AC capacitors?

[Eagleuh1]

I bought new start and run capacitors for my 68 Airstream International Ambassador with Armstrong TAC 110- 1 AC. Also am replacing the fan motor since it has enough slop in the bearings it squeals and stop turning. Did this while working nights in Baton Rouge, trying to sleep during daytime, no shade available. Is there a certain way to connect capacitors, like pos and neg pole type thing. Any marks on GE capacitor to tell which is which if so. Thanks for all the help forum members have provided in the past. Jim

[rmkrum]

AC motor capacitors are NOT polarity sensitive. Wire them up the same as the old ones. The difference is in the capacitance rating. Be sure to get the start and run caps in the right place.


Sent from my pocket Internet using Airstream Forums

[Eagleuh1]

Thanks. My fan motor replacement should be here tomorrow. If not raining hope to get it put back together then. I bought one the has the 5/370 for the fan motor and the 25/430 for the compressor all in one unit. Hopefully will work good. Jim

[ALUMINUMINUM]

Original 1968 110-1 A/C wiring.

Please keep us posted on your success...

[Eagleuh1]

Yeh, looks nothing like my wiring. Whoever replaced my AC fan motor before I got it apparently cut all those multi- connectors out of the system. I have a lot of house type twist connectors with different colored wires. I also have schematic from this forum. The one on my panel door was gone. Will update as soon as repairs are performed, or problems arise, whichever comes first. Jim

[bwoodtx]

Take a picture of what you have first to use as a reference later. It WILL come in handy. Then, one wire off, one wire on. Good luck.

[Eagleuh1]

Screwed up there too. I took the old capacitors out to get new ones. I did tape all the wires for each capacitor in its own bundle though. Today removed the cover off the top of the AC unit to see what was in the upper section of the electrical box. There's a relay/ start capacitor SPP5 and another relay wired up. That's why my wiring wasn't following the schematic. Will have to sit down and figure it all out. Got the new motor shafts cut to length and the motor mounted, will have to figure out how to hold the back side down though. I snapped the back 2 bolts removing the old motor. Jim.

[J. Morgan]

I would drill out the broken bolts and retap if at all possible...


1/2 Ton 4WD Truck, 72 Sovereign Hensley Arrow

[Eagleuh1]

Not that easy. I believe the bolts were installed from the bottom before AC installed on roof. I don't want to remove the whole thing now and lose my R22. The compressor runs and cools great. I'm going to install some straps over the motor at that end for now, with rubber isolators. When I have the time and need to replace drier/filter and maybe compressor, I will remove whole thing. Thanks. Jim

[Eagleuh1]

Ok, got everything wired up per schematic, But there's an extra heavy yellow wire coming from compressor. That makes 2 heavy yellow wires from compressor. One goes to Compressor capacitor. It's labeled " S" on compressor. Where does the other heavy yellow wire go? Thanks again. Jim

[ALUMINUMINUM]

If it helps, this is a top view of a TAC 110 1968 GT Airstream with an October 1967 build date. shows single yellow wire on compressor.

[Eagleuh1]

Thanks Aluminuminum. Mine has a AJK14-215 compressor for what that's worth. It has a black, a red and 2 yellows coming out of it. The extra yellow is killing me. This thing worked good up until last month, then the fan motor bearings starting going. Then went. Wished I had looked at wiring real close before ripping out all the old. It had been rewired completely different than schematic I have. Jim

[68 TWind]

Worked on my 68 Armstrong last week so maybe I can help. My compressor was not coming on and after some tracing found it was the transformer, no 24volt going to the thermostat. Bought a new one at the local HVAC supply and back in business. I had to drill new mounting holes for both the transformer and the contactor but I was able to get it all to fit in the box. There is no direct original part replacement. I had suspected the cap but it was good.
When at the HVAC supply house the owner, who has been in the business for 30 years, said that if the old cap was good keep it. It is oil filled and far better than the new stuff. He told me that he can no longer get any caps made in the US all come from China. He said they don't last like the old ones. Said it is getting to be a really big problem with HVAC repair folks. They are getting called back to replace caps that they recently replaced.
On my AC the other yellow went to one side of the contactor or relay if you prefer.
There were 2 low voltage wires (smaller gauge) that energize the relay and the current then flows to the compressor. Hope this helps.
I also had a few of the screws on the cover plate that were stripped and just replaced them with #10 SS sheet metal screws.

[Eagleuh1]

68TWind, thanks for the reply. I got to laugh though. I finally pulled the cover off the compressor itself, and the extra yellow wire was hanging loose, all taped up. I'm beginning to think somebody did this just to screw with me. Lots of extra wires going nowhere, an extra relay with some wires connected, but not all. I did test it though. Everything comes on as usual, but I'm only getting 1.9 volts from my transformer to the thermostat. But it still kicks the compressor on. The fan comes on when the switch is taken to Hi. And Lo runs too. Will be picking up new transformer also. Thanks again. Jim. Did yours have the SPP5 hooked up on it?

[J. Morgan]

Originally Posted by 68 TWind

When at the HVAC supply house the owner, who has been in the business for 30 years, said that if the old cap was good keep it. It is oil filled and far better than the new stuff. He told me that he can no longer get any caps made in the US all come from China. He said they don't last like the old ones. Said it is getting to be a really big problem with HVAC repair folks. They are getting called back to replace caps that they recently replaced.
.

Good info, thank you!!

I was going to replace mine just for insurance, now I will not. Thanks again.



1/2 Ton 4WD Truck, 72 Sovereign Hensley Arrow

[Eagleuh1]

Mine were bad, I suspect due to trying to keep it going with failing motor. But new ones are from Mexico. Same as old GE ones. It runs now. Very quite. Good luck with yours. I will post pics and part numbers soon. Jim

[Eagleuh1]

My motor turns backwards. I cleaned everything out, combed all the condenser and evaporator fins straight, put all the fans and covers on. Hooked up the 20 amp extension cord with no other loads except AC, hit the switch, and backwards it turns. Think I may have gotten a wire on backwards or something. The motor is in correctly for counter clockwise rotation as looking from the top down, just like the old one. Would a 20 amp extension cord reverse the polarity using a 20 to 30 amp adapter. What else might I look at? Thanks. Jim

[J. Morgan]

I could be wrong,,, but I think your AC motor needs to be flipped over to attain proper rotation. Polarity alone wont matter.


1/2 Ton 4WD Truck, 72 Sovereign Hensley Arrow

[Eagleuh1]

I don't think that's it. The rotation is opposite the arrow on the label, looking down at the lead end. I was real particular about that, since it's mentioned in the rebuild sticky. Unless my understanding of which is the lead end is wrong. That should be where the leads enter the motor. I installed it exactly like the old motor was. Thank you though. Jim

[J. Morgan]

http://cr4.globalspec.com/thread/799...f-the-ac-motor


1/2 Ton 4WD Truck, 72 Sovereign Hensley Arrow