HVAC Question

[imported_Pablo]

Back in December I got Gracie, a yellow lab.

She stays in my backyard, which is almost puppy proof. Of course, a puppy is going to chew on stuff, and I noticed a week or two ago that my air conditioning is not working. Sure enough, the dog had pulled out the wires on my A/C unit in my backyard. Its been cool lately, but I have to get my A/C going before it gets hot.

I love figuring out how stuff works, and I am pretty good at electrical work. I have all the electrical tools I need, meters, and the like.

I need to reattach the wires to my AC unit, but can't find a good web resource on this. Does anybody know of any good resources or know where I need to start to figure out what wire goes where? (Please note, these are not the big power wires, they are the smaller control wires.)

Any help appreciated!
Thanks,
Paul

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Your AC is likely 220 volt. Not something you should mess with. Call an electrician or AC tech.

 

Your first step should be to build a small fence with a gate around your AC unit. Or, plant some shrubs around it to keep the dog away.

 

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
Your AC is likely 220 volt. Not something you should mess with. Call an electrician or AC tech.

You can 'mess' with it just fine if you cut all power to your HVAC system before beginning and have a service manual for your AC unit handy.

 

[imported_Pablo]

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
Your AC is likely 220 volt. Not something you should mess with. Call an electrician or AC tech.

Yes, this system does run on 220 volts. This is the control voltage I am working with, NOT operating voltage. Control voltage, although I haven't checked yet, is likely much less than 220.

 

Originally posted by: Pablo

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
Your AC is likely 220 volt. Not something you should mess with. Call an electrician or AC tech.

Yes, this system does run on 220 volts. This is the control voltage I am working with, NOT operating voltage. Control voltage, although I haven't checked yet, is likely much less than 220.

Yup, the connection to your thermostat is likely MUCH less than 220 volts. The wires leading into the house from the AC unit are likely very high-gauge wire, which indicates that they're carrying a very low voltage; just enough to turn on and off the AC unit.

 

[shilala]

Give me a pic of the wire connections at the Tstat, the connection block at the unit, and the schematic on the inside of the unit and we'll get her fixed.
The control voltage is 24 volts. You're still going to shut off the main breaker (or service breaker that should be located at the condensing unit) before we fix it.

 

[imported_Pablo]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
Your AC is likely 220 volt. Not something you should mess with. Call an electrician or AC tech.

You can 'mess' with it just fine if you cut all power to your HVAC system before beginning and have a service manual for your AC unit handy.

Actually, I think I do have the manual to the unit. And I plan on building a protective shroud around the wires after I get them reconnected.

 

[MikeyIs4Dcats]

Originally posted by: jumpr

Originally posted by: Pablo

Originally posted by: MikeyIs4Dcats
Your AC is likely 220 volt. Not something you should mess with. Call an electrician or AC tech.

Yes, this system does run on 220 volts. This is the control voltage I am working with, NOT operating voltage. Control voltage, although I haven't checked yet, is likely much less than 220.

Yup, the connection to your thermostat is likely MUCH less than 220 volts. The wires leading into the house from the AC unit are likely very high-gauge wire, which indicates that they're carrying a very low voltage; just enough to turn on and off the AC unit.

my bad, i missed the part where he said it was the control wires. Thats no biggie.

 

[imported_Pablo]

Originally posted by: shilala
Give me a pic of the wire connections at the Tstat, the connection block at the unit, and the schematic on the inside of the unit and we'll get her fixed.

I actually might be able to get these on my lunch break... Thanks for the help!

 

[woowoo]

red to red
blue to blue
And so on....

Look inside the blower compartment on your airhandler/furnace
That is where the wire comes from.
One set of wires go to the thermostat, one set of wires go to the outside condenser
If it's just central air, you probably only have a pair of wires going to the contactor.
Remember to kill the main power to both the airhandler/furnace and the outside unit before hooking anything up


Also read up at www.hvac-talk.com
Read up, don't post
They do not like do-it-yourselfers.

dog pee can rot your condenser out early.
Keep him away from the unit


BTW
bad dog!
Cute, but bad...



Is this a split AC system or a Heatpump?

 

[imported_Pablo]

Thanks for the links guys. I'll get back to you!

 

[shilala]

Originally posted by: Pablo

Originally posted by: shilala
Give me a pic of the wire connections at the Tstat, the connection block at the unit, and the schematic on the inside of the unit and we'll get her fixed.

I actually might be able to get these on my lunch break... Thanks for the help!

pm me and we'll knock her right out.
Get that puppy a toy on the way home. 😉

 

[Howard]

At least your dog didn't pop out of one.