Posted: 7/28/2008 5:27:19 PM EDT
| During the hottest parts of the day my compressor shuts off. I sprayed the outdoor unit down with the hose (even though it wasn't dirty) and the compressor kicked back on after a minute or so. The unit gets sun for most of the day. Could the direct sunlight be overheating the compressor? |
| How do you know the coils are clean? did you check the liquid line (smaller line) temp and compare with the ambient should be with 25 max of each other. A lot of coils have to rows of coils that crap builds up between the two, like blanket, or the person cleaning the coil doesn't spilt them and all the crap from the 1st coil is push out and collects on the 2nd. I would also check the pressures if you can. I don't know how many systems I have seen that are overcharged, too much gas. Direct sunlight has no effect on the unit. |
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The liquid line is warm but not hot when the compressor is running and the large line is cool and sweating. When the compressor is not running the small line is hot and the large line is warm. Not sure of the exact temperature difference. Would an overcharged system cause the compressor to not run? The coils look clean. I'll look more closely. The system runs perfect during the night and morning hours. I do not have the equipment to ck the pressure. Just so you know the fan is running when the compressor is not. |
It sound like your unit may got over charged. Overcharged or undercharged both cause comp got cut off . According to your post, nothing you can do by yourself in this case. |
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I say no to the overcharge. It may frost back to the compressor under a low load like evening or early morning but in a hot afternoon it would probably run ok. A pro could check superheat and subcool to tell. I'm wondering if the condensor fan is running full speed, or even the right direction if it's been changed or maybe just a bad fan motor capacitor but in any event you better get someone to check it quickly. It sounds like the compressor is cutting out on it's overload and if that's the case you can't let it go because the compressor wont last long. |
Your C-fan, and the cap got nothing to do with it in this case. Again, based on your description . |
Based on Author's, these aren't happening. |
Finally got someone out to take a look. Pressures seemed like something was blocked. Checked the TXV and the bulb was insulated with a torn up t-shirt. WTF!! Tested valve worked fine. Insulated bulb. Was outside doing the paper work with the AC guy and the compressor shut off with fan still running. This was perfect. He threw in a hard start cap.So far so good. 
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Start kits do just what they say, help it start.(then takes it self out of the circuit, so to speak) It doesn't help anything with the compressor shutting down with the fan still running. |
yup. Again,according aut's thread, S.kit got nothing to do with this case unless,... Be Careful when using S.kit or you will pay big time for it. |
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Here is my thoughts based on what you have said.... If you found the TXV sensing bulb to be poorly insulated it would allow more liquid into the evap coil thinking it was warmer than it really was... This could allow liquid back to the compressor resulting in 'slugging' which is a bad thing to happen to a compressor. If the compressor has been 'slugging' for any length of time it may have had some damage to it, if damaged the motor windings could be getting hot and opening a thermal safety for the motor windings causing your compressor to shut off randomly. You need to get a amp draw on the compressor over a good length of time to help determine if this could be a cause. Either way you need to get a good amp draw on the compressor. You would also want a superheat and subcooling reading to determine if the charge is right. I don't believe the hard start kit will solve your problem. If anything, I think it will help mask the real cause. 
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