MY 3/12 ton home AC UNIT is Popping! does this sound right?

Question

I am having a huge problem right now on my 8 year old 10 seer 3 1/2 ton unit. My ac was popping and I found out it was the wires to the compressor. The tech told me that a surge or something melted the plug. The AC unit would trip the breaker due to he had straps keeping in on and not pooping off but that didnt work for long. I am right now having him put on a new plug wire due to the melted rubber has opened the electric from touching each other and making it pop and all. I hope it was the problem. Mine is a all in one unit and I have a manufactured home. Does this sound like it will fix it? My freind told me that it wont and its most likely the compressor. What do you think. Please let me know if I should replace the whole thing or not.

Answer 1

I had a simular thing happen to me.The molded plug want short and caught on fire.All I did was replace the cord(I had a spare) clean it up(hey it was out anyway) and its worked fine since(but its more like 15yrs old so I realy don't expect it to last much longer)

Answer 2

amp amps amps how many amp is it drawing on start up is it whinning when running your pressures that will not work change the condenser quit s******g around with it 10 year old go ahead get a 13 seer before you start a fire and burn everything

Answer 3

HVAC Tech.:  What you have is called a "package unit". The compressor is over amping. Excessive head pressure is most often the cause. Dirt, grass clippings, even ants, can block air flow through the condenser coil, raising head pressure causing the extra amps to burn wires. I have seen the draw go to well over100 amps, tripping the breakers. If not now then very soon the compressor WILL need replacement. Make sure the unit gets a thorough cleaning.