Has this ever happened to you? If so, was it the capacitor or something else?

@tgriebe

22 күн бұрын

Fan wouldn't run. It was the capacitor. A way to test is to hand spin the fan and see if it runs then.

@ryanslats6764

22 күн бұрын

How much did he try to charge for Capacitor installation . How much should you expect to pay for Capacitor installation?

@SBinVancouver

22 күн бұрын

It wasn't the $500 scam, only $350. I had a pretty good idea what the caps cost. Disputed part of the CC charge, allowing for 100% uplift on the cap and cold start kit and labor. They capitulated. I read them the riot act when they wanted me to renew a service contract with them. I've purchased a backup for the start cap and I'll swap it out when the inevitable happens.

@amiatroll6347

22 күн бұрын

Why on earth would you accept the service if you were going to dispute the charge?

@SBinVancouver

22 күн бұрын

@@amiatroll6347 I didn't have any idea what they'd charge me, until they gave me the bill. At that point, the Technician is like "I don't set the prices".

Had a guy come out last year and he said the microfarads were at like 50%. He didn't lie. I tested it and it was at like 50%. But they wanted $430!!! to replace it. Called another place up they wanted $410! WTF. The part was $20 and took me 15 minutes to swap out. First time doing it ever too.

@stephen-ng

21 күн бұрын

Sites like KZread, TikTok, and the internet are great for learning. The internet isn't all porn, gambling, and black market deals.

@lvsluggo007

21 күн бұрын

Yup... I got screwed like that a couple of years ago. A well-known HVAC company here in Las Vegas advertised a $39 AC checkup. I'd normally have the company that installed my ac do the annual, but they were swamped and I needed to have the system checked immediately as I was going out of town. The guy from this other company comes out, goes up on the roof, comes down about 15 min later with one of those capacitors in his hand. He tells me its bad, amd it will cost $500 to replace. I snapped a picture of the info tag on the capacitor for future use. Since I needed my ac working normally, I grudgingly told him to go ahead. While he was replacing it, I did a google search for the capacitor part #. I found it from various sources, starting at TWENTY FIVE DOLLARS.. When the guy came down I confronted him about it, and he basically said "thats the price, take it or leave it".. I wrote a nastygram to the company and said they'd lost a customer (yeah I know, they don't care).. I'm in Las Vegas, so ac here is absolutely crucial for about 1/2 of the year. The vast majority of ac here are on the roof rather than on the ground. I'm 74 years old and there is NO way I could go up a ladder to the roof to swap out that capacitor, even though I'd do if my ac was on the ground.

@dannydaw59

20 күн бұрын

Can you buy the capacitors at a home improvement store?

@CynthiaWord-iq7in

19 күн бұрын

Oh yeah. I'm 72, not tech-y, afraid of electricity...turned off whole house breaker, ha, took off panel. The round bottle was held in a clamp with 3 pole /terminal? With matching color wires, snapped a photo, scrolled through Amazon, they had every size 35, 40,50, identical label . Un-hooked them all rusty. Used no meters. Re-hooked new single capacitator $11, put panel cover back on, turned on house electric, turned a/c to auto, fan started blowing. No loss if it weren't the capacitator--2 jobs I can do on a/c, clean coils, change capacitator.s@@dannydaw59

@mark98115

19 күн бұрын

@dannydaw59, probably not. I ordered mine from the internet. It was just under $10. I have a rental houses in Vegas and was taken for over $400 a couple of years ago. This year, another company with whom I have an maintenance contact, told me I soon will be needing a "compressor start assist" something or other. I asked him "do you mean capacitor?". He emailed an estimate for about $340. These people are crooks. At my house it took me 30 minutes from start to finish to replace 2 capacitors and that included additional testing and going in and out of the house to turn on/off circuit breaker an, thermostat multiple times.

As Handyman for a 24 unit building a tenant told me her HVAC Contractor son told her that a $300 part needed replacing in her unit's A/C and that's why it wasn't working. I went up on the roof with him and noticed that a double-contact switch was bent so only one contact would make contact. I straightened it out and never had another problem with that unit. I realized later that the son had done that because he was out of work and his mommy was helping him out. What I'm about to say doesn't apply to all Contractors but when one of my brothers got his General Contracting License he said to me that basically it was a license to steal. Many Contractors have this attitude. I dealt with 16 Contractors on one job for a couple years and I was disgusted with how little any of them could be trusted to tell the truth or to do their work correctly without oversight.

More: in addition to taking photos of the old cap wiring, write down which wire goes to what terminal... they might be laid out differently on the new cap. Be sure the connectors fit snug... and write the install date on the new cap with a Sharpie.

@Mach141

21 күн бұрын

You could simply include this information in your photo

@stevenhunt66

15 күн бұрын

@@Mach141 The point is, you are helping the next person who might be servicing this unit with the info written down on the capacitor. They won't have access to any pictures and even the person who took the pic can lose access to the picture by it being accidentally deleted, or phone lost, etc. Writing it down bypasses all those issues and helps whoever is servicing the unit next.

@KY4K-10

14 күн бұрын

That is correct..... help the next guy out.

@jbc1042

13 күн бұрын

Thanks for your information, it was very helpful! ❤

@Mach141

12 күн бұрын

@@stevenhunt66 Are you for real? When it was installed last is worthless information, it works or it doesnt. If its under warranty then the same company that installed it will be called to fix it, and they have records of when it was last installed. And the wires are already connected before you remove it, so you take a picture EACH time before removal. No old pictures needed. Lmao. Hope that wasnt too mind blowing for you.

As an AC tech I hate to admit that there's a LOT of technicians out there that will try to sell you parts just to make money. Personally, I hate how much most companies upcharge on parts. I get that what you're technically paying for isn't the parts but our knowledge as technicians. Companies usually get a discount at supply houses, so say they pay about 5 - 10 bucks for a capacitor. They then turn around and sell it to the customer for $300 - $500. I worked for one company that sold capacitors for as much as $575. As a homeowner, the more you can learn how to check and fix yourself, the better. Having a shop vac and knowing how to test a capacitor will save you from just about 90% of service calls in the state of Florida.

@iratedu2776

17 күн бұрын

As an ac tech you should know this video doesn't show anyone how to check a capacitor properly... you test capacitors under load not while the unit is off.

@christianlandry4499

16 күн бұрын

@iratedu2776 If that's what you honestly believe then I hope to whatever greater power you might believe in that you don't do this for a living, or that you somehow have capacitor and contactor confused.

@TobyD43

15 күн бұрын

Checking a capacitor under load is only one method and is not more accurate than doing it as the video shows. It’s a fact, look it up.

@jbc1042

13 күн бұрын

Thank you for your post. It was very helpful. ❤

@japhethwillmore725

8 күн бұрын

@@christianlandry4499in what? You absolutely check a capacitor under load using amps, volts and math.

Since I am familiar with the basics, capacitor start electric motors I replaced mine on the unit outdoors for $2.50. I had another capacitor fail later on with the blower motor that operates the squirrel-cage. It was winter and we needed the blower to work as I could not buy the capacitor right away. So what I did was take a screw driver and spun the squirrel-cage just enough so it would rev up to operating speed. It only took a gentle push. I then switched the thermostat control to fan so it would continuously run and not stop until I bought the capacitor and fixed it. Of course after it was fixed I switched the fan back to auto.

As an electrician, I ALWAYS test my tester on a live circuit before testing the equipment. And OL doesn't mean, "open line". It often does mean, "over limit", though.

@BlondieSL

7 күн бұрын

Jay, I beg to differ. I'm sure it means, OHHH LORDDD! ROFL I know that I've said that on occasion! ROFL just kidding ✨👍😁👍✨

AC Contractor here: This is going to be a fair and honest but lengthy response to your video. As a start, this video is focused to homeowners. As a huge warning for any homeowner, if you aren't 100% fully aware of what you are doing, DO NOT ATTEMPT!! Pros: First pulling the disconnect and leaving it on top of the box, good practice. I do like how you explained how to check for live voltage and short a capacitor after power is off. Testing the capacitor is correct with no load but the true way to test it is with a load on it. I have personally tested capacitors that test fine without a load and then test far below its tolerance under a load. I can't, in good conscience, recommend this for anyone other than a professional that has been trained on how to do that, as it is very dangerous if you don't know what your are doing, so I won't explain how. Taking pictures before any wire is removed is an excellent practice and I teach that to my guys on everything we do. Its good record keeping and is a good backup for out of the ordinary wiring. Cons: When taking off the band for the contactor you have to be very careful to not touch the side wires of the contactor while you are touching any other metal. In your case those connectors had plastic covers on them which saved you from shorting out the low voltage side. Plastic covers on those connectors are much less common than just a open metal connector which most people have. If the homeowners shorts out the low voltage and doesn't know how to trace that down and replace the fuse if that's all that popped, then its a service call. If they blow something, its another repair. Also, in my experience most people don't have meters so that would be a tool they would have to buy to start this repair. Notes: 1. If I found out that my tech tested a capacitor like that and showed you that, they would be fired on the spot. We train how to test properly and don't believe in just selling parts to make a buck. There are bad companies out there, but there are good honest ones too. If you don't have a good feeling about the explanation or the vibe you are getting from the tech, its ok to call another company to go out. Trust me, if you feel like you're getting scammed it's 100% worth it to spend another dispatch fee to have another company confirm it or suggest the right repair. 2. USA made capacitors are much better quality capacitors and usually come with a 5 year warranty. They do cost more but your get what you pay for. 3. The price for a repair may seem high when you just look at the cost of the part. But what almost everyone doesn't look at is the cost for company to have a qualified tech out there to repair the capacitor correctly without causing injury to the homeowner trying to do it themselves or break something else that is much more expensive by not wiring the capacitor correctly. *One caveat is there is a price that is too high and anything over $300 for this repair is too high. Below that will vary from company to company. 4. Also why a qualified tech is also important is sometimes, although thankfully uncommon, a previous repair person will put the wrong capacitor on as a temporary fix or not wire it right all. So I can speak for my company, every time we double check the specs of the unit to make sure we put on the correct capacitor and don't just trust what's currently on there. 5. The cap on your unit looked new and is different than the dead one you tested that looked older with a rusty fan terminal (which is also the same one in your hand at the beginning of your video). You can also tell the difference by which the old one had a sticker below the label and the label was slightly different from the new one. Its a little suspicious personally, and in just my opinion, I think what could have happened is you could have had a tech go out find that dead capacitor, replace it with a new one, and you didn't like the price and made a story and a video about it. I could be wrong but that's opinion. Anyway. There's some good things and some things that will cause a service call in this video. This is why I said at the start, if your aren't 100% sure you know what you're doing, leave it to the pros.

@MaverickFischer

Күн бұрын

He made it look easy, but I wouldn't attempt this myself. Thank you for bringing good sense to this video!

so YEARs ago - maybe 30 - I had this cap go out on my AC .... I couldn't get an AC tech out right away a friend of mine said he had a guy who just fixed the heat pump on his POOL - and he likely could look at my AC ... SUPER nice guy ... he brought me out there WITH HIM and showed me the cap bulging ... and how to replace them. Charged me 100 bux plus HIS price on the cap ... since then for each house I have had I research the right size cap needed and keep one on hand. Plus I add hard start kits. AND ... I have had to use this TWICE! Within 15 min I was back up and runniing.

I use youtube a lot it has saved me a lot of money, it's videos like this that have worked for me. I've found out you need to watch several different ones just to be safe. You do excellent videos. Thanks

back in the day it was common knowledge that an a/c condenser fan not turning was a sure sign of a bad capacitor . an easy way to check is to take a long thin screwdriver and manually spin the fan in the proper direction and if it runs as always your capacitor is the issue and a easy fix , you can now leave a/c unit on and cool down house but if you shut unit down that condenser fan won't restart without going through the process as noted before. do not remove fan grate so your protected when doing this test . been doing it for years for neighbors with central ,window and refrigerators .saving them from being taken for a ride on a simple service call,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

@user-ty2uz4gb7v

14 күн бұрын

The hero we need 🫡

@user-fh4qb9fs9e

5 күн бұрын

Digital multimeters are the cats meow compared to what I 1st calibrated as an Air Force 324X0 starting in 1969. But "God" tools they are not. The Klein MM400 is spec's at 3% +5 counts in the range of 400 nf (nanofarads) to 40 uf (microfarads). The total capacitance range is 40 nf to 200 uf so the accuracy at 70 uf is...unspecified. What this means to the user is that a capacitor spec's at 6% can show out of spec's when it's good and in spec's when it's in fact out. PMEL guys are anal about test equipment spec's cause...

I had a tech tell me mine was bad, then showed me the reading on his scanner. I tested the capacitor after I removed it getting the same results. I watched your other video on checking capacitor, just replaced one. I put in the Titan HD brand made in the USA. Thanks for your time/knowledge.

I stopped here to say make sure the spade terminals are clean and tight because if not, the terminals will burn up and the compressor or fan will fail to start and run. Also, keep a spare capacitor of the correct values on hand, they typically fail between 3~5 years, better capacitors last longer but failure is pretty common.

Interesting video, thank you. When removing screws, I sometimes stick them to a small magnet that I stick to a metal part nearby. When removing screws that won't be reassembled right away, I like to put the screws back into their holes and tighten them enough so they don't wander away, even though this takes a bit of extra time. For the electrical measurements shown: 1) I like to measure large capacitors with a voltmeter in addition to discharging them, because sometimes the voltage creeps back up after discharging, and sometimes a seemingly conductive metal surface isn't actually very conductive, due to the use of certain plating methods, or just due to oxidation or surface contamination; 2) When making measurements with a meter, I usually make at least two measurements, one with the leads reversed - if the measurements don't match, this is a clue that an assumption being made isn't valid (as far as why two measurements wouldn't match, the devil is in the details, but it's a strong hint to stop until you figure it out); 3) The measurement method used in many handheld multimeters to measure capacitance is a bit of a kludge, to take advantage of the existing meter circuitry, which allows the feature of measuring capacitance to be added with minimal additional cost to the meter manufacturer. Because of this, the potential meter error of the capacitance measurement can be unexpectedly large, and needs to be added into the capacitor tolerance when determining whether the capacitor is withing tolerance. Also, because of the measurement method used, reversing the leads and remeasuring is particularly important.

Is this kind of an UPDATE VIDEO from the last one, which also discussed the capacitor and not getting scammed. Very helpful video as it saved me a couple hundred when we moved in and had our AC checked. I've used your videos to help me install quite a few things in my home - thank you.

I charge $180 for the first half hour $90 each additional half hour plus parts with a mark up of actual price of part plus 8.625 % for stocking hundreds of different capacitors on my truck plus sales tax. Don’t care if it’s a boat-ac-refrigeration unit-ice machine if you’re rich or poor. That’s what I charge to feed my family.

@otm646

13 сағат бұрын

You're a liar or you're a poor HVAC businessman. The Turbo 200 was designed specifically, so you don't need to carry multiple capacitors on the truck.

Following my annual 'inspection' my service tech tried to sell me a new cap and relay for my AC. Said the relay was making a noise and that usually means the capacitor is failing. Said I could replace both for $450. Such a deal. Since my ac was running fine I declined. After he left I turned it back on and listened for the 'noise'. Sounded normal to me. Now that I've seen this video I'm confident I can fix this myself if it ever fails.

Perfect! Thanks so much. My fan stopped spinning, so I cleaned the fins, I replaced the flux capacitor, works great! Best $20 I ever spent. Saved hundreds! Thank you so much!

Before it got hot, I checked my ac capacitor and it was right on the edge of tolerance. Replaced it with a "MADE IN USA" cap and all is good!

Great vid, thanks. I knew most of that already but it’s nice to go over it again just to refresh my memory. I think most HVAC technicians know how to test a capacitor, but with the shortage of workers these days, anything goes. 👍👍

I just called for a company for a HVAC checkup. Technician was here for 15 minutes. He comes in and tells me my capacitor is going bad and will destroy the fan motor unless I replace it. Cost me $550 parts and labor. Wish I had seen your video a week earlier. I hate being ripped off!

A number of years ago our A/C wouldn't work and just made a loud buzzing sound. Of course it was hot outside and we needed it fixed ASAP. Most local supply houses wouldn't sell to a DIYer, but my local Grainger store had what I needed and didn't have a problem with me buying it. I replaced the capacitor and we were back in cool business! I ordered a spare from Amazon and have it standing by if there's a next time.

Good video. One tip I'd add is to get your HVAC model number and go to a site like RepairClinc and buy a Capacitor and Fan Motor to have when needed. It'll save you money when they go out and the repair tech want to charge you outrageous amounts for generic parts instead OEM parts for less $$ (OEM Capacitor $20-25, vs $80-90, OEM Fan Motor $200-250 vs $450-600). Capacitors are easy to change, but getting the fan off of the motor can be a pain. Some companies won't use your parts (they want your $$), but better ones will and maybe have you notate that they used your parts.

I've done a couple of these at my last house a long while back. Then a couple years ago it needed to be done here but I didn't test it. The AC crook charged me $500 for a new capacitor but most of that was due to the fact that he was the only AC repairman in town and he was well aware of it. It used to be that I had to go to the supply house a ways away to get a replacement but now they seem to sell them at HD and AMZ of course. Thanks, I saved this vid for the next time.

Thank you. Another great video and I too fell for the A/C scam but it cost me $600 for a $45 part.

Not sure why my phone sent me a notification of this video but I'm happy to have discovered your channel over the matter lol subscribing.

This is so helpful....great video! My wife and I just purchased a new house, so im bookmarking your video for obvious reasons.

@HowToHomeDIY

21 күн бұрын

That's is awesome! Congrats to you both on the new home! Really glad to hear you liked. Thanks a ton for the feedback Greg! Enjoy getting settled in.

Good video and explanations. One addition would have been to also show/explain how to test the capacitor with the Ohm setting on the multimeter since everyone does not have a multimeter that reads MFD's.

Great lessons! Thanks for sharing w/ us!

@HowToHomeDIY

21 күн бұрын

You are very welcome! Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback!

Thank you for supporting our AmRad products!

Very informative. Thanks bro! 👊🏼

@HowToHomeDIY

22 күн бұрын

Appreciate it bro!

Yes, the service tech told my ex-wife that it needed to be replaced and quoted $500. I went to Grainger got the replacement for less than $15, needless to say I started using another company for our tune-ups.

Learned a great deal from watching your videos. Thank you. Question…What are some of the symptoms of a cooling system that would indicate a faulty capacitor?

Thanks for the video. This may be obvious to most, but let me point out to beginners that you have to correctly select AC or DC on the multimeter. Most will not warn of dangerous AC voltages in DC mode, and vice-versa.

Excellent tutorial. Thanks for sharing.

@HowToHomeDIY

21 күн бұрын

You are very welcome! Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback!

A capacitor is essentially 2 large-surface plates that are close together but don't touch. Trying to measure its DC continuity (resistance) is useless since the plates don't touch. In fact, if you do get DC continuity, it's bad. The plates are touching. In practice there is a thin insulator (dielectric) between the plates that keeps them from touching, and the plates themselves are made of metal foil. Everything is rolled up into a jelly-roll shaped cylinder in that metal can. The way to test a capacitor is with a capacitance meter or a multi-meter with a capacitance measuring range, as the tester sends an alternating, (+/-/+/-) voltage between the plates and measures the interaction.

This will save people money as long as they know what they're doing, which this video shows you how to do it. You're a gentleman.

@Bryan-Hensley

22 күн бұрын

Yeah, the meter costs more than a service call.

@HowToHomeDIY

21 күн бұрын

@Bryan-Hensley you’re being an HVAC guy and saying things that can be true but don’t usually play out that that way. The meter I used in the video is $80-90. Service calls alone are either that much or more. That’s just for the service call. But then if you replace it, it’s much more money. And for that $80-90 I have an asset for the future when I need to check it for this or any other electrical projects. Where when I call someone out I’m basically just burning that money and hoping I got an honest AC tech. Because I had this meter and know how to use it, I saved myself from having my capacitor changed unnecessarily.

@HowToHomeDIY

21 күн бұрын

@johnleo2668 really glad to hear you liked it! Thanks a lot for the feedback John!

@anthonymiller4451

5 күн бұрын

​@Bryan-Hensley lol what? That might be true if you get a nice fluke, but besides that... where you get your meters? I'll sell you some used( and tested within the last year) ones for... cheap?, apparently lol?. Fluke, Klein, ideal , commercial electric. W.e. you'd like lol Edit. Shit I'll sell some new ones too lol.

Some AC units also have a run cap too, so do not get those mixed up between the Start CAP and the run CAP.

I fixed one years ago by checking uf and determining the part was bad, replaced with new USA Cap and all worked fine! Cap was about $35.

@HowToHomeDIY

21 күн бұрын

Yup. Easy Peasy! Glad you were able to get it back up and running! Thanks for the feedback!

Great info... Most all of the time you your compressor will not kick on is because of that Capacitor. I bought 2 off Amazon cheap just to keep around the house for when mine goes out. My local A/C Repair charged my Dad $1200 for is very cheap part that takes 5min to install. I'd go outside & get the number's off your's & buy 1 or 2 off Amazon. My local HVAC place sells these for $300 + , Amazon > less than $20!!

In some rare instances, the cap can check good just sitting there, but not work properly in use. I wouldn't recommend someone unfamiliar with electrical work try it, but you can measure the amperage with wrap around ammeter and then check the voltage from the common to HERM. MFD = amps x 2652/voltage. I would do this if the capacitor checks good on the bench, but fan or condenser still behaves as if capacitor is bad. There are some good KZread videos that show you how.

@HowToHomeDIY

11 күн бұрын

@mr.fiero87 😂 yes it is.

@HowToHomeDIY

11 күн бұрын

Completely unnecessary. The MFD levels are based on it NOT being under load. It should also be tested that way.

@mr.fiero87

11 күн бұрын

Eww dude , I was a frequent watcher of your content .I criticize you and you act like a child . Unsubscribed.ill like this one too ,lol

@HowToHomeDIY

11 күн бұрын

Yeah you’re right it was kinda petty. Like away!

@archieosco3176

5 күн бұрын

@@HowToHomeDIY I was referring to a defective capacitor that shorts out under full voltage vs. the relatively low voltage a multimeter supplies to measure capacitance. Again, I would only check it under load if it measured good, but the fan or condenser unit would not run, but was getting power.

Good job explaining that😂 I have a carrier two and a half ton unit

Great video and information, thanks!

I’ve replaced 3 of my units capacitors over the years total cost around 45.00 and I always kept a spare on hand, the same with the contactor

Replaced mine last year after 23 years of use. Wasn't expensive. I was told that if I do a better job of keeping the cooling vanes clean (shop vac the system) the cap won't be as stressed and should last longer.

Also it is very important to make sure the wire connectors are not loose when reattached them!!!

You are very patient. I would have called that tech’s boss to ask why they sent a boy who doesn’t know how to test a capacitor and ask if their techs are that clueless or is it by designed. If anyone working with electricity in your home doesn’t know what they’re doing, have them pack their crap and kick them out of your property immediately.

@HowToHomeDIY

21 күн бұрын

Yeah I couldn't believe it. Especially as we were talking and he said he was a 15 year tech. I personally think it was done on purpose due to that but can't know for sure.

I was quoted $450 labor plus part to replace the capacitor. I replaced it myself for $25; turns out the one I replaced was just fine - the unit had tripped a circuit breaker.

Excellent Job and content!!

@HowToHomeDIY

21 күн бұрын

Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback!

Eh a couple of springs ago (the season) our central A/C unit wouldn't spin up when demanded on, the mechanic is my was wondering what was wrong so I grabbed a long screwdriver and gave the fan blades a flick and wouldn't you know it, the fan would spin but not compressor action. I surmised it may be a motor starting capacitor issue and pulled off the panel and found it, sure enough it was a three leg unit. Yanked it out and took it down to the local supply store to get a new one, less than $20 CAD later I had a new one. Got it home and installed it and supplied the power back to the system and the A/C fired right up as expected. For less than $20 I had my system running again, saved a service call and the markup.

You can test for capacitance while it is still in the circuit and running if you just want to see if it’s close to the Microfarad printed on the capacitor. Read the voltage across common and herm and also read the current going through the wire labeled herm. Take these two values and plug them into the formula. C= 2652* I/V. That’s the current (I) multiplied by 2652 all divided by the voltage (V) will give you the capacitance in microfarad. Of course you can do the same thing for the run capacitor for the fan motor.

@mvm932

21 күн бұрын

If a DIY person knows how to measure current, they typically will have a meter that reads capacitance.

@billl3936

19 күн бұрын

@@mvm932 For a DIY person a clamp meter makes more sense than a multimeter. In about a tenth of the time it takes you to remove all the leads off of the capacitor, making sure you can remember how to put them back, you could’ve taken two measurements and determined whether the capacitor was still within specifications. If the DIY person is not comfortable working on the unit with the power on then they should probably do it as the video demonstrates. It does seem a waste to buy a meter that is multifunctional and only use it for reading capacitance. Whatever you do, take your time and be safe!

I keep a backup CAP on hand. Helps if it goes bad after normal business hours or on weekends I can replace it myself.

@BlondieSL

7 күн бұрын

THAT is an excellent idea!!!

How To Home, I loved this video so much, I had to hit the like button!

@HowToHomeDIY

22 күн бұрын

Wow! I am really glad to hear you liked it so much. Thanks a ton for the like and the feedback. I really appreciate it!

You are right in what you are saying, I owned my on motor shop and have tested many capacitor s that people have brought in because of videos like this, some bad some good, I had a capacitor tester which is simpler, that being said you are trying to tell people to diagnose their on ac which is not good if you have no ideal what your doing.

I didn't give any HVAC professional a chance to try to scam me a few weeks ago when my condenser fan wouldn't come on. Watched a few videos on KZread and then checked the capacitor. Mine was obviously failed since the top was building badly. Got a new one, hooked it up, and it's working again. I did find out that my multimeter doesn't have the right mode to test the capacitor though. 🙁

@stevencole7331

22 күн бұрын

Most of the basic multimeters don't do farads

@General-Eclectic

20 күн бұрын

That Klein meter he's using is pretty nice. Not Fluke level, but much better than the junk you'd buy on Amazon.

@Matthew.Morycinski

20 күн бұрын

Most caps fail either open or short. You could just use a continuity tester. If it beeps continuously, it's short. If it never beeps, it's open. If it beeps for a time then stops, it's OK (the higher the capacitance the longer the beep - you could see how long on a known good replacement.)

Ive got to tell you, I didnt search for your video. Ive changed many caps, blower and condenser motors, contactors- i know this stuff but i watched the entire video because of your gift of being able to clearly and thoroughly discuss this subject matter. It was extremely well done. Im jealous my videos arent this good. Subbed just because!

Just as a matter of good habit, when testing any electrical component, you shouldn't be touching any of the other terminals. This is obviously more important during continuity testing, but as a good practice, you should avoid contacting other terminals while testing.

I signed up for one of those Home Depot tune ups for AC and they told me the capacitor was bad and wanted to charge me $200. I said no, and found the part on Amazon for $20 and replaced myself in about 5 mins.

Ok riddle me this… my capacitor reads perfectly within tolerance; except it’s covered in like oil spray ? Like kinda oily… And there’s something that looks like honey or sap under the top rim. Also my capacitor is just being hugged by an extra wire, there is no metal harness holding it against the metal… Also thanks for the video always learning from you!

Do you know if there is a way to connect your air condition via wifi or Ethernet cable plugin, to do basic troubleshooting and resetting the system? For example, for a remote location property or warehouse? Thanks.

25yr hvac experience here. I've had exactly one capacitor that held charge after being disconnected from power. That's one out of several thousand capacitors. It hit about as hard as you'd expect out of 240v. I found it so incredulous I touched it for a second shock. It was still holding nearly 140v after socond shock. I did not check it with my fingers a 3rd shock. If a used capacitor wobbles when sat upon a flat surface it's swollen and will be out of spec.

@TheGhettoLobster

21 күн бұрын

Ive only seen it a few times in 10 years and the only reason they held a charge because either a wire broke or a winding was damaged, hence, it wasn't able to discharge. If your capacitor can't discharge that is a clue that there is a bigger issue in my experience.

@philosothink

21 күн бұрын

@@TheGhettoLobster this cap would shock you, uninstalled, in your hand. I could walk up to you, and poke you with it and it'd shock you!

Possible new video for you. My AC died this summer. Turns out it was a blocked drain that killed it (attic mounted unico). While inspecting my compressor the tech told me the fan was showing signs it needed to be replaced, that the bearings were leaking lubricant. He gave me a nearly $2,000 quote. Now I maintain my compressor thanks to your channel (replaced the cap, cleaned the coils, etc) and know the fan is only a few wires, bolts, and a swappable part. The new part is $350. However, electric motors are maintainable. Is there a good reason not to strip this in the off season and just replace the bearings? The repair should cost at most $20 for two good quality bearings.

great video, but I hate to see folks using impact tools for everything nowdays. Especially sheet metal!! almost impossible to modulate the torque and once you strip out a sheet metal fastener, especially around refrigerant systems, you can't just step over and redrill a new hole for fear there is a freon line behind your new hole location! Just use a nut driver.

Good info thanks

Great job. Thorough !! TY

@HowToHomeDIY

21 күн бұрын

You are very welcome! Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback Hank!

A couple years ago my heat pump quit working and it was the same cap you're working with. It was bulging out, and the service tech showed me that, so I had him replce it. But $300?!? I didn't know any better at the time. A few weeks ago my heat pump quit working and the start relay was fried. There were two caps in close proximity (my unit has three caps) that I didn't know the condition of (my multi-meter didn't read capacitance) so I just ordered them along with a relay and a new multi-meter. Total bill $100 and the unit is running fine now!

Don’t forget the voltage rating. Not only does the MFD rating have to like for like, the voltage has to be the same or larger, never lower. So your 70-5 at 440 volts has to be a 70-5 440 volts. Not a 370 or 240 volt unit. If you have a smaller 30MFD 370 volt, you can use a 440 volt but not a 240 volt.

My furnace motor stopped working. The first thing I did was test the capacitor with a voltmeter that can also measure capacitance. The capacitor was bad. I replaced it myself, and the furnace has been working fine since for years. The price of a Fluke or any brand multimeter that can measure capacitance is a lot cheaper than a service call. Even if you find the capacitor is good and the motor has died, you'll still likely find the multimeter to be useful at other times.

@BlondieSL

7 күн бұрын

Flukes are good, for sure and I have one... but I can tell you, as a guy with more meters that he needs, there are other meters that are no where near as expensive that do a find job on measurements, volts, amps, resistance, capacitance, etc. I have a Fluke that was over priced. I have a bench Lab meter, expensive and a few really cheap meters. I got the cheap meters for basic measuring, mostly outside, where I wouldn't care if they got pooched. In testing them, even the cheap $30-$40 ones, they are very accurate. I have a cheap one that is as accurate as the Fluke and Lab meters. There's some good cheap stuff out there. (some awful crap too) LOL

I replaced the capacitor on my outside unit - then immediately after that the capacitor for the blower motor went bad. Unfortunately - that one is actually built in to the blower motor. The blower motor part with the capacitor is $600 just for the part. It’s ridiculous- a part that would normally be less than $20 now they are building it into the motor & you can’t buy it separately. It is a Carrier Unit purchased in 2015.

Is there a capacitor on the Mitsubishi mini split outdoor condensers as well?

It's great how they cheap out. The contactor is for 220, but it only has one pole contact. The other side doesn't break. It's prone to failure faster than a true 2 pole.

@HowToHomeDIY

11 күн бұрын

It is true. The other side is shunted.

I "like" the fact that the made in the usa "model" also has an internal connection diagram, to allow the end user "to see what it does", electrically.

My repair company tech encouraged me to do it myself. Now, when i get the annual service, i always watch the cap test. If it gets low, i replsce it. Just for the fun of it, I've got a spare for both my units. Got them on amazon. Edit: Oh, almost forgot: take a picture before you start. Getting the wires crossed would be BAD.

Old AC tech told me tune ups are a racket....He said corrosion causes leads to have higher resistance and causes the most problems. Just turn off the power..remove every wire / connector you can get to and clean the contact area. Also clean out debris and clean coils. Been doing that every spring and my 27 year old unit is still going strong.

@Jzzonem

10 күн бұрын

Corrosion is usually caused by a loose connection more than anything else like environment so instead of cleaning them, they should be replaced if corroded. Waste of time to "clean" them every spring" because of corrosion. Just my two cents.

@BlondieSL

7 күн бұрын

@@Jzzonem Perhaps, whether "cleaning" contacts or when installing new contactors and other connections, putting some Dielectric grease on them might help to avoid corrosion. You are right about loose connections for sure, but never underestimate what the environment does to contacts where the air can get to them. I've had to "fix" many very tight contacts that have become corroded with a lovely shade of blue/green fuzzies, in my time. LOL I always put Dielectric grease on the now.

@scottsluggosrule4670

5 күн бұрын

@@BlondieSL I have never seen severe corrosion..just minor..a little emery cloth then contact spray and reconnect. I am sure folks in more severe climates such as near the ocean could get some severe corrosion.

Do I need to match up all the numbers on the capacitor? I have never ordered one before.

Good job! 👏👏👏

@HowToHomeDIY

21 күн бұрын

Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for taking the time to leave that feedback!

spring tuneup, the tech should be testing the capacitor, and if its below the rated threshold it will pop on the first 100 degree day....

we install around 35 a week at 245.00 a pop thats per week 8575.00. they pay for my vacation home in Florida 😊 plus a service call fee of 139.00 😅

OL stand for Open Loop. A circuit is basically a loop. My dad has worked in electronics since the 40's and he explained this is how the OL came about.

@johnpicard4909

18 күн бұрын

Go let all the geniuses in the comments know that keep saying it always means overload 😂. I have heart open loop and open line especially when testing capacitance.

I believe its referred to as cap bulging.

When my first one went out, I wanted to be sure even though I had researched my symptoms. The A/C guy wanted $350. I said "Dude, you're out here, so I'm willing to pay you $150, but you know that's a $20 part, and it'll take you five more minutes to install it." He held firm, so I over-nighted one from Amazon. $30.

@sprockkets

22 күн бұрын

Caps are gravy train for a/c techs. It helps balance out the times they have to spend hours figuring out a problem and they don't charge extra for it.

@Bryan-Hensley

22 күн бұрын

Did you diagnose why it failed? There's a couple of things that can kill the compressor. Low Freon will cause a capacitor to fail because low Freon will overheat your compressor, for one example..

@Bryan-Hensley

22 күн бұрын

​@@sprockketsnot really unless the reason it failed is obvious. They seldom fail for no reason.

@Mach141

21 күн бұрын

@@Bryan-Hensley ive had two fail for no reason, in 5 years, other than they are cheaply made garbage, like everything else these days

@Bryan-Hensley

21 күн бұрын

@@Mach141 if you use the kind that has the solder looking spot on top (like in this video), they are junk.

This type of fraud will only get worse as men are no longer interested in learning basic mechanics and electronics. For example, my area charges $2,000 labor to change a 40 gallon water heater.

@balint133

17 күн бұрын

that's wild considering I can just drive to the nearest home cheapo and get the cheapest water heater for like ~600 dollars... even if I have to buy solder/torch/piping it is well below 800 dollars :D I bet they not just charge 2k for labor but upselling the same cheap azz unit to be at least 1.2k + sales tax so you end up paying what? 3.5k for a simple water heater? joke...

@AF-O6

17 күн бұрын

@@balint133 Absolutely. I live in a suburb of D.C., and the entire area is inhabited by government office weenies, who literally can’t change the plug in a lawn mower. Mega plumbing and electrical con-artists…I mean companies…like Michael & Sons prey on people’s ignorance.

With the AstroAl DM130B ($18), I first go to the Continuity Function, and then Select "Continuity" (vs Resistance or Diode Setting), and then I turn the Function to "Capacitance" and then test.

@anthonymiller4451

5 күн бұрын

You mean to just test the meter with the continuity function, or is there a reason to go to continuity first? Besides that's what I always do before using a meter? And also checking on a known power source( or in this case a well functioning capacitor), if I can remember to, or if I start getting weird readings.

I watched your other video on this last year. Went out to check the capacitors, I have two systems, and both looked good. Even following your video, turning off the electric, etc, there was a slight hum coming from the area. Even after touching the capacitor the way you suggested with a screw driver, the hum continued. Needless to say, I didn't test any further. Where do you think the hum was coming from, or do you think there was residual electricity in the line?

@HowToHomeDIY

18 күн бұрын

Only thing I can recommend is in addition to removing the disconnect go to your main panel and if you see any breakers that say AC and/or heat, turn those off as well and see if the hum goes away. Sometimes someone ran the wiring incorrectly and there can still be power present with just the disconnect pulled. It’s rare but possible. It could also be coming from your contactor and the low voltage from the thermostat but without being there I can’t say.

I have bought AMRAD from Amazon. Unfortunately Amazon uses little or no padding and I have had two capacitors badly dented,

Thanks

We were taught in RV school to use the multimeter to discharge the capacitor. Set on max VAC and use your probes.

@amiatroll6347

22 күн бұрын

Even if the meter is designed to withstand the short, why risk it when a screwdriver will do the job without putting your electronics at risk?

@sprockkets

22 күн бұрын

​@@amiatroll6347Because 1. A multimeter has to have high resistance to correctly measure voltage and 2. It's a non issue to begin with - the windings in the motor discharge it already. I've never found a cap with a charge on it in the field. 😅

@amiatroll6347

22 күн бұрын

@@sprockkets I agree it's rare, I just don't see the point in insisting it be discharged with the meter. Maybe I am dumb :D

@starhopper457

22 күн бұрын

@@amiatroll6347 My CL900 tops at 1000VAC. Even if charged, that cap might be in the low 400's. This is what we learned just in case there are sparks.

@starhopper457

22 күн бұрын

@@sprockkets Me neither, but was just relaying what we were taught when dealing with RV A/Cs.

I own an appliance repair company. I also just bought a second home in Aspen, Colorado. Thanks to you, I’ll probably have to sell that second home before ski season next year.

@diegomontoya796

22 күн бұрын

Just air b and b it. Maybe you can use it between 9 to 2:30 monday or thursday the week after next.

@myfakeguuglaccount8307

22 күн бұрын

😂

@enigmawyoming5201

22 күн бұрын

@@diegomontoya796 Great idea!! I will set my property up as an Air bnb, then rent it to myself for lengthy periods I want to be there, at $10/day.. and sell it with the reservation that all Air bnb reservations are in contract. Brilliant!!!

@enigmawyoming5201

22 күн бұрын

@@davidh.8513 realistically.. I want to say I’m a sarcastic humorist and not everybody gets it..

@enigmawyoming5201

22 күн бұрын

@@diegomontoya796 Excellent idea! I’ll just rent it out to myself!

I turned my A/C unit on this year and it ran for about 30 seconds then shut off I replaced my capacitor thinking that was the issue but I’m still getting an error code for “ODU Fan Delay Defeat not Active” any ideas what the issue is?

Good video, this is the first video I’ve seen that shows wrong way and correct way to check the capacitor. Note to self do your homework before coughing up $$..

Caps are really failure prone... usually going bad at the first heat wave of the season. They're like a $20 item... I replace mine as preventive maintenance every 2 years no matter what, and keep a spare. Even have a repeating calendar event set up as a reminder. Life's too short for baking a few days over a bad cap, and paying $100 or more for one off some HVAC guy. I also keep a spare contactor... they fail now & again as well. Also a low dollar item.

@wightboy12345

22 күн бұрын

As an HVAC guy, a good chunk of my summer service calls are just walking up and replacing capacitors. I’ve had them fail inside a month from a factory new condenser. It’s a good thing they’re a cheap part.

@sunshine3914

22 күн бұрын

Dang boys, my unit’s 33 yrs old & only two service calls; one was freon & the other was a tripped breaker. Upper 90s - 114°F is common… already hit 100° 2x this year.

@wightboy12345

22 күн бұрын

@@sunshine3914 Why did you have a Freon call? Leaking valve?

Is it worth it to check the capacitor for DC leakage? After years of watching Mr. Carlson's Lab it has been drilled into my head that the only way to be sure a Capacitor is not beginningto fail involves the leakage test. Granted, he is normally working on Tube radios and or amplifier circuits, but i would think that a device that is not supposed to pass anything but AC shouldnt leak DC period

Always put that disconnect plug in your pocket when working on the AC. Leave it laying around or on top of the disconnect box and someone could either take it or plug it back in. The only way you know for certain that you are safe is to have complete and total personal control of the plug.

@mossy723

3 күн бұрын

I usually FedEx mine to my friend the next state over, you can never be too safe.

How do you know what one to buy for a house AC unit ???

Using a metal tool to short the capacitor is very dangerous! Could make a huge spark or explode the capacitor. Always use a large power resistor or similar.

@davidh.8513

22 күн бұрын

That is what I made up to discharge mine. I keep it in a case with all my other testers.

Ok so question why was results different without wires vs with wires connected?

Last week my A/C unit was not cooling. Found that a rodent had made a nest around the capacitor and chewed through a hot wire. However, it is recommended that the capacitor should should be changed every five years. Excellent post!!

@HowToHomeDIY

21 күн бұрын

Wow that would definitely do it! That is pretty wild. Thanks a lot for taking the time to share that experience and input Keith!

Install a soft start. I almost told a customer their cap was bad but figured out it was my old meter after checking 2 other caps. Every cap I have ever found bad had visual evidence along with a sad reading.

@IslandDigital

22 күн бұрын

Soft start ? How much should that be to install to stop replacing these capacitors . I’ve been told it helps ease the start up and not make these go bad or go bad so quickly. Thanks

@HowToHomeDIY

21 күн бұрын

Yup. I love my soft start. In fact a year ago before I found out my cap was bad, the unit was working just fine until I decided to test everything and remove the soft start. It was the soft start that keeping the AC running! They are awesome. Most techs I have met don't know what one is I have found.

@anthonymiller4451

5 күн бұрын

Must not be in Florida lol. seems to possibly be the majority even

Awesome video

@HowToHomeDIY

22 күн бұрын

Really glad to hear you liked it. Thanks a lot for the feedback!

If the motor is running rough that can often mean a bad (run) capacitor as well.

@HowToHomeDIY

22 күн бұрын

Yup. Thanks for the input Roland!