HVAC-Talk: Heating, Air & Refrigeration Discussion banner
Cancel
Create thread New Forums

Carrier Heat Pump just died; likely the Run Capacitor, but it isn't the original one?

Tags
run capacitor
Jump to Latest
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
B

benze

· Registered
Joined
·
105 Posts
Discussion starter · #1 ·
I've got a 13 year old Carrier Heat Pump that just stopped working on me. When it turns on it humms and then stops. I quickly turned off the breaker and called an HVAC guy to look at it.

He came by and diagnosed that the run capacitor needed changing, and doesn't carry the part himself. Apparently, it is a special/unique capacitance and needs to pick it up tomorrow morning from his supplier. He did indicate that the capacitance being used seemed to be different than the normal.

That's when I realized that the cap in the unit was not the original cap; it has clearly been replaced in the past by the previous owner - it is zip-tied into place.

Is there any way to get the original specs for the capacitance? I want to make sure that it gets replaced with the "right" unit.

Moreover, how critical/dangerous is it if the HP has been running for the last 10 years with the wrong capacitance? Do you typically change capacitors with different capacitance values to treat particular symptoms?

Carrier HP: 38YCC048340
Current Capacitor: 60+7.5uF

I'm attaching a picture of the current cap's install. As you can tell, it is clearly not the OEM part.

Please note I am NOT looking for DIY information or instruction. I am not asking how to replace the cap nor how to diagnose the issue. I just want to make sure that I am getting the right part for my machine installed. Clearly the previous homeowner did not do his job.

Thanks,

Eric
 
#2 ·
I wouldn't be concerned about the zip ties because it's a common problem that Carrier brackets rarely fit the replacement capacitors. If you don't mind going without air for a day or two then your tech might be able to get a capacitor that's an exact fit but there is still no guarantee he will find one. If you think that looks bad, I would have put two separate capacitors on to see if i could get you running & let you decide what you wanted me to do next. It will be easy for the tech to check on the specs of the capacitor listed for your unit from Carrier. The fact that he was surprised at the capacitor ratings might be why he didn't want to just rig something up to get you running until he was sure the old one was correctly rated for the unit.
 
Save
Like Like
#3 ·
According to my info based on theodel number you gave, it is NOT the correct rating!!

It will be easy to tell, from MFR/OEM supplier.

Tech could also have determined rating by looking at components.

No, not OEM part either.
 
Save
Like Like
Discussion starter · #4 ·
I`m not concerned with the zip ties; I just figured that the zip ties indicated that it wasn't the original cap. I texted the tech and he confirmed that he was going to check with Carrier in the morning to be sure of the specs of the cap; he too wasn't comfortable replacing it as is.

Which begs the question, if it is in fact the wrong ratings, as indicated pacnw, do I need to be concerned that it ran with the wrong cap for the last 10 or 11 years? What kind of damage could it have done to the compressor and/or the fan with the wrong ratings? Clearly this was done while the unit was still under warranty, so I am very frustrated that the previous service tech would have done such a thing, particularly if it can cause damage to the components. Do it just mean the fan would spin unevenly, or can it have more drastic consequences (ie: fan motor dieing prematurely, etc)?

Do I need to try and file a claim with Carrier that the wrong part was used 10+ years ago? Will it even matter?

Thanks,

Eric
 
#6 ·
yes, it's bad. Most companies carry the Turbo line of capacitors, the 200 or 200X which carry a 5 year warranty and are USA made.

The tech can check the compressor model number and the fan motor model to find the capacitor that each requires.

That contactor is pretty worn, too.
 
#7 ·
dkalasz said:
Need to check if condensor fan motor requires a 7.5 motor might have been swapped in the past

Sent from my LG-H918 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
From looking at the leads on the capacitor and contactor, the fan motor wiring looks "original". So unless the motor was changed and it required that mfd, I think a mistake was made.
 
Save
Like Like
#8 · (Edited)
benze said:
Do I need to try and file a claim with Carrier that the wrong part was used 10+ years ago? Will it even matter?
Click to expand...
Would do no good. It was not Carrier's fault, but the one who installed it. Unless you know who that was, you have no one to hold accountable.

It's like holding Ford accountable for tires installed on a used vehicle.
 
Save
Like Like
#9 ·
pacnw said:
From looking at the leads on the capacitor and contactor, the fan motor wiring looks "original". So unless the motor was changed and it required that mfd, I think a mistake was made.
Click to expand...
Unless a universal was wire nutted in but yes could very well be wrong

Sent from my LG-H918 using Tapatalk
 
#10 ·
dkalasz said:
Unless a universal was wire nutted in but yes could very well be wrong

Sent from my LG-H918 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
"So unless the motor was changed and it required that mfd, I think a mistake was made."

That is why this statement is there.
 
Save
Like Like
#11 ·
A lot of older Carrier's used a 7.5uf for the condenser motor so i would have been more unsure of the 60uf because I don't remember seeing that rating for any of their compressors. After looking online I see a 60/5uf as being the correct cap for that unit but I wouldn't trust any online site if it wasn't Carrier's for that unit. It's been so long since I've used Carrier's HVACpartners site that I forgot my username & password to look it up. Anyways everything should be made clear tomorrow.
 
Save
Like Like
Discussion starter · #12 ·
It never occurred to me that the fan motor might have been changed. To be fair, it never occurred to me that a 3yr old heat pump (when I bought the house) would already have had some servicing done. I guess I'll know for next time if I buy another house.

I checked the unit tonight, and can see through the grill on top that the motor is clearly marked as a CAP 5.00/370V. So it appears to me that whoever serviced this unit before I bought it put in the wrong CAP.



Given that the original servicing would have been done under warranty, I suspect the installer is the one who did the servicing. I'd have to call them to be sure. Is having the fan run for the last 10 years with the wrong capacitance something that could cause premature wear of the fan? Should I call the previous contractor and ask to see service records? Would I even have a claim if the fan motor were to fail? How long is a fan motor expected to last?

@HVAC_Marc Is it worth having him change the contactor while he is here as preventative maintenance or is that something that can last several more years without failing? I can't imagine the part being expensive; I would suspect that having to make another service call will far outweigh the cost of a part. Are there other parts that I could/should ask to be be changed as part of preventative maintenance? Does anybody even do preventative maintenance on these units, or is it always post-failure repairs?

I've never called in someone to do an annual inspection on the Heat Pump. I do for the furnace because they do cleaning and replacing of the nozzle/etc, but it never occurred to me that it could be required for the heat pump. Is PM something that is typically done for HPs?

Thanks,

Eric
 
#14 ·
benze said:
@HVAC_Marc Is it worth having him change the contactor while he is here as preventative maintenance or is that something that can last several more years without failing? I can't imagine the part being expensive; I would suspect that having to make another service call will far outweigh the cost of a part. Are there other parts that I could/should ask to be be changed as part of preventative maintenance? Does anybody even do preventative maintenance on these units, or is it always post-failure repairs?
Click to expand...
As the contacts become pitted it can cause overheating and larger amp draws, which can cause capacitor problems. It's not an inherently expensive part. A good washing probably wouldnt hurt the coil.
 
#15 ·
It should be an easy matter for your HVAC tech to resolve this without our help, and I would not be concerned, since this is being corrected now.
 
1 - 15 of 15 Posts
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
About this Discussion
14 Replies
7 Participants
Last post:
timebuilder
HVAC-Talk: Heating, Air & Refrigeration Discussion
posts
5M
members
275K
Since
2000
The #1 HVACR Community
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
AOP Residential HVAC/Refrigeration(Beenthere Zone) General Discussion Tech to Tech Chat - Residential Controls Refrigeration & Ice Making