It is a big deal when the air conditioning goes proscribed on a nigh summer day, but there is no need to wait for avail to do to you.  Many air conditioner malfunctions are not difficult to identify and repair.  The following test procedure wish help you identify if the problem with your outdoor unit is the fan motor, the capacitor, or the contactor.

Condenser-Fan-Motor

Troubleshooting the "outdoor air conditioning unit not running" starts with some casual commonsense steps:

  1. Make certain the thermostat is primed to air-conditioned and the indoor unit is running game (blowing air the elbow room air vents).
  2. Mind to the outdoor unit for the sound of the compressor running.
  3. If you hear the compressor running attend "section A" below. Note, compressors can run softly.
  4. If you cannot hear the compressor running attend "section B" below.

Section A; you can hear the a/c compressor running and the fan motor is not turning.

Because the compressor is running you know there is 220 volts power to the outside unit and you know the contactor is doing its job of delivering that 220 volts to the compressor and to the motor.  The malfunction will be a bad capacitor and/or a bad motor. Capacitors can cost proven with multi-meters that have the ability to read microfarads or you can take your capacitor (and your efferent) to your nearest U-Repair-Information technology store for a unfreeze work bench test.  If the capacitor tests good then your motor is bad.

Caution – Capacitors can storage an charge (like a bombardment).  The shock absorber run a risk is non-fatal, simply it is no sport.   Check the 220 volt power is murder and run the condenser by shorting betwixt capacitor terminals (with insulated screwdriver) before removing the wires from the terminals.

Interesting facts

  1. A capacitor connected to both the compressor and the motor can flunk on just the motor side.
  2. Bad a/c fan motors can sometimes be started by "spinning" the fan blade with a stick – it is still a sad motor.

Purchase a New AC Motor

Contactor

Section B; you cannot hear the a/c compressor running and the fan drive is non turning.  Your close troubleshooting pace will be checking the 220 V power because it is extremely unlikely both the compressor and the lover motor would fail at the same time.  Failure of the contactor (see visualise above) most often produces this symptom.  You send away prove the contactor is the problem by using a multi-meter or you can take your contactor to your closest U-FIX-Information technology store for a free bench psychometric test.

Testing the contactor on air conditioner outdoor unit

  1. Using a multi-meter, verify there is 220 volts going into the contactor, but zero volts coming out of the contactor (to the motor and compressor). If you  you have 220 volts coming out (contactor is angelic) then check the capacitor surgery bring it in to U-FIX-IT for a loos bench check.
  2. Check for 24 volts across the coil terminals. If nobelium 24 volts call out U-FIX-IT for assistance.
  3. Contactor is bad if multi-meter reads 220 volts exit in, zero volts approaching out, and 24 volts across the gyrate terminals.

Contactor voltage check top view

Caution: use care when measuring live voltages not to feeling bare connections operating room short them to the cabinet or to other terminals with the beat probes.

Buy out a New Ac Contactor

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More From Jim Plummer

Jim is an exwife-Air Force pilot and a business school graduate of University of Texas at Austin. He has been in the appliance parts business since 1975.

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Air Conditioner Outside Unit Fan Still Runs but Wont Cool

Source: https://www.ufixit.com/news/home-air-conditioner-not-cooling/