Home Air Conditioner Assist

[Rinkydink]

My wife's new puppy is quite the chewer. I noticed the little sh** chewed up the wires at my outside air units and they will need to be repaired. They are not cut in two but I do have copper showing so it will not endure the elements. It looks like some kind of control wire (approx. 19/24 AWG, maybe 6 or 8 wires)not the electrical feed. Maybe a thermostat wire? My question is what do I shut down to splice new wires without damaging the system etc.? I sweat like a pig in the Arkansas humidity so this is job one!

[ESokoloff]

Yep, sounds like the t-stat wires.

Hopefully the red(most likely) wire did not come into contact with a grounded surface. If it did hopefully the transformer is fuse protected.

 

The best way to kill the power would be at the circuit breaker. Look for a double (pole) circuit breaker marked A/C &/or condenser.

 

Around these parts it's code to have a disconnect within site of the condenser so if you have a gray or black box close to or directly attached to the unit that looks like this or this then kill the power here.

Note that the pull out type have to be installed the way it's removed. If you install it 180* out it will not complete the circuit/close the switch.

[upflying]

My wife's new puppy is quite the chewer.

 

I like that. Glad you clarified it is her puppy and not "our" puppy.

Lot's of self-help advice on the 'net to stop the chewing.

[BFish]

My wife's new puppy is quite the chewer.

 

I like that. Glad you clarified it is her puppy and not "our" puppy.

Lot's of self-help advice on the 'net to stop the chewing.

 

chewing thru a "hot" wire will help tremendously.

 

[randys]

depends on the dog. Had a lab once that repeatedly chewed through a 220 line out to a shed. could see the hair standing up, just chewing away, lol. I miss that idiot.

[Rinkydink]

Obviously no shockage through a thermostat wire so no lesson learned....for the dog anyway.

[Rinkydink]

There is no seperate breaker box by the outside units so I guess the main breaker is the place to shut off the air units b4 I do anything...

[motoguy128]

The controls for the outdoor condenser may be powered from the indoor unit (furnace or air handler) rather than the transformer on the condenser. You should either verify the power is off using a volt meter, or turn off the breaker to both the indoor and outdoor unit.

 

I'm suprised you have 8 wires. Is this a heat pump? (produces heat in the winter?). Heat pumps should be common in Arkansas.

 

Label everything very, very well (make a diagram) before you disconnect anything. 1 wrong wire and you could cause some major problems.

 

 

FYI- if you're good with electrical, while you working on it, you might consider installing an outdoor disconnect, which is normally required by modern code.

 

I would also run the thermostat wires thoguht seal tite or armoured conduit to portect them better. Most HVAC companies don;t care abut doing a job right, only wuick and cheap... or they simply have poor training. Not unlike some automotive and motorcycle mechanics.

[ESokoloff]

The controls for the outdoor condenser may be powered from the indoor unit (furnace or air handler) rather than the transformer on the condenser. You should either verify the power is off using a volt meter, or turn off the breaker to both the indoor and outdoor unit.

 

 

You are absolutly correct, my mistake.

[Rinkydink]

Probably fewer than 8 wires, I was just guessing. The wires are color coded so I should be able to keep them straight. No heat pump as I have seperate (gas) heat and air units. There is no outside breaker box and the wires are too small to carry very much current so....

 

If I understand correctly I will need to kill the power to both the outside and inside units and I should be fine to go ahead and splice and repair?

[ESokoloff]

....

 

If I understand correctly I will need to kill the power to both the outside and inside units and I should be fine to go ahead and splice and repair?

 

Yes.

Killing the power to the indoor unit may be as easy as pulling the (115V) plug from the wall.

[motoguy128]

Probably fewer than 8 wires, I was just guessing. The wires are color coded so I should be able to keep them straight. No heat pump as I have seperate (gas) heat and air units. There is no outside breaker box and the wires are too small to carry very much current so....

 

If I understand correctly I will need to kill the power to both the outside and inside units and I should be fine to go ahead and splice and repair?

 

Yes, it's powered from one transformer or the other, so if you pwoer down both, you're good. Although, IMO you're still best ot have voltmeter of one of those nifty tools (looks lie ka fat ball pint pen) that lights up if there is power on a wire... to verify that the power is off.

 

Then again, it's only 24VAC... so it wouldn't be pleasant if you got zapped, but is unlikely to kill you...but then again, in theory it still could, so why take chances.

[Rinkydink]

I happen to have one and a digital multi-meter and will check b4 I do anything. Thanks for all your help.