Vintage Air Conditioner Help-Advice Needed
- Thread starter davey7
- Start date
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Yeah, so another year goes by and he does nothing....
So I'm having a house guest in a couple weeks and I decided, what with our hot weather and all, that I would try to get my big front AC unit going again.
So I pulled it, got the control panel open and didn't see anything obvious. Then I put it back together, after a little blow to dust and some vacuuming in the chassis.
Then I plugged it in before putting it back in the wall and lo, the fan worked. So I turned it off, shoved it back in the wall and tried the cooling and it seemed to kick in. But then it seemed to short out, although the fan kept working. I'll try it again later, but I noticed that when I plugged it in, there was sort of a crackle across the coils - which I don't think should happen when you plug in an air conditioner that is turned off.
I'm wondering if there is a problem with the house wiring - it's just two wires in metal raceway to the receptacle (it was added on at some point, probably the 70's). The surface mounted wall box was loose, so I turned off power and tightened it, thinking the ground might be loose - however, I don't think that it should need to be grounded (not that I don't need grounding, but that if it's working correctly it won't be shorting) when it's running correctly.
I'll try it once more, but I'm not sure it's worth repairing if there is a weird short somewhere. There are slightly smaller output units that will fit in the sleeve - similar output units are slightly larger and would need a bigger sleeve and my walls are masonry - hassle!
So any advice oh great sages of vintage air conditioning?
So I'm having a house guest in a couple weeks and I decided, what with our hot weather and all, that I would try to get my big front AC unit going again.
So I pulled it, got the control panel open and didn't see anything obvious. Then I put it back together, after a little blow to dust and some vacuuming in the chassis.
Then I plugged it in before putting it back in the wall and lo, the fan worked. So I turned it off, shoved it back in the wall and tried the cooling and it seemed to kick in. But then it seemed to short out, although the fan kept working. I'll try it again later, but I noticed that when I plugged it in, there was sort of a crackle across the coils - which I don't think should happen when you plug in an air conditioner that is turned off.
I'm wondering if there is a problem with the house wiring - it's just two wires in metal raceway to the receptacle (it was added on at some point, probably the 70's). The surface mounted wall box was loose, so I turned off power and tightened it, thinking the ground might be loose - however, I don't think that it should need to be grounded (not that I don't need grounding, but that if it's working correctly it won't be shorting) when it's running correctly.
I'll try it once more, but I'm not sure it's worth repairing if there is a weird short somewhere. There are slightly smaller output units that will fit in the sleeve - similar output units are slightly larger and would need a bigger sleeve and my walls are masonry - hassle!
So any advice oh great sages of vintage air conditioning?
viewsaver
Member
Please find someone with a volt/ohm meter and have them troubleshoot the unit's wiring. Either a wire has rubbed through and is shorting out, or the compressor windings have faulted to ground. It shouldn't be making ANY crackling noises at any time and it's likely not the fault of the wiring to the wall plug. It's possible the capacitor has failed and shorted to the case but the fan probably wouldn't run either because the fan and compressor share the capacitor (it has two sections in the "can").
Even with a faulted compressor the unit is fixable. New units of similar capacity today are garbage except for maybe the Friedrich (not the Kuhl or Chill series). Just quit playing around with it before you burn it up or electrocute yourself. 230V is nothing to play around with as you'll be dead before you hit the floor.
Chris
Even with a faulted compressor the unit is fixable. New units of similar capacity today are garbage except for maybe the Friedrich (not the Kuhl or Chill series). Just quit playing around with it before you burn it up or electrocute yourself. 230V is nothing to play around with as you'll be dead before you hit the floor.
Chris
So... bad news
I got somebody in to check the unit, unfortunately the compressor connections are shot and the compressor costs as much as a new unit. While it's in good shape otherwise, the math won't work out for me, so it's off to Abt to buy a Frigidaire (or maybe a Friedrich uni-fit...).
Since I plan to sell in a couple years, a newer unit will be better for that as well.
I got somebody in to check the unit, unfortunately the compressor connections are shot and the compressor costs as much as a new unit. While it's in good shape otherwise, the math won't work out for me, so it's off to Abt to buy a Frigidaire (or maybe a Friedrich uni-fit...).
Since I plan to sell in a couple years, a newer unit will be better for that as well.
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;"><sub>If the compressor terminal connections are bad, there is a product which will connect to damaged pins. Search "QWIKLUG QT2910 3 TERMINAL REPAIR LUGS" or see here: </sub>https://www.amazon.com/QwikLug-QT2910-Terminal-Repair-10AWG/dp/B00T1UN430 </span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">That will help you reconnect the wiring.</span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 8pt;">That will help you reconnect the wiring.</span>
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There is a product which will allow you to connect to damaged pins on a compressor. These may help you get it going.\
https://www.amazon.com/QwikLug-QT2910-Terminal-Repair-10AWG/dp/B00T1UN430
They are called Qwik Lugs.
https://www.amazon.com/QwikLug-QT2910-Terminal-Repair-10AWG/dp/B00T1UN430
They are called Qwik Lugs.
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Thanks, but it's been replaced
It turned out that the chassis was a lot rustier than I'd realized, which I noticed when I carted it out. I'm happy with a new unit that I won't have to worry about for a while, since I don't use ac all that much.
It turned out that the chassis was a lot rustier than I'd realized, which I noticed when I carted it out. I'm happy with a new unit that I won't have to worry about for a while, since I don't use ac all that much.
So revisiting this thread for another of my air conditioners
So the fan on one of my other vintage AC units seems to have failed. It hums when turned out and I pulled the AC and lubricated the fan, which spins more easily now, but still not action. The compressor kicks in just fine. Cleaned it obviously, got rid of 40 years of gunk and wasps nests etc, etc...
I'd like to replace the motor but I'm not sure what model I need to get - it's a 230 V Fridgidaire (I've included a couple pictures with model number). It looks like there are two and three speed fans but not sure which one is compatible (it's fan, low AC and high AC). I can't read any label on the fan, it's either deteriorated or fallen off.
So the fan on one of my other vintage AC units seems to have failed. It hums when turned out and I pulled the AC and lubricated the fan, which spins more easily now, but still not action. The compressor kicks in just fine. Cleaned it obviously, got rid of 40 years of gunk and wasps nests etc, etc...
I'd like to replace the motor but I'm not sure what model I need to get - it's a 230 V Fridgidaire (I've included a couple pictures with model number). It looks like there are two and three speed fans but not sure which one is compatible (it's fan, low AC and high AC). I can't read any label on the fan, it's either deteriorated or fallen off.
