Cruising Outpost

For five days non stop I've run 2 Honda's paralleled and a Sears to keep sewage pump (VERY IMORTANT) sump pump (ALSO VERY IMPORTANT) heat, fridge etc etc going.

Yesterday finally the power came on.....spent about an hour getting cable boxes, internet, alarm systems and other sundry electronics back on line. Everything else seems happy, except the upstairs air handler. (heat pump)

The fan is not coming on. The compressor is, the relay for the squirrel fan clicks, AND I can hear it trying. So, I give it a manual whirl....and whoppa IT"S ALIVE. (Working that is)

My diagnosis is that the condenser on the squirrel fan motor is shot.......

Agreed?

That or the start winding got killed during power upset. The run cap is cheap try it first and leave fan on continuous in the mean time. Make sure it is rotating in correct direction also!
.
Check the running amps to be sure it is safe to run!

OK, I am idiot. Accidentally left it on and when thermostat kicked in it couldn't start so it got very toasty and is now not even trying anymore. I'm hoping there's an overheat protection in there and that it will reset as it cools, but I'm afraid Im out a motor.....AND a capacitor.

OK, the tool Gods gave me a break. There IS a thermal protection in there and it's back to its original state of dysfunction. (as in trying, spin it and it works). Have it in fan mode "on" now and the compressor cycles as needed, ie we have heat upstairs. Tomorrow I will get a new capacitor. Fun and games. Funny you should mention the run direction...yes, you can hand start it the wrong way........

Not funny just years of practice and hard lessons learned
.
Do yourself a favor and take the blower and cap to a motor shop and let them go over it - unless you want Kay to call you in Europe and burn you out over the lack of heat .... Me in my own home I would replace the motor and cap and get a good nights rest.
YMMV

The motor is less than a year old.....

There's a room downstairs called the "warms room"......it has a pellet stove in it and is kept around 78ºF Think of it as a large plenum. She is more than happy to move on the couch in there when something happens to the heat upstairs.

Fact is, that the upstairs 1986 vintage system has been overdue for years. I replaced the compressor with a no name brand for $800 (2.5 ton) three years ago, soldered on as the line set is obsolete. I've replaced the motor on the air handler after the bearings started screaming. This spring the drip tray in there started leaking (outside the pan of course) as it is rusted through. Tilting the box up a few inches with pieces of 2x4's towards the drain side got us through the summer.

The air handler is in the un-insulated attic. In winter it's outside temp in there, in summer it's 140º. When the air handler is replaced a real floor goes in, with a small insulated "house" around it. I've installed folding stairs so this all does not have to happen through the 6x6" hole in my son's closet ceiling. The flex ducting is toast and needs to be replaced.


You get the idea.

I'm waiting for a retro check for my new CBA and a roof and replacement AC/Heat system are 1 and 2 on the list. Meanwhile I'll go get a cap at Graingers tomorrow.

And? So? Oscar are you going to give credence to that ancient canard about cheap Dutchmen are you ? tell your ins co you will provide the labor if they will cut you a check for the motor and cap ......

Previous post edited.

And, no insurance for appliances.

Your edited elaboration make a little more sense

Don't use flex duct if it's a house you plan to keep - it's crap

I have never heard of installed HVAC equip classified as an appliance

Ok it's storm damage? $500 deductable plus I'm not the claiming type. Saving it for the big one. It did run perfectly all night in "fan on" mode. About to yank the cap and head for Graingers.