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Not sure where to start and who to call

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 02:03 pm

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jjmmr
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While I have been handy with fixing basic appliance problems around the house, this is beyond me. When I came home from my daughter's softball game last night is was warm and muggy, so I flicked on the A/C. A couple hours later, my daughter complained it was still warm, so I went and check the thermostat, which I had set at 75 and it was reading 78. So I went over to a vent a realized that there was no air pushing through. Went back to thermostat and turned the fan to ON instead of auto and still nothing. Then I turned the thermostat to heat and dialed up the thermostat to 85 and nothing. I can hear the click coming from the thermostat, but nothing else happens. I went and check the circuits and nothing had tripped. I turned both the A/C and the furnace circuits off and on and tried everything again and nothing.

The air conditioning had been on the night before and was running and cold.

I just had a 220V circuit installed in the garage for a kiln a week and a half ago. The air had been turned on several times since then. I test ran the kiln on Saturday during the day and all went well with that. But now I am worried this could somehow be related.

What should I look at next? I think I am going to have to call in the professionals, but I don't know if I should be calling an electrician or a a/c/furnace specialist.

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 02:30 pm

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Samurai Appliance Repair Man
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Sounds like the fan is running but the compressor isn't kicking on. Usually, on these window shaker units, this problem is caused by a bad thermostat. Unplug, disassemble controls and remove thermostat so you can test continuity. With thermostat set to max, you should have continuity between the terminals.

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 02:42 pm

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RegUS_PatOff
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jjmmr wrote: ... there was no air pushing through. Went back to thermostat and turned the fan to ON instead of auto and still nothing...
Does the Compressor kick in when set to Cool ?

Did you check & re-set the other Breakers ?

Sometimes the 24v Transformer is on another circuit.

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 02:43 pm

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jjmmr
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No, no fan is running Nothing is running. I forgot to put in that it is a Sheen
Model # RCBA-3765GG17XI

the thermostat is a Rite temp Model 8050

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 02:44 pm

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jjmmr
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I turned off power to the whole house. I don't hear anything at all turn on

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 02:47 pm

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jjmmr
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Ok, maybe this is a clue. I was checking the thermostat again and I took out the batteries and was going to put them back in when everything on the panel faded....now this is hard wired so the batteries should just be a back up, not the main power source for the thermostat, right?

Oops, never mind. Just read in thermostat manual that batteries are needed to run.

Last edited on Tue Jun 9th, 2009 02:49 pm by jjmmr

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 03:18 pm

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RegUS_PatOff
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Check for 24vAC between Red:

and each of the other wires ....

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 03:32 pm

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jjmmr
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RegUS_PatOff wrote: Check for 24vAC between Red:

and each of the other wires ....

I'm sorry, but I don't understand what I am checking for.

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 03:39 pm

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RegUS_PatOff
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Thermostat wires...

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 04:03 pm

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RegUS_PatOff
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jjmmr wrote: I turned off power to the whole house. I don't hear anything at all turn on
did you re-set each individual Breaker ?

24vAC voltage test at the Thermostat wires ... do you have a Volt-Meter ?

If you have a Harbor Freight Store near you,
they have these meters, normally $ 4.99, w/battery
but sometimes on sale for $ 2.99
if on sale, print sale page and take to store

click on picture

click on picture

OR this one

click on picture

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 06:58 pm

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jjmmr
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I did reset each breaker.

I just go a multimeter but I am not clear on how I test the red wire. Can you walk me through that?

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 07:05 pm

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RegUS_PatOff
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set the multimeter to the 200v AC setting

With the house Breakers ON, and the Thermostat OFF

keep one probe on the Red wire,

and with the other probe, check each of the other colored wires...

at least one of them should read about 24v AC

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 07:20 pm

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jjmmr
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Ok, I was afraid of that. I was hoping I was doing something wrong with testing it, but it looks like I was not. I get a reading of 0 with all wires. In addition, there is a - sign flashing in the left hand corner

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 08:27 pm

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jjmmr
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Also, looking at the furnace the "ok" LED is not on or blinking. It seems there is no power going to the furnace at all. How do I check for voltage at the furnace end of things?

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 08:31 pm

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RegUS_PatOff
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You shouldn't have a -sign if it's set for 200v & AC volts (not DC)

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 08:32 pm

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jjmmr
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I promise I had it at AC. I know the DC is only for constant flows of power like a battery.

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 08:33 pm

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RegUS_PatOff
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It may be that the 24vAC Transformer is bad or not getting power.

Usually connected to the power at the Furnace.

Sometimes there's an ON/OFF switch near the Furnace.

Sometimes there's a ON/AUTO switch for the Fan.

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 08:36 pm

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jjmmr
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The furnace is in a closet in the garage and along the wall, about 7 feet up is a switch. It is switched on. I just turned it off and then on again. Nothing.

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 08:40 pm

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RegUS_PatOff
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You'd have to check to see if the Furnace is getting power...

maybe a nearby outlet that's on the same Breaker ?

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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 08:57 pm

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jjmmr
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There is an outlet in that closet right by the switch. I plugged a lamp in there and it lit.

I pressed the white button that the panel would press against if the furnace was closed and I can hear the hum of power running, but that's it.

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