HVAC Contributor
If left unattended, faults with your AC’s contactors can be common, but they can give you a creepy feeling. When the AC contactor malfunctions, your AC unit may not operate properly as a result. This is particularly irritating and frustrating in the heat. What could be wrong, therefore, if the AC contactor isn’t pulling in?
The contactor will typically fail at that point, just like any other component of your air conditioner. The air conditioner contactor not drawing in is frequently caused by corroded contacts, defective coils, and contactor burnout.
Let’s investigate the cause of your AC contactor’s malfunction. We’ll also discuss contactor troubleshooting.
What Are The Functions Of An AC Contactor?
A part of the air conditioner that controls how much electricity enters the system is the contactor. When you turn off your air conditioner, the contactor rises and cuts the power.
The contactor is raised when the AC is turned on, supplying electricity to the AC unit. When the temperature in your home reaches the level you selected on your thermostat, the contactor rises once more.
The three main reasons why a contactor breaks down are as follows:
Coil That Is Broken
Your AC contactors have a coil, and if the coil degrades, the contactor may eventually stop working. The failure to pull in might occur when the contactor starts to malfunction.
Contactors That Are Burnout
When the voltage input exceeds the contactor’s load capacity, the contactor burns out. The circuit breaker typically trips when there is a high voltage. If that doesn’t happen, it burns out altogether.
Long cables may also result in voltage loss, which can lead to the burning of your contactor coils.
Contacts Are Corroded
Corrosion can occur at the contact points of an AC contactor. The contact becomes dirty as minute particles amass at the contactor’s point, which eventually results in malfunction.
To make sure the AC system functions properly, it is essential to get it tested and replace the contactor on a regular basis.
Reasons You Shoud Replace The AC Contactor
The following are typical indications that it’s time to replace your AC contactor:
- AC shuts off on its own.
- The AC won’t even turn on.
- The AC takes some time to start up after being turned on.
- The AC is not blowing cool air.
- Your air conditioner is buzzing now.
How Durable Are AC Contactors?
When maintained properly, an effective AC contactor can last 5 to 10 years. While doing maintenance, the technician will evaluate the contactor’s performance.
If it starts to malfunction, the specialist will replace the part with the least amount of bother for you.
How Can An Air Conditioner Contactor Be Replaced?
When the contactor drives the internal thermostat, the switch that turns on the condenser signals that more cool air is required.
The AC unit will run nonstop if the contactor fails. By changing the contactor, you can keep your AC system from suffering serious harm as a result of this issue.
In order to properly replace your contactor, you must:
- Switch OFF the circuit breaker for the AC.
2 .Verify there is no power still coming via the AC unit by using a voltmeter. - Make a mark on each wire so you can quickly reconnect them later.
- Remove the contactor wires starting now.
- Apply a screwdriver to the contactor screws to remove them.
- Remove the contactor slowly.
- Attach the new contactor firmly.
- In accordance with your marking, reattach the wires.
- Switch the circuit breaker back ON.
WARNING! The right electrical understanding is required for this replacement procedure. We strongly advise delegating this task to a professional.
What Is The Price Of An AC Contactor?
When a contactor malfunctions, the overall performance of the air conditioning system is impacted. Fortunately, a faulty contactor can be simply replaced.
The price of a replacement ranges from $150 to $400, with parts costing an additional $10 to $60.
To replace the defective contactor, you may now locate and work with an HVAC services provider without spending a fortune.
How Can An AC Contactor Be Tested?
Your AC typically has two contactors, each of which has a switch designated as a line (L) and a terminal (T). The terminal (T) is connected to the controlled electrical device, and the line (L) contains the voltage feed.
A voltmeter can be used to check whether your contactor has become faulty.
Follow the instructions listed below to accurately test an AC contactor.
- Utilizing a screwdriver, carefully remove the electrical cables from your contactor line.
- Repeat the procedure on your terminal side slowly this time.
- Switch on the contactor after firmly mounting the contactor control switch.
- Connect the black lead to the common connector and the red lead to the ohm.
- Turn on the voltmeter and make sure it reads 0 ohms.
- Connecting the voltmeter’s red lead to the L1 and black lead to the T1 in order to test each set of L1 to T1 connections.
The contactor is probably broken if the reading doesn’t display 0 ohms. The contactors typically read between 5 and 20 ohms.
Additionally, if testing reveals that your AC contactor is fine, you can repair the failed contactor or coil without having to replace the other.
NOTE: If the problems continue despite all of your thorough troubleshooting. It’s time for you to employ an AC professional to solve this problem once and for all.
What Takes Place When A Contactor Fails?
By noticing indicators of breakdown caused by pitting, you can spot a defective AC contactor. Pitting occurs when the contactor is exposed to heat and voltage levels that are too high.
Because a contactor with pits is more likely to stick, the AC unit will always have electricity. The AC won’t be able to adequately chill the house if the contactor starts to malfunction.
Additionally, you’ll see that even when the thermostat is off, the AC unit continues to run continuously.
What Kinds Of Contactors Are There?
A contactor comes in two major varieties: single pole and double pole. A single circuit is connected to the magnetic coil of a single-pole. A double, on the other hand, is essentially a link between the two circuits and has two coils.
What Sets A Contactor Apart From A Relay?
How Do Relays Work?
Relays are electrically powered switches. The device consists of a set of operational contact terminals and a set of input terminals for one or more control signals.
The switch may have any number of contacts, including make contacts, break contacts, and combinations of both.
Main Distinction
When more than one circuit needs to be controlled by a single signal or when a separate, low-power signal is required, relays are used.
Typically, a primary loop—which has a large current capacity of 1,000 amps—uses a contactor. A secondary circuit is required to handle numerous control functions because a relay can only pass a small amount of current.
Main Purpose
The primary function of a contactor is to activate or disengage the main circuit. Signal monitoring, transmission, conversion, or discarding are a relay’s main duties. Therefore, it frequently has low on-off current.
The relay frequently activates the controller circuit’s low signal. Additionally, the main circuit is the circuit whose operation is managed by the connection to this circuit.
The control circuit with a greater current than a control circuit is referred to as the “primary circuit.”
To Sum Up
We discovered what stops your AC contactors from pulling in throughout this post. Additionally, you are aware of when to change your contactors as necessary.
Additionally, we have provided instructions on how to correctly repair the malfunctioning contactor. Now that you know how to properly maintain your AC contactor, we may leave with confidence.
If you experience common problems with your AC contactor, make use of this knowledge to your advantage.
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