Severn Maryland near FT. Mead.
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Image of inside of control panel of Miller
Nordyne heat pump. This unit blew up its start assist device which is a
black disk the size of a big cough drop. I have since replaced it with
a GE-Mars 66 start relay and a 150 MFD start capacitor (the run capacitor for the compressor
is to the lower left and can't be seen in these pictures). This unit needed
a new 40 MFD 440 Volt compressor run capacitor and that was the reason for the service
call. The start assist device
is not needed for the unit to run but it is needed for it to start reliably.
The device on top is a Ranco E-15
Defrost Timer Module with variable termination temperature and adjustable defrost
interval. A closer image is below. Connecting a "A.W. Sperry Digisnap" Clamp on Ammeter (avaliable at Lowes or The Home Depot for about $80, well worth the price)
to the power input to the double-pole-contactor
to read the unit current.
The clamp on ammeter read 12.21 amps which is typical
for this unit to draw (compressor
and fan-motor). There
is no "correct" current for a unit to draw so please do not try to charge
a unit by "current draw".
Closer image of clamp on ammeter reading one of
the power leads on this heat pump unit. Note all the relays on the left
side they are for the defrost
cycle and the reversing valve on this unit. Other heat pumps will not
have so many relays other will have the same amount but they will look
different. This clamp on meter is an essential device for servicing things
that draw AC current like electric furnaces and motors.
The control panel on this unit has plenty of room to
work with. Some other units are a bit more cramped and don't have places
to add components.
Close up image of Ranco E-15 Defrost unit. This unit
uses a clock motor timer to measure the compressor run time and seeks to do a
defrost function when the unit is likely to make ice and the coil temperature
is below 28 degrees F. every 30, 45, or 90 minutes (some versions have
30, 60, 90). Most newer heat pumps will use their own electronic module
like Trane/American Standard and Carrier/Bryant.
If this thing should fail I would consider replacing
it with an ICM e-15 electronic timer module.
I will continue this page when I have more time but for now
please follow the links below.
This page will be continued later:
Scott Meenen can be reached at 240-460-3820
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a list of all the pages on this site go to the site map. Please bookmark for future reference Written By: Scott Meenen
N3SJH of G&S MECHANICAL SERVICES. Serving Maryland, DC, and Northern
Virginia. Contact us by pager: 1-877-467-2914 Page us by e-mail:4103560613.3732505@pagenet.net
240Chrs max. Email us at: jsmeenen@toad.net Specializing in Mechanical,
Controls and Electrical Modifications Of Heating, Air conditioning, Refrigeration,
Cold storage, Ice Production and Food preservation. Anything having to do with Heat
and Energy.
We service and repair the following brands:
American Standard, Amana, Arco, Arco-Air, Bryant, Carrier,
Coleman Evcon, Comfortmaker, Day/Night/Payne, Dunham-Bush, Fedders, Fredrich,
Goodman, General Electric, Hotpoint, Heil, Intertherm, Janitrol, Kenmore,
Lennox (Armstrong, Johnson Air-Ease), Miller, Modine, Nordyne, Rheem/Ruud,
Sears, Stewart Warner, Trane, Williams, White-Westinghouse, Whirlpool,
Weil Mclain, York, (Frasier Johnson/Borg Warner) and others.
