.... I
decided to check out the disconnect box which is separate from the inhouse power
distribution panel.. Our AC disconnect boxes are wall mounted on the outside wall
of the condo house. The maintenance people said "just open the one that belongs
to your unit". So I did, pulled the disconnect (the old fuse panel pull out
type)....and GUESS WHAT !!! I still had power to my AC unit. Tried working over
the phone with maintenance people who said..."look if the disconnect didn't work, you
must be getting power from someplace else and we can't help you". I said...this AC is
pulling 30 amps so where is it coming from...not a wall receptacle I hope.

Anyway...it seems that several of the boxes all had incorrect condo unit numbers stenciled
on them. Building maintenance finally came down (they didn't want to, talk about
attitude problems) and we finally located the proper disconnect box. Two fuses in
the box...one was blown open, the other was good..... So to all.... your diagnosis of
an open wire (neutral) was 100% ACCURATE !!!..... Good Work !!!

Replaced the fuse....system started up... At that time BGE Home finally pulled into
the parking lot (8 days late) so they checked out the system.

Compressor was running hot. Head pressure was high, 375 versus expected of 350.
Suction was low about 55 instead of 65. and they found a slight leak at a connection
point, although freon level was adequate.

They said head pressure was high because the coil needed to be cleaned out.


So they said, we'll clean out your coil and replace the leaky connection.... Flare
nut to metering valve. It will cost you between 650 to 850 dollars. We suggest that
you purchase a new system, instead of putting that money into the old one.

How does one clean out the coils ??? I'd like to try that to see if it makes a
difference...before blindly going ahead and replacing the unit for $5000.00.

Your thoughts ???

Peter
important white wires doesn not mean nuetral!! if the unit sits out
side and runs with the furnace or air handler its 240v.the white is a
hot and should of been marked with black tape or colored in some way.
try combing out the fins on the compressor outside if they are all
clogged your unit cant properly transfer heat

On 1 Aug 2006 09:43:46 -0700, wrote:

Mental note:

Never call BGE Home service.


Line up a reputable service company before you need one. BGE Home is
not. They resemble the giant service companies of the 80's when customer
service was anything but.

100 degree temperatures, the air conditioner still doesn't work and it's a crap
shoot as to whether to spend 850. on repairs which may or may not work OR
spend 5,000. for a new airconditioner. which might also be a piece of junk.

And how was YOUR day ???

why not just look at the inside coil and outside coil to see if they are
dirty? have you changed the air filter?

http://www.minibite.com/america/malone.htm