Trane heat pump with a bad sump heater

Posted by Jerry on July 11, 2009, 9:14 pm

I have a Trane XL1400 3 ton heatpump. The breaker for the outdoor unit
instantly trips and this is with the air conditioning thermostat set to off,
so my problem lies on the line side of the contactor, L1 and L2. I have the
wiring schematics for my unit and I discovered that if I detach the wire
going from either L1 or L2 to the sump heater that the breaker will no
longer trip. What I need to know is if the sump heater is something that is
separate from the compressor and can be replaced without disturbing the it.
I'm fairly knowledgeable about electronics and electrical wiring but know
absolutely nothing about the freon side of an air conditioner.
Thanks.

Posted by Lp1331 1p1331 on July 11, 2009, 9:33 pm

The sump heater can be replaced. If it is a scroll compressor, it is a
band type around the outside of the compressor near the bottom of it. If
it is a recip, it is in a well on the underside of the compressor.
Failures of the sump heaters are not that uncommon, and are usually a
fairly simple repair, though the ones on the recips can be a bitch to
get to. It would be a good idea to replace the thermostat that controls
the sump heater at the same time. Larry

Posted by Jerry on July 11, 2009, 10:13 pm

Larry, thanks for the info. Can you tell me how in the world I can get
access to the compressor and sump heater. This Trane XL1400 looks like a
large box, seems to be surrounded on slightly over 3 sides with the aluminum
coils. 2 side panels come off, one revealing all the electrical connections
and controls along with the transfer valve. The opposite side comes off
also but behind it was just more cooling fins. It almost looks like you
have to go in through the top but for the life of me I can't figure out how
to take the large cover off the top of the unit.
Thanks again.

> The sump heater can be replaced. If it is a scroll compressor, it is a
> band type around the outside of the compressor near the bottom of it. If
> it is a recip, it is in a well on the underside of the compressor.
> Failures of the sump heaters are not that uncommon, and are usually a
> fairly simple repair, though the ones on the recips can be a bitch to
> get to. It would be a good idea to replace the thermostat that controls
> the sump heater at the same time. Larry
>

Posted by on July 11, 2009, 10:31 pm

wrote:

>Larry, thanks for the info. Can you tell me how in the world I can get
>access to the compressor and sump heater.

Take the compressor out. The heater will come with it :-)

> This Trane XL1400 looks like a
>large box, seems to be surrounded on slightly over 3 sides with the aluminum
>coils. 2 side panels come off, one revealing all the electrical connections
>and controls along with the transfer valve. The opposite side comes off
>also but behind it was just more cooling fins. It almost looks like you
>have to go in through the top but for the life of me I can't figure out how
>to take the large cover off the top of the unit.

Look for the 5/16th screws around the perimeter.

Then you'll see that you need a small well-trained monkey to
get at the heater from there :-(

--
Click here every day to feed an animal that needs you today !!!
www.theanimalrescuesite.com/

Paul ( pjm @ pobox . com ) - remove spaces to email me
'Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.'
'With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.'
HVAC/R program for Palm PDA's
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Posted by Jerry on July 11, 2009, 10:43 pm

Paul, thanks, I will look for the screws. I suspect that I might be able to
get to the heater after taking the fan off the top. Looks like I might need
some sky hooks to suspend myself upside-down while I try and reach the
bottom of the compressor.
I hope the smiley face that went with the "Take the compressor out" meant
what I think it means.
Thanks again.

> wrote:

>>Larry, thanks for the info. Can you tell me how in the world I can get
>>access to the compressor and sump heater.

> Take the compressor out. The heater will come with it :-)

>> This Trane XL1400 looks like a
>>large box, seems to be surrounded on slightly over 3 sides with the
>>aluminum
>>coils. 2 side panels come off, one revealing all the electrical
>>connections
>>and controls along with the transfer valve. The opposite side comes off
>>also but behind it was just more cooling fins. It almost looks like you
>>have to go in through the top but for the life of me I can't figure out
>>how
>>to take the large cover off the top of the unit.

> Look for the 5/16th screws around the perimeter.
> Then you'll see that you need a small well-trained monkey to
> get at the heater from there :-(
> --
> Click here every day to feed an animal that needs you today !!!
> www.theanimalrescuesite.com/
> Paul ( pjm @ pobox . com ) - remove spaces to email me
> 'Some days, it's just not worth chewing through the restraints.'
> 'With sufficient thrust, pigs fly just fine.'
> HVAC/R program for Palm PDA's
> Free demo online at www.pmilligan.net/palm/
> Free 'People finder' program now at www.pmilligan.net/finder.htm

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