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ThreeTaps · 10-09-2009, 04:18 AM

Well, I turned the window A/C unit on (Daewoo dwc-058rl) in my fermentation chamber to test it 48 hours before actually using it with a brew, and the A/C compressor turned off after about 10 minutes. The temp got down to 66F, then the compressor turned off and it's been blowing regular air for over an hour now. I have it set at 60F (lowest it will allow me to set it) but it doesn't get below room temp 68F as only the fan is on, not the compressor.

The A/C unit is on top of a garage closet, and the sensor wire lead was lengthened to 6'. The sensor does work accurately, as it detects cold refrigerator temperatures as well as hotter temps when I hold it in my hand.

Any ideas?

JKoravos · 10-09-2009, 04:25 AM

Find the AC's temp probe and heat it up between your fingers. If that doesn't turn it on, your compressor might be dead. Is it new or used?

ThreeTaps · 10-09-2009, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JKoravos

Find the AC's temp probe and heat it up between your fingers. If that doesn't turn it on, your compressor might be dead. Is it new or used?

I tried that before, and it does show the temp rising but doesn't turn the compressor on. It was bought new 2008 summer, and only used for a couple of months in the hot season.

I'm going to set it at 65 and see if that does anything. Maybe they have a low threshold set lower than it can actually go. Not likely, but worth a shot.

EDIT: Nope, nothing. Even turning it on turbo mode (no temp threshold, just constant cooling) didn't turn the compressor on. Ugh.

**Bsquared** · 10-09-2009, 04:43 AM

That does not sound good. Can you see if there is ice build up on the coils? and has the water trap been drained? May be try draining the condensation trap and turning it off over night.

did you turn it on less than 24hr after installing it? I've always heard that if you move a refrigeration system excessively, or tip it on its side, that you should give it 24hr before turning it back on.

Luckily its fairly cool right now, you might not need the ac to hold a good temp, that room you build might be adequate to hold a stable 68º. If you need it though, I have some room in my freezer chest's I can offer you.

dontman · 10-09-2009, 04:58 AM

I bypassed the whole tstat and just hardwired the ac so that the compressor is on if juice is flowing to it.

My temp control is based completely on the external t-stat.

ThreeTaps · 10-09-2009, 05:10 AM

Thanks for the replies. I don't think it's condensation or the coils freezing up, as this is the first time it's been on for longer than 30 minutes in over a year.

I guess I'll just have to start shopping around for another one.

jppostKW · 10-09-2009, 06:39 AM

Couple questions are is there freon in the system 2 there should be high and low pressure switches on it check to make sure they aren't open I.e. Show OL on your multimeter set to ohms last one and its really obvious and happened to me before but is there power to your compressor

ThreeTaps · 10-09-2009, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jppostKW

Couple questions are is there freon in the system 2 there should be high and low pressure switches on it check to make sure they aren't open I.e. Show OL on your multimeter set to ohms last one and its really obvious and happened to me before but is there power to your compressor

Thanks for the reply, but I have no idea how to check the freon in a window A/C unit. As far as checking for the high/low switches and all that other stuff, again don't know where to look. I would assume that since the unit powers on and the fan continually runs that the compressor would have power to it as well.

samc · 10-09-2009, 02:35 PM

I would reverse the sensor lengthening process to see if that is somehow shorting something out. I had a similar problem with my wine fridge conversion to kegerator recently. I bypassed the thermostat (very simple in this fridge) and it works perfectly, so far!

ThreeTaps · 10-09-2009, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by samc

I would reverse the sensor lengthening process to see if that is somehow shorting something out. I had a similar problem with my wine fridge conversion to kegerator recently. I bypassed the thermostat (very simple in this fridge) and it works perfectly, so far!

Good idea, but it's such a simple wiring job that I doubt it's the culprit. Just a two stranded wire connected to the same type of extension wire (slightly larger awg). Plus, if I shorten the lead, then it mitigates the whole purpose of having an A/C unit up top.

I'm looking on craigslist right now for a good price on a portable A/C unit that I can just put on the floor of the fermentation cabinet, then just direct the exhaust hose out the top.