This air conditioning repair article explains procedures for the diagnosis and repair of hard-starting air conditioning compressors. If your air conditioner or heat pump compressor motor won't start or has trouble starting, humming at start-up for example, it may be damaged and at or near end of life. But a common repair performed to try to get such motors running and to keep them in use longer is the installation of an air conditioner or heat pump "hard start" kit - a start capacitor or a start/run capacitor that helps get the motor spinning. First it's useful to diagnose the cause of the compressor's hard-starting trouble.© , All Rights Reserved. Continue reading at CAPACITORS for HARD STARTING MOTORS or select a topic from the More Reading links or topic ARTICLE INDEX shown below. - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice. Green link shows where you are in this article series. OR use the Search Box found below at Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

Click to Show or Hide FAQs Use the "Click to Show or Hide FAQs" link just above to see recently-posted questions, comments, replies, try the search box just below, or if you prefer, post a question or comment in the Comments box below and we will respond promptly. Publisher's Google+ Page by Daniel Friedman Click to Show or Hide Citations & References & See Fewer AdvertisementsFrom Google's Contributor website: Contribute a few dollars each month. The money you contribute helps fund the sites you visit. & FREE Shipping on eligible orders. Five Two One Inc Ships from and sold by NWFSupply. See more product details Do it yourself and save. Our annual DIY Event features top brands with easy-to-install products for your home. Compressor Saver CSR U1 Hard Start Capacitor Compressor Saver Hard Start Capacitor Model CSR U2 Compressor Saver Hard Start Capacitor Model CSR U3 FREE Shipping on orders over $49. Starting up is the hardest time in the life of any type of electrical equipment.

Ever notice that light bulbs almost always burn out when you first turn them on and not while they are on? This is due to the huge current that rushes in when a switch is thrown and power is first applied. Your air conditioner uses anywhere from 5 to 10 times more power on start-up than it does while running. With this burst of power comes a surge of heat that accompanies the electrical current. This heat damages the compressor, the terminals, the windings and run capacitor – all vital components of your air conditioner. The 5-2-1 Compressor Saver® protects these components by significantly reducing the amount of time it takes for your compressor to start – in some cases up to 50%. This means your air conditioner and compressor will bear ½ the stress, strain and heat each and every time it starts. Considering that your air conditioner may start up more than 6,000 times in a single cooling season, the positive impact that the 5-2-1 Compressor Saver® has on your air conditioner is significant.

Before you replace your air conditioner, try adding a 5-2-1 Compressor Saver®. home ac repair how toThe 5-2-1 Compressor Saver® might save you from having to outlay thousands of dollars to buy a new air conditioner or compressor. how do i know if i need a new ac unitAt a fraction of the cost, installing the 5-2-1 Compressor Saver® is a wise investment.average monthly cost window ac unit 6.7 x 4.7 x 2.3 inches 4.6 out of 5 stars #19,262 in Home Improvements (See top 100) #10 in Home Improvement > Building Supplies > HVAC > HVAC Controls 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) See all 138 customer reviews See all 138 customer reviews (newest first) Did not make any difference with amp draw.

easy install and works I installed this unit and the similar CSR U2 kit on my two 20year-old Ruud air-conditioners together with an Emerson SureSwitch contactor upgrade. made a big difference on my starting amps. Easy to install with good wiring diagrams. The condenser starts up much quicker now! Saved me couple thousand dollars and hassle of purchasing of a new A/C unit. Literally took me five minutes to install the capacitor and never had the circuit breaker tripped...CAUTION this is ONLY FOR 208-240v not 110v which was not in the product description or specs when I ordered it. What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item? Compressor Saver Hard Start Capacitor Model CSR U2 Compressor Saver Hard Start Capacitor Model CSR U3 Supco SPP6 Hard Start Kit Supco SPP6, Relay Start Capacitor 120-288VThe following are answers to some of the questions frequently asked regarding Kickstart® devices: Hard start devices extend the life of compressors considerably by bringing them up to full speed much more quickly and efficiently.

They also assist compressors in starting under very adverse ambient conditions such as low voltage or high head pressures.Kickstart® devices are the only two-wire start devices that utilize a potential relay along with the start capacitor. While other two-wire start devices also utilize start capacitors, they generally incorporate either a heat sensing device or a timer to determine when to take the capacitor out of the starting circuit. Air conditioning and refrigeration compressor manufacturers require a potential relay in combination with the start capacitor when specifying starting devices for their equipment. This is because they recognize the potential relay’s unique ability to disconnect the capacitor from the circuit at the precise moment that it is no longer needed. Any longer period of time causes damage to the compressor windings, and any shorter period of time does not provide the assistance the compressor requires, which can also cause damage.By assisting the compressor in starting at up to ten times faster than normal, Kickstart® hard start devices significantly reduce the amount of damaging heat that is generated in the motor windings with each and every start.

Over time, this reduced stress on insulation, wiring, and other critical components of the compressor has the effect of increasing its reliability and extending its useful life. Kickstart® hard start devices are able to accomplish this by improving the electrical efficiency (also known as “power factor”) of the compressor during the instant when it starts. Without a hard start device installed, the electrical efficiency at the moment of start-up is typically less than 50%. That means that less than 50% of the available power is being utilized to start the unit. With a Kickstart® device, the electrical efficiency is boosted to over 98% enabling all of the available power to reach the compressor for smooth, fast starts. In addition to the normal cycling (i.e. starting and stopping) that a compressor does to maintain a certain degree of coolness in a home, there are times when children or even adults will adjust the thermostat too frequently, causing a “short-cycling” effect.

This effect can also be caused by lightning, momentary power outages, etc. “InstantTM recycle” refers to the ability of a hard start device to assist the compressor in starting regardless of the required frequency of starts. Unless a hard start device has the ability to instantly recycle, it may not be available to assist the compressor when short-cycling conditions exist which can create an extreme strain on the compressor windings and lead to compressor damage. Kickstart® hard start devices have the ability to instantly recycle, and therefore can be counted on to assist the compressor in starting regardless of the frequency of starts. To illustrate, many two-wire devices need time to cool down or re-set after they have operated. This is because they typically use either a heat sensing device or a timer to determine when the start capacitor should be taken out of the starting circuit. It is important to note that these devices must complete their “cycle” before they are again ready to operate.

Unfortunately, the time required for these devices to cool down or re-set may not coincide with the starting demands placed on the compressor. Kickstart® hard start devices, on the other hand, utilize true potential relays that have the unique ability to instantly recycle without delay no matter how quickly or frequently the compressor is required to start.By allowing the unit to start more efficiently through power factor correction, Kickstart® hard start devices are an effective tool in preventing lights from dimming and enhancing overall power quality in the home. At one time, all single-phase air conditioning, heat pump, and refrigeration compressors were equipped with hard start devices at the factory. Several years ago, however, manufacturers decided to discontinue that practice for most air conditioners and heat pumps in an effort to reduce costs. Refrigeration compressors, on the other hand, were considered to be so critical to homeowners (due to potential food spoilage, etc.), that hard start devices continued to be installed to ensure reliable starts time after time.