Home Page link

Air conditioner comes on for 10 seconds or so and kicks back off again, any ideas?

Home| Search | About
Login Password
Register Now! Lost Password?

Home Repair - - If it ain't broken, don't fix it. Otherwise look here. 

Page 1 of 4       1 2 3 > last >> Bookmark this page:  YahooMyWeb Yahoo!  Google Google  Windows Live Favorites Windows Live  del.icio.us del.icio.us  digg digg  Add to Netscape Netscape
Subject Author Date
Air conditioner comes on for 10 seconds or so and kicks back off again, any ideas? Mike 08-30-2007
If you were  Registered and logged in, you could reply and use other advanced thread options
Posted by Mike on August 30, 2007, 3:22 pm
Hi everyone.

I have a central air conditioning unit in my ranch-style home (full
basement also). Yesterday the AC just kicked off randomly. I checked
the thermostat and it seemed to be functioning ok (it's digital). I
went downstairs to the power switch dedicated to the central air unit
and turned it off, then back on again. The AC kicked back on, stayed
on and started blowing cool air, then kicked back off again 2 minutes
later.

I suspected there was an airflow problem of some type (filter, etc)
but that doesn't appear to be case, at least not as far as I can
tell.

Are there any other common causes for this type of behavior?

Thank you for any responses,
Mike


Posted by Eric on August 30, 2007, 3:34 pm
Check the outside unit. Is the fan turning at normal speed? Anything blocking
the airflow?

If the outside unit wasn't getting enough airflow, the high-pressure switch
could cause it to cut out.

Also could be a problem with the compressor motor, start circuit, or capacitor,
causing the thermal overload to trip.

Eric Law

> Hi everyone.
>
> I have a central air conditioning unit in my ranch-style home (full
> basement also). Yesterday the AC just kicked off randomly. I checked
> the thermostat and it seemed to be functioning ok (it's digital). I
> went downstairs to the power switch dedicated to the central air unit
> and turned it off, then back on again. The AC kicked back on, stayed
> on and started blowing cool air, then kicked back off again 2 minutes
> later.
>
> I suspected there was an airflow problem of some type (filter, etc)
> but that doesn't appear to be case, at least not as far as I can
> tell.
>
> Are there any other common causes for this type of behavior?
>
> Thank you for any responses,
> Mike
>



Posted by on August 30, 2007, 3:40 pm
wrote:

>Hi everyone.
>
>I have a central air conditioning unit in my ranch-style home (full
>basement also). Yesterday the AC just kicked off randomly. I checked
>the thermostat and it seemed to be functioning ok (it's digital). I
>went downstairs to the power switch dedicated to the central air unit
>and turned it off, then back on again. The AC kicked back on, stayed
>on and started blowing cool air, then kicked back off again 2 minutes
>later.
>
>I suspected there was an airflow problem of some type (filter, etc)
>but that doesn't appear to be case, at least not as far as I can
>tell.
>
>Are there any other common causes for this type of behavior?
>
>Thank you for any responses,
>Mike

The compressor may be drawing to much current and a bi-metallic
safety switch is shutting it down or the cooling fan for the coil is
not functioning and causing a over temp fault.

Posted by Mike on August 30, 2007, 5:49 pm
On Aug 30, 3:40 pm, t...@mucks.net wrote:
> wrote:
>
>
>
> >Hi everyone.
>
> >I have a central air conditioning unit in my ranch-style home (full
> >basement also). Yesterday the AC just kicked off randomly. I checked
> >the thermostat and it seemed to be functioning ok (it's digital). I
> >went downstairs to the power switch dedicated to the central air unit
> >and turned it off, then back on again. The AC kicked back on, stayed
> >on and started blowing cool air, then kicked back off again 2 minutes
> >later.
>
> >I suspected there was an airflow problem of some type (filter, etc)
> >but that doesn't appear to be case, at least not as far as I can
> >tell.
>
> >Are there any other common causes for this type of behavior?
>
> >Thank you for any responses,
> >Mike
>
> The compressor may be drawing to much current and a bi-metallic
> safety switch is shutting it down or the cooling fan for the coil is
> not functioning and causing a over temp fault.

I'm not really an AC expert, so the items I see to check:
1) Fan on the compressor unit outside the house
2) Ensure nothing is blocking airflow in or around the outside unit
3) Compressor drawing too much current (any way to check this, I do
have a multimeter)


Posted by Joe on August 30, 2007, 6:22 pm

>snip<

> 3) Compressor drawing too much current (any way to check this, I do
> have a multimeter)

You need an AC ammeter or the right adapter to handle 50 A more or
less on your multimeter. HTH

Joe



Page 1 of 4       1 2 3 > last >>
Similar ThreadsPosted
Air Conditioner kicks off June 5, 2006, 11:11 am
10.5 hp engine kicks-back when starting sometimes! July 25, 2008, 10:20 pm
Paint that dries in three seconds November 8, 2006, 8:17 am
Refrigerator shut itself down in a few seconds January 12, 2007, 8:49 am
HVAC - fan makes a noise when it kicks on November 22, 2005, 3:03 am
Gas smell without ignition for 10 seconds in oven December 16, 2005, 2:31 am
New ceiling fan -- worked about 10 seconds then stopped, help! June 10, 2006, 4:49 pm
Low water pressure when submersible well pump kicks on!! October 11, 2005, 6:26 pm
Hot Compressor on Kenmore Dehumidifier kicks off in 5 minutes July 1, 2006, 9:46 am
Furnace Control Unit's LCD Shuts Off when A/C kicks on April 25, 2007, 8:01 am

Contact Us | Privacy Policy

XML SitemapXML Sitemap