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Contactor buzzing on condensor unit, was $128 replacement a good idea/price?

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Contactor buzzing on condensor unit, was $128 replacement a good idea/price? jymusic 05-19-2006
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Posted by jymusic on May 19, 2006, 7:27 pm
My mom and I both live in the same complex. We likely have the same exact
model of central A/C condensor (around 19 years old). Mine says Carrier
38EN048320.

We both had a tuneup scheduled and, in addition to the regular tune-up, the
technician recommended the EXACT same extra work on both our units, which
makes use wonder if the extra work was really necessary and the price was
really reasonable.

On mine, the maintenance technician showed me that the contactor was
buzzing. The old part says "8726 Honeywell R824381247 (3) 24V 50/60ZH
HN51DC024A"

He also recommended putting in a condensate trap, which is a clear U shaped
trap in the condensate line.

I went along with it and let him do both jobs and so did my mom.

1) Was wondering if the contactor making a buzzing sound is really a
problem? I don't know much about these, but the two "circular metal
(silver?) pieces" on the old contactor do look like they have some grime or
maybe carbon on or oxidation. Does the buzzing mean the electromagnet is
struggling to pull the piece against the "metal circular (silver?) pieces"
to make a connection? Was $128 a good/fair price for replacement or too
high? I see he wrote down that he put in "a 2 pole 30a contactor"...the
original was 24a...was 30a really necessary?

2) Is the "ez flow P-trap" condensate trap is going to be of much added
benefit? Was $99 a good/fair price for installation or too high?

3) By the way, wondering if you any can tell me how many tons my unit is,
based on the model number?

Thanks,

J.



Real Goods Solar, Inc.
Posted by RBM on May 19, 2006, 7:54 pm
It's really hard for anyone out here to judge the necessity of part
replacement without seeing the part. If the contacts are not being pulled in
completely, because the contactor is worn out, it could damage the motor.
You have to have some faith in service people. I think the guy is trying to
do preventive maintenance. As far as his charge, I get $125 for a service
charge not including parts



> My mom and I both live in the same complex. We likely have the same exact
> model of central A/C condensor (around 19 years old). Mine says Carrier
> 38EN048320.
>
> We both had a tuneup scheduled and, in addition to the regular tune-up,
> the technician recommended the EXACT same extra work on both our units,
> which makes use wonder if the extra work was really necessary and the
> price was really reasonable.
>
> On mine, the maintenance technician showed me that the contactor was
> buzzing. The old part says "8726 Honeywell R824381247 (3) 24V 50/60ZH
> HN51DC024A"
>
> He also recommended putting in a condensate trap, which is a clear U
> shaped trap in the condensate line.
>
> I went along with it and let him do both jobs and so did my mom.
>
> 1) Was wondering if the contactor making a buzzing sound is really a
> problem? I don't know much about these, but the two "circular metal
> (silver?) pieces" on the old contactor do look like they have some grime
> or maybe carbon on or oxidation. Does the buzzing mean the electromagnet
> is struggling to pull the piece against the "metal circular (silver?)
> pieces" to make a connection? Was $128 a good/fair price for replacement
> or too high? I see he wrote down that he put in "a 2 pole 30a
> contactor"...the original was 24a...was 30a really necessary?
>
> 2) Is the "ez flow P-trap" condensate trap is going to be of much added
> benefit? Was $99 a good/fair price for installation or too high?
>
> 3) By the way, wondering if you any can tell me how many tons my unit is,
> based on the model number?
>
> Thanks,
>
> J.
>



Posted by on May 19, 2006, 8:11 pm
Odds are 50/50 that you actually needed a part.
A lot of residential hvac outfits demand that their employees sell so
much in parts a month.

You just never know.....both you and your mom needing the same part at
the same time...you were probably hosed....wait about three years from
now and they will do it again.


Posted by Edwin Pawlowski on May 19, 2006, 10:32 pm

> My mom and I both live in the same complex. We likely have the same exact
> model of central A/C condensor (around 19 years old). Mine says Carrier
> 38EN048320.
>
> We both had a tuneup scheduled and, in addition to the regular tune-up,
the
> technician recommended the EXACT same extra work on both our units, which
> makes use wonder if the extra work was really necessary and the price was
> really reasonable.

Hard to say for sure. At 19 years, the part may have been on the way out.
When I lived in PA, we had to have our cars inspected twice a year (now it
is only once). The shops all had a gimmick to make a few quick buck. We
had three cars in our family and in one round, they all needed a headlight
adjustment. Six months later they all needed wiper blades. Six months
later, well you get the idea. Back they we were driving some real
crapmobiles so it was cheaper to pay $2 for an adjustment rather than them
find the worn ball joints that a reputable shop would have done.



Posted by mm on May 20, 2006, 10:11 pm
wrote:

>
>> My mom and I both live in the same complex. We likely have the same exact
>> model of central A/C condensor (around 19 years old). Mine says Carrier
>> 38EN048320.
>>
>> We both had a tuneup scheduled and, in addition to the regular tune-up,
>the
>> technician recommended the EXACT same extra work on both our units, which
>> makes use wonder if the extra work was really necessary and the price was
>> really reasonable.
>
>Hard to say for sure. At 19 years, the part may have been on the way out.
>When I lived in PA, we had to have our cars inspected twice a year (now it
>is only once). The shops all had a gimmick to make a few quick buck. We
>had three cars in our family and in one round, they all needed a headlight
>adjustment. Six months later they all needed wiper blades. Six months
>later, well you get the idea. Back they we were driving some real
>crapmobiles so it was cheaper to pay $2 for an adjustment rather than them
>find the worn ball joints that a reputable shop would have done.

I was licensed in PA for a while. Twice a year was really annoying.

OTOH, Maryland has once when you buy the car and that's the end of it.

Keep the car for 20 years, never need inspect it again. (although if a
cop sees you with a light not working, after you get it fixed, you
have to go to the police to prove that you fixed it. I suppose the
other lights better work then.)

Once I bought a new used car and had it inspected. A lot of things
wrong with it, costing a lot of money. I went to another place and
they found quite a few things wrong with it too, but none of the same
things. I thought the second guy's list was more important and more
likely to be accurate, so what I could do, I did, and the rest he did.


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