WE RECENTLY HOOKED-UP A CENTRAL AC UNIT FOR A CHURCH. IT REPLACED AN EXISTING UNIT. THE AMP DRAW WAS SIMILAR (35 AMPS AT 240 VOLT 1 PH). NOW A PROBLEM HAS DEVELOPED AT START UP, LIGHTS DIM. ANY SOLUTIONS?

Verify all terminations are tight. Verify the unit is drawing the rated load. Verify conductors are rated properly. Then punt.

Maybe it has nothing to do with the new A/C.
Could be a coincidence.(Did I spell that right?)
Check for voltage drop at the main.

Id put on a clamp on with a hold feature to check the LRA on start up,check all lugs and terminations at both the unit and the panel.A slight dimming for a split second seems to be normal in some small services.Locked rotor on that unit can be 210 amps and last longer if the unit starts and stops within 5 minutes beacuse of the high head pressure and the time it takes for the compressor O/L to open if it does not start. good luck explaining this to the owner.Check\replace the compressor capacitor.Caps Can test as good and still fail under load a pretty cheap part to replace as well.

[This message has been edited by frank (edited 09-27-2002).]