Trane heat pump with a bad sump heater

Posted by on July 11, 2009, 10:52 pm

wrote:

>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.

Thus the need for a monkey. A very small one. That's handy
with tools.

One place I worked, we used to keep a really really small guy
on staff for such things. We would hang him by his feet and lower him
into the unit. Then one day he slipped, and we couldn't get him out.
So we put the cover back on and left.

>I hope the smiley face that went with the "Take the compressor out" meant
>what I think it means.

Depends how much you like taking compressors out :-)

>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 :-(
>> --
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>> 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.'
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--
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

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

> wrote:
> One place I worked, we used to keep a really really small guy
> on staff for such things. We would hang him by his feet and lower him
> into the unit. Then one day he slipped, and we couldn't get him out.
> So we put the cover back on and left.

>>I hope the smiley face that went with the "Take the compressor out" meant
>>what I think it means.

> Depends how much you like taking compressors out :-)

Considering I know absolutely nothing about the compressor side of an
airconditioner I think I'll try it the hard way first. What I'm wondering
is if the unit would work without the sump heater. Reading a article from
Trane, they state this about the sump heater:

"This device is designed to warm the compressor crankcase or sump, in order
to prevent or deter refrigerant migration during the compressor off cycle.
Compressor crankcase heaters are required for low ambient cooling
operation."

I live in Tampa Florida and right now the ambient temp is anything but low.
Barely makes it into the upper 70's by morning with highs around 90+. Might
it work without the sump heater?

Posted by Lp1331 1p1331 on July 12, 2009, 12:13 am

Jerry, the unit will work fine for now with the heater disconnected. I'd
replace it before winter though. On most of the XL Tranes, there are
four clips that hold the top cover on. You push the cover down slightly
and pull the bottom edge out slightly at the ame time. If you have
someone to help you, it makes it a lot easier. Otherwise, you will get
one side loose and then when you try to do the other side, the first
side locks back into place. Larry

Posted by Jerry on July 12, 2009, 12:36 am

Thanks Larry, I may just try and take a look at the compressor with the top
off and see what I'm in for with replacing the sump heater. It's a bitch
working outside on that unit when It's 90 and the sun is beating down on
you. A job that would be easier if left for November.

> Jerry, the unit will work fine for now with the heater disconnected. I'd
> replace it before winter though. On most of the XL Tranes, there are
> four clips that hold the top cover on. You push the cover down slightly
> and pull the bottom edge out slightly at the ame time. If you have
> someone to help you, it makes it a lot easier. Otherwise, you will get
> one side loose and then when you try to do the other side, the first
> side locks back into place. Larry
>

Posted by Stormin Mormon on July 14, 2009, 8:50 am

I do remember one time Turtle asked me, and I explained it
to him. He already knew, he was curious if I knew.

--
Christopher A. Young
Learn more about Jesus
www.lds.org
.

> Remind me where that circuit completes itself if L1 is
> open ?
> The current flows WHERE ?
> To L1 ? - nope, it's open
> To ground through the varnish on the windings ? Better
> hope
> not !
> So how does any current flow anywhere, to produce any heat
> ?

Seems that a couple of years ago, you were the one who
explained on here how
it worked.

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Trane heat pump with a bad sump heater - Page 2