That brown sheathed low voltage wire from the air handler to the ac unit outside tells the contractor when to engage.
How to test low voltage on ac unit.
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Home air conditioners are offered in two styles.
Do it at the thermostat and the breaker level.
The high side is the line voltage of the transformer and the electrical connection to the feeding voltage generally a 120 vac power.
This allows the high voltage to pass from one side of the contractor to the other flowing on to the compressor and condenser fan motor.
The secondary or low voltage side is the power that is transformed into 24 volts.
Make a mental note of the voltage.
If the voltage detected by the multimeter isn t what you expect you know the component isn t working and may need to be replaced.
The proper voltage for operating an air conditioner.
Determining the location of the wiring problem can be difficult but using a multimeter is a fairly easy method to test low voltage wiring.
Placing test leads in a or ma inputs and then measuring voltage will create a short in the measurement circuit.
Without this low 24 volt communication the ac won t start.
You need to know the voltage it produces.
However analog multimeters are still very easy to use and useful for testing voltage.
How to test an ac contactor.
Analysis of ac voltage measurements.
There is no direct electrical connection between the high side and the low side areas of a transformer used for a 24 volt application.
Before removing the contactor shut off power to the air conditioner.
When different from an expected measurement voltage is more likely to be lower than normal.
Once the power is turned off walk over to the condenser unit.
Look on the label on your battery or transformer.
The thermostat uses a 24 volt low voltage transformer to send a signal to the a c and furnace so you are in no danger of receiving an electric shock but it never hurts to disconnect the.
The simplest way to test voltage is by using a digital multimeter that automatically adjust to the correct test settings.
Failing to do so could lead to electrocution.