AC Troubles - Hard Start cap? Something else?

gbkim wrote:
On my home A/C the compressor start capacitor is usually the one the goes bad most often. I'm on my 3rd one since my new A/C was installed in 2012.
I keep an extra around for easy replacement.
Often the A/C will continue to work while the capacitor is starting to go bad, but the amps drawn when the compressor starts will start to increase.
I usually rely on swapping to a new capacitor as this actually "tests" the capacitor under operating conditions vs testing with a DMM with a capacitor function.

Testing Start Capacitors
http://inspectapedia.com/electric/Motor_Capacitor_Tests.php

If you swapped in a new start cap like a Packard 330V Start Capacitor 53-64 MFD going for about $10, and still having trouble with starting the A/C on the generator, then the soft start might have to be the answer.

Also an AC/DC ammeter like Elenco ST-3030 AC/DC Clamp-on Ammeter is great for seeing amps being used by the A/C (startup, running) as well as DC amps in the 12V system.


Hard Start Kits:
http://www.achrnews.com/articles/120282-mismatched-kits-cause-failures
http://www.achrnews.com/articles/89314-hard-start-devices-insurance-for-the-compressor

Gene

Thanks for the info. By following these instructions, the capacitor continues to test good. Should I replace it anyways?


If so, and like I said, the new Coleman hard start kits have a larger start capacitor. Are there advantages/disadvantages to using a larger cap?