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#124212 09/04/06 08:14 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,294
Member
From Rewired

Quote
This happened the other night while sitting on the couch at the girlfriends place... A loud buzzing sound started eminating from the A/C, ( loud enough the tenants below us heard it) and this was followed by a burning smell. Pulled the plug out of the wall and FINALLY got around to bringing it home and taking it apart today...

Figured "why not" and plugged it in just to see what the problem was exactly , with camera in hand of course, and this is what I found:

Adam

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]

#124213 09/04/06 08:20 AM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 4,391
I
Moderator
Nothing wrong here, that is just supplemental heating. [Linked Image]


Great picture Adam thanks for sending it. [Linked Image]

I assume you had your PPE on? [Linked Image]


Bob Badger
Construction & Maintenance Electrician
Massachusetts
#124214 09/04/06 09:55 AM
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 745
M
Member
That's a great picture! Thanks for sharing it. Investigating something like this in a somewhat safer, more controlled environment can be fun, especially when you can power up from a distance. How much time had elapsed from when you turned it on until that cap blew?

Looks like a really old A/C.

Mike (mamills)

#124215 09/04/06 10:18 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 169
S
Member
Glad you were there when this was happenning. Could have been much worse than just replaceing a ac unit. Very interesting picture. Thanks for posting it,
Steve

#124216 09/04/06 12:07 PM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 558
R
Member
I thought you would all like that picture!

Mike: Originally when it failed it was running for the entire day.. I unplugged it seconds after it started shorting out.. In those pictures though it started to arc as soon as I turned the unit on and probably went for 15-20 seconds before fizzling out, and would do no more than emit smoke whenever the compressor O/L reset itself.
It is older too I am assuming its about 15-20 years old (Kenmore) but still works not bad when its not spewing smoke and fire [Linked Image]

Steve:
Yes it could have been a lot worse but we were lucky there... Didn't have to replace the unit though... Had spare caps of the correct rating lying around. The old heap runs again! [Linked Image]

A.D

#124217 09/04/06 06:03 PM
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 69
W
Member
I uh ya (speechless)


Thanks.
#124218 09/04/06 11:46 PM
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 943
Likes: 2
N
Member
It have that Canadian favorite, (FPE) AKA Federal-Pioneer "protecting" it?

#124219 09/05/06 01:37 AM
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 869
Likes: 4
R
Member
Superb shots of that burning capacitor !

Many thanks for sharing it with us.


The product of rotation, excitation and flux produces electricty.
#124220 09/05/06 04:29 AM
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 272
L
Member
Hmm I wonder if that "ol' heap" will resurface again here on ECN??? Maybe not a question of if, but when. Cool pic, btw.


Luke Clarke
Electrical Planner for TVA.

#124221 09/06/06 12:48 AM
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 144
N
Member
I'm glad you reapaired it instead of just throwing it out and getting a new one. Resourcefulness is good. Great pics, BTW

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