Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

[Mark42]

Where can I order HVAC supplies online for a Heil A/C system? The Contactor Relay is going again. Its a 240v double pole/throw relay. Tends to get stuck off or on or only half on and the fan runs, etc. I found one online supplier that wants $120 and another that wants about $50. I recall paying $12 at a supply shop near me that has since moved. Know a discount shop that sells online?<br /><br />EDIT:<br /><br />I remember my cost was low because the installer called the supply house and told them to give me his cost on the part. I also see the more expensive part is a sealed unit and the $50 part is the same as what is in there now (open design). Is it worth buying the more expensive relay? This contactor/relay seems to last one or two years tops. Will the sealed contactor last longer than 2 years?<br /><br />This is the same part used on many manufactures units - listed as standard part for " Carrier, Bryant, Day & Night, Rheem, Ruud, Intertherm, Gaffers & Sattler, Trane, Lennox, American Standard, Bard, and most all other brands of Air Conditioning units up to 3-1/2 Ton's of Cooling."<br /><br />So why do they have such a short life span?<br /><br />This is the part: web page

 

[rwise]

Re: Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

"So why do they have such a short life span?"<br />1 Low voltage<br />2 wiring to small<br />3 starter under sized for the app.<br />4 compressor (bad) pulling to many amps<br />5 thermostat set to hold the temp to close <br />(only 1 or 2 degree temp change between on and off)<br />6 loose connection/s at the starter

 

[Mark42]

Re: Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

Thanks Rwise,<br /><br />I'll check the voltage and wire size. Its on a 30 amp 240 line added by the installer. Not sure what the thermostat degree change is, but the compressor goes on and runs a long time straight, it doesn't cycle on/off/on/off quickly.<br /><br />I'll check for loose connections. What is the stater? (I don't know much about A/C units)<br /><br />Edit: I called the installer, he pointed me to his new supplier. He also reminded me that the system is 7 years old now. So this is the third relay is 7 years. But the first was replaced because the contacts closed on a Earwig and burned the contacts. That was the first week installed. The second one was replaced by me probably two years after that so it is about 5 years old.<br /><br /> The 30 amp Contact/relay is $10, the 40 amp is $26.95. I think I'll spring for the 40 amp. Maybe it will be the last.

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

Don't want to make you feel bad Mark, but I just replaced that part on my "no newer than 1977" Chrysler Airtemp yesterday. The part was $37 at the local supply house, that's not supposed to sell retail. As far as I know, the one I replaced was the original. Not sure about online sales

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

Sometimes the name brand on the contactors can make a difference. I have had good luck with Copeland contactors. SOmetimes Copeland will not warranty their compressors if their contactor is not used.

 

[rwise]

Re: Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

good parts (brands) make a difference, the 40 amp contactor (starter) will hold up longer than one rated at 30 amps. Back when I built control panels for over head bridge cranes I over rated everything, some of those ran 20 years without more than a fuse being replaced!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

I got the 40 amp relay. It's made by Honeywell, or at least that is the name on it. The supplier said the 30 amp model he carries is "an ok relay, but there are better ones out there" and said go with the 40 amp because it is made by a different company. I'll try to get it in tonight after things cool off a bit outside. We are going to have 90+ degree weather here for the rest of the week. Oh boy. <br /><br />BTW I checked the breaker and wires. The compressor is on two 30 amp breakers with 10 guage wire and the connections were tight. So hopefully the new relay will last.<br /><br />Just got the electric bill. $343 for the last two months! Oh yeay baby, the AC's been running non stop!<br /><br />TilliamWe, That old Chrysler must have been built well! When you replace it, send me the relay! LOL!

 

[RetNav]

Re: Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

Mark42,<br />I just replaced the contactor on my york unit and as shown it was a total of $9.72, 24V, 30A.<br />.<br />.<br />CC****SONCQ<br />INVOICE<br />C.C. ****son Co. committed to service since 1933<br />Branch: 1027 VALDOSTA GA 1027<br />P.O. BOX 13501<br />ROCK HILL, SC 29731-3501<br />INVOICE<br />9182996<br />Page<br />Invoice Date<br />7/13/200507:41:34<br />lof 1<br /> <br />*».• v;<br />803-980-8000<br />Bill To:<br />1027 - DEALER CASH SALES VALDOSTA, GA 31601<br />ORDER NUMBER<br />5723449<br />Ship To:<br />1027 - DEALER CASH SALES 1871 BUSINESS PARKWAY VALDOSTA, GA31601<br />Customer ID: 143846<br /> <br /> <br />PO Number<br /> Terms Description<br /> Net Due Date<br /> Disc Due Di<br /> ite Discount Amount<br /> <br /><br /> COD<br /> 07/13/05<br /> 07/13/05<br /> 0.00<br /> <br />Order Date<br /> Pick Ticket No<br /> Primary Salesrep Name<br /> Taker<br /> <br />7/13/2005 07:24:53<br /> 7101913<br /> -'. . Sales Rep Branch 1027<br /> KCO WART 1027<br /> <br /><br /> Quantities<br /> i*am in<br /> <br /> Pricing UOM<br />Unit Size<br /> Unit Price<br /> Extended Price<br /> <br />Ordered<br /> Shipped<br /> ' Remaining<br /> UOM Unit Size<br /> §». Item Description<br />'^<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />Carrier:<br />Tracking #:<br /> <br />9.09<br />9.0900<br />EA<br />1.00<br />0.00 EA DP1030A5013<br />1.0 CONTACTOR; Single POLE, 24V, 30A<br /> <br />Shipment Accepted By:<br /> <br /> <br />9.09<br />0.36<br />0.09<br />0.09<br />0.09<br />9.72<br />0.00<br />Total Lines: 1

 

[Mark42]

Re: Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

Retnav,<br /><br />Yeah, the 30 amp double pole relay is $10.00 for this unit, but I went with the 40 amp for durability. I notice your relay is single pole. I have a 3.5 ton unit. How many tons is your unit?<br /><br />Its in. Took all of 10 minutes and the system is running as it should. I guess the 3.5 ton compressor is hard on the relays because all 4 contacts were burned, and three were missing the hardened faces. Oh boy....<br /><br /><br />Now to replace that attic ventilation fan that died.....<br /><br />Ya know, if I didn't fix most of the stuff around here myself, I couldn't afford to live in my own darn house!

 

[RetNav]

Re: Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

Mark42, I have a York and it is a 4 ton unit. We have lived in this place for about 10 years and this is the first time the contactor has fried. I do HVAC work for family and friends only so don't have to worry about high costs of contract maintenance.

 

[Stratosfied]

Re: Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

Marc, as a follow up, does your unit cycle on/off properly now?

 

[TilliamWe]

Re: Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

TilliamWe, That old Chrysler must have been built well! When you replace it, send me the relay! LOL!

I thought I would do that on Sunday (the hottest day of the year here 104). It quit blowing cold air. Switch was working fine, though. I let it rest for about 4 hours, and it works again.<br />Don;t be surprised if you get a note from me next spring asking where to ship that contactor to, though. I think 28 years is about long enough for the old Mopar!

 

[Mark42]

Re: Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

Stratosfied,<br /><br />The unit is running fine. Still have to get a new motor for the attic roof vent. The supplier said they run around $60! Yikes! $60 for a 1/2hp motor? <br /><br />This house is killing me.

 

[Kenneth Brown]

Re: Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

Check with Granger Mark. Most of the time they can beat just about anybody.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

Last evening I stopped at Lowes and find the replacement motor for my roof vent for only $33! Oh joy of joys! So I take the bad motor/fan assembly out and go to swap the fan over to the new motor but the allen screw is rusted in place. So tight the allen wrench is bending when pushed. So a little penetrant, and still it won't budge. So out comes the torch to heat up the collar. But first thing I notice is the fan is stamped sheetmetal and it is heating and distorting before the collar is getting hot. Oh well. The fan is so delecate that any brute force or excess heat will trash it. I packed up the new motor and will return it tonight. I'll pick up a whole roof fan and install just the motor and fan in my existing hood. What a PITA. The upside is that they have two speed thermostatically controlled fans in Lowes so that is an upgrade. (the one I had is one speed. Actually "no speed" because its broken).<br /><br />Kenneth, I checked with Grainger and they have the same Air Vent brand that Lowes carries. Hopefully the Air Vent brand will outlast the old no-name brand that lasted 8 years.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

Its done! Ended up buying a gable vent because it has the same motor and fan blade as my roof vent. Just took out the motor and fan and installed it. Even came with the automatic thermostat switch so I now have a spare. Plus it is putting out a few more CFM than the old fan is rated for.<br /><br />And another plus, I always thought the back corner bedroom was hotter than all other rooms because it took the afternoon sun on two outside walls. Wrong. It was hot because there was a sharp bend in the flexable cold air line feeding the ceiling vent. So I disconnect, reroute and re-tape the feed and air is blasing into the room with all the gusto it should have. While I'm up in the attic, the other feeds and two big returns are inspected. No kidding, one return was 50% blocked by being bent too tight. I placed an empty cardboard box under the return to increase the radius of the bend and instantly I can hear the rush of air. Wonderful! Now ALL the vents in the house are making a little more noise from the increase of rushing air. Hopefully fixing the "clogs" in the system will gain some lost efficiency.<br /><br />Isn't home ownership just loads of fun??? And to think if I wasn't screwing around with the A/C these last two days, I could have been sewing the top for the boat.

 

[Stratosfied]

Re: Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

Marc, man I hope you have been in the attic at night! It would kill me to go up there in the daytime. Just as a curious note, what kind of roofing do you have? There was a write up in the paper about the difference in attic heat between the different roofing materials and insultion techniques.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

Its a basic 15 year 3 tab fiberglass/tar builder quality shingle. Dark grey. Ridge vent. There is R19 fiberglass batt insulation on the attic floor. It sure does get hot up there. Went up in the evening after a rain storm blew through and it wasn't bad at all. Set the fan thermostat to kick in at 100*. Should reach that on any given sunny day.

 

[Mark42]

Re: Need HVAC supplies - Contactor Relay

Came home today to an empty house, wife is out with kids at the bowling alley. I go right to the back bedroom and it is warm. Darn! Thought I fixed that. Check the other rooms. They are warm too. In fact the whole house is warmer than usual. Disgusted, I go change out of my office cloths and plop down in front of the TV waiting for family to come home. Soon wife walks in and comments... "Did you notice its not as cool as it usually is?" I say yeah, something must be broken but I'm just too darn tired to bother looking at it. She says "Oh, I was cold so I turned the temperature up a few degrees...." That's good enough for me!