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AC compressor heater - can I disconnect this?

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AC compressor heater - can I disconnect this? Peabody 05-18-2008
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Posted by Peabody on May 18, 2008, 1:59 pm
I have central air, and the condenser unit outside is fairly old.
While replacing the contactor last year, I noticed there is a
compressor heater that's on all the time - it's connected to the
mains side of the contactor. I doubt the heater uses all that much
power, but I would like to save however much that is.

My understanding is that modern compressors don't use heaters, and I
just wondered if it's generally considered acceptable to disconnect
it on the old models. Actually, I'm not clear exactly what the
heater accomplishes, but if there's no danger of shortening the
remaining life of the compressor, I'd like to disconnect the heater.

What do you think?


Posted by Steve B. on May 18, 2008, 2:44 pm
On Sun, 18 May 2008 12:59:09 -0500, Peabody

>I have central air, and the condenser unit outside is fairly old.
>While replacing the contactor last year, I noticed there is a
>compressor heater that's on all the time - it's connected to the
>mains side of the contactor. I doubt the heater uses all that much
>power, but I would like to save however much that is.
>
>My understanding is that modern compressors don't use heaters, and I
> just wondered if it's generally considered acceptable to disconnect
>it on the old models. Actually, I'm not clear exactly what the
>heater accomplishes, but if there's no danger of shortening the
>remaining life of the compressor, I'd like to disconnect the heater.
>
>What do you think?

Not a good idea to disconnect it. The system was designed for use
with a heater. If you disconnect it you risk blowing out your
compressor which would be a death sentence for an old system.

Steve B.

Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on May 18, 2008, 3:46 pm


>
> My understanding is that modern compressors don't use heaters, and I
> just wondered if it's generally considered acceptable to disconnect
> it on the old models. Actually, I'm not clear exactly what the
> heater accomplishes, but if there's no danger of shortening the
> remaining life of the compressor, I'd like to disconnect the heater.
>
> What do you think?

I think the engineers that desinged the unit probably know more about it
than you and I do. I'd leave it.
>



Posted by John Grabowski on May 18, 2008, 3:51 pm

>I have central air, and the condenser unit outside is fairly old.
> While replacing the contactor last year, I noticed there is a
> compressor heater that's on all the time - it's connected to the
> mains side of the contactor. I doubt the heater uses all that much
> power, but I would like to save however much that is.
>
> My understanding is that modern compressors don't use heaters, and I
> just wondered if it's generally considered acceptable to disconnect
> it on the old models. Actually, I'm not clear exactly what the
> heater accomplishes, but if there's no danger of shortening the
> remaining life of the compressor, I'd like to disconnect the heater.
>
> What do you think?


As I understand it the heater is there to warm the compressor so that the
oil will be drawn to the moving parts. Therefore when the compressor starts
it is already coated with some lubrication so that it is not starting dry.
Removing the heat would stop the oil from coating the parts and it would not
get lubricated until the compressor is operating. Based on that I guess it
would shorten the life of your compressor if you disconnected the heater.
Try it and let us know.


Posted by Art Todesco on May 18, 2008, 5:04 pm
When I bought my Carrier in 1977, I was
told by the service guy that
you can shut the breaker off during the
winter to save the 40 or watts
used by the heater. However, you must
turn it on 24 hours before
trying to run the compressor. I used to
always turn it off, but I have
forgotten to do that for the last few
winters.

John Grabowski wrote:
>
>> I have central air, and the condenser unit outside is fairly old.
>> While replacing the contactor last year, I noticed there is a
>> compressor heater that's on all the time - it's connected to the
>> mains side of the contactor. I doubt the heater uses all that much
>> power, but I would like to save however much that is.
>>
>> My understanding is that modern compressors don't use heaters, and I
>> just wondered if it's generally considered acceptable to disconnect
>> it on the old models. Actually, I'm not clear exactly what the
>> heater accomplishes, but if there's no danger of shortening the
>> remaining life of the compressor, I'd like to disconnect the heater.
>>
>> What do you think?
>
>
> As I understand it the heater is there to warm the compressor so that
> the oil will be drawn to the moving parts. Therefore when the
> compressor starts it is already coated with some lubrication so that it
> is not starting dry. Removing the heat would stop the oil from coating
> the parts and it would not get lubricated until the compressor is
> operating. Based on that I guess it would shorten the life of your
> compressor if you disconnected the heater. Try it and let us know.

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