4 posts, read 42,523 times 25,521 posts, read 52,492,518 times 3,632 posts, read 7,226,434 times Originally Posted by TrapperL Not true- A main disconnect on the exterior is required today, but that may have not been the case when OP's house was built. It's not a "sub-panel" it would be the main breaker/fuse panel. If you have a breaker/fuse in the main panel, why would you ALSO have breakers/fuses outside- Wrong! If there are breakers/fuses in the main panel, there are "disconnects" at the unit. If there are NO breakers/fuses in the main panel they will be at the unit(s). 804 posts, read 2,720,065 times Typical MAIN panel box as per requirements of the second largest electrical supplier in the Southwest. Inside the MAIN panel box. Note breakers for 220V only in this box which are the range/stove, A/C compressor in this case, and to the subpanel box. Typical SUB panel box as accepted by the second largest electrical supplier in Texas.

This one is in the garage which is fairly typical for new construction. Note double breaker on lower left of box. Typical air handler installation. All residential air handlers are 110V, just like this one. Note 110v duplex receptacle for power. In the case of this house, there is no breaker at the compressor as the unit is within 5ft of the main panel box. Otherwise, a correct breaker of the correct size is required by code in a box no farther than 5 ft from the compressor. how to make window ac unit quieterYou may substitute a breaker cutoff which is a handle affair that all you have top do is pull it and the handle comes out cutting off the electricity. ac unit not working outsideThey are a one time use part and the entire unit replaced if you pull it. window ac unit tips

Breakers are reusable and in the case of these units, provide additional backup and convenience of being able to turn the unit off and on without cost. 333 posts, read 891,606 times Originally Posted by QIS Furnaces generally don't plug into a wall receptcale.Condensing Unit Frozen Wont Turn Off - What you can expect to learn from Condensing Unit Frozen Wont Turn Off article: this article is an answer from a question taken from our email by a visitor to High Performance HVAC. We often use the questions we get in the email as a guide to write articles. The topic is a condensing unit that will not turn off and it is freezing up. From my experience in the field and using my HVAC knowledge I offer the readers a list that could cause this problem. We hope it helps you. What’s the possible problem with a frozen air conditioner condenser that won’t turn off except with the breaker?Condensing Unit Frozen Wont Turn OffThe Answer for frozen air conditioner condensing unit that won’t turn offRelated Link: Here is a similar but different problem with a frozen air conditioner.

There are 3 possible problems with this unit and will probably need the attention of an HVAC Technician for repair. Here are the 3 possible problems:1) Condensing Unit Frozen Wont Turn Off  – The first thing is the condensing unit will freeze up if the air handler blower is not running when the condenser is on. The condenser is pumping liquid refrigerant to the air handler evaporator coil where air is needed to blow across the coil so the cold refrigerant can absorb heat. If the refrigerant is not absorbing heat because the blower is not blowing air across the evaporator coil then the condenser will freeze. This often happens when everything is working fine but the filter is plugged up, duct work is collapsed, or the blower motor fails. In this case, the blower is working fine but the condenser will not turn off so the thermostat is cycling the air handler blower on and off but the condenser is not turning off. It is possible you have a defective thermostat but I would check two other things first.

I would check the compressor contactor to see if it was stuck in the closed position. Under normal operation when the thermostat calls for cooling (heating in a heat pump) a 24-volt signal is sent to the compressor contactor inside the air conditioner condenser unit. This energizes and closes the contacts of the compressor contactor which is basically a switch controlled by the thermostat. This allows high voltage to pass to the compressor and the condenser fan motor. When the switch or compressor contactor closes and opens a slight arcing of electricity happens and over time this causes pitting of the contacts. It can also cause the contacts to stick so the even when the thermostat disengages the compressor contactor or stops sending the 24-volt signal the unit will continue to run because the contacts are stuck and will not release. The compressor contactor needs to be replaced and this should be done by a qualified HVAC technician. When the compressor contactor sticks like this the only way the condenser will turn off is if you turn the main power off to the condenser as you have been doing when you need air conditioning.

2) Condensing Unit Frozen Wont Turn Off  – The other possibility for your problem is the thermostat wires are bad somewhere. These would be the thermostat wires that go to the air conditioner condensing unit. Old thermostat or damaged thermostat wire will cause the condenser to run and not shut off. Old thermostat wire loses the insulation and the copper which the insulation protects touches and feeds continuous voltage to the compressor contactor. Same thing with a damaged thermostat wire. Leave the condenser on and turn the power off to the air handler to test this. This will kill the 24-volts which feeds the compressor contactor. If the condenser turns off then you have either a bad thermostat or the wire problem described here. New thermostat wire needs to be pulled from the thermostat to the condenser to fix this problem and I recommend you get a professional to do this job. Has some work been done lately around the house where someone was driving nails into the wall? If so then a nail could have pierced the wire and this is causing your problem.

3) The next thing it could be is a bad thermostat. If you have checked all the other things and nothing happens carefully disconnect the yellow wire from the Y terminal on the thermostat. If the unit shuts off then you have a defective thermostat and needs to be replaced.Related Link: Delve deeper into controls circuits and how control circuits work. Related Link: Here is a result of a similar problem with a frozen air conditioner that was not repaired and caused severe water damage.Condensing Unit Frozen Wont Turn Off - ConclusionWhichever problem you have it is probably best to call an HVAC contractor that specializes in service to repair this air conditioner problem. The work usually comes with a warranty and you will get the job done right by a professional who does this kind of work day in and day out. Another word of advice. Don’t keep running the condenser unit when its frozen or the evaporator coil is frozen. You cause irreparable harm to the compressor and that costs a lot more than replacing a compressor contactor, thermostat wire, or thermostat.