Managed to run the ac for 48 hours unattended on a '21 tab400 cool cat with the outside cover on the intake in 100 degree heat. Is there anything I can attempt to bring it back to life? Blower blows.
if a cat has nine lives, it stands to reason why this one lived. turned the unit off and walked away, being the mechanically empathetic person I am, returned 30 minutes later to try the power, low and behold it works and blows ice cold. I had meanwhile anticipated the compressor was cooked and anticipated the $1600 for a replacement, according to my research during those 30 minutes. (Still oppressively 92F degrees at 10pm, wasnt long ago that normal desert climate would be @ 76F deg at this time of night) 92F outside and blowing 50F from the ducts is what I would expect. Winning after thinking I was losing.
The condenser probably got way too hot and couldn't turn the refrigerant into liquid any longer. Turning the "cat" off and let it cool down made the process work again.
The compressor has thermal protection and shuts itself off if overheating. The fans will continue to run trying to cool things down. You should be just fine. Many of us have made a similar mistake. FWIW - Cooling performance can be substantially improved with an external baffle placed on the outside grill that separates the hot exhaust from the inlet air.
@rfuss928- can you explain this baffle? Is it just hanging on the grill when the AC is on?
Thanks
Yes, it folds flat for travel and hangs from a hook on to the grill. It directs the hot outlet air from the center section of the opening down and away from the cold air inlet on the sides and top. It's built out of 1/4" plywood, yellow paint and duct tape... The new CoolCat outlet grill is divided a bit different than my 2009 was but the same style hood all the way to the top of the opening will do the same job.
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Cheers!
FWIW - Cooling performance can be substantially improved with an external baffle placed on the outside grill that separates the hot exhaust from the inlet air.
One man, one woman, two small dogs and a sense of humor.
The new CoolCat outlet grill is divided a bit different than my 2009 was but the same style hood all the way to the top of the opening will do the same job.