So I come home from work and find that half of the circuits in my house tripped today from this morning's storm. My cable modem was fried, and apparently so were my thermostats.

I got a new cable modem and now need to get my AC working because it's fuckin' hot.

I reset the breakers for both ACs, but the thermostats were still dead. So, initially I suspected that the thermostats were fried. I removed the thermostats from the wall and took a multimeter to the power leads. Nothing. I made sure the multimeter was working by sticking it in a wall outlet, and sure enough, it's hot.

I don't know much about HVAC systems, so I'm sure there are other things I can check, but am just not aware of.

What else am I missing?

4/3/2006 8:30:16 PM

you should be getting 24 vdc to the thermostat

if you arent, you need to check the power boards at the central air handler

4/3/2006 8:33:08 PM

thanks,

not getting any voltage to the thermostat.

I'll check the central air hander... now, what am I looking for there?

4/3/2006 8:40:42 PM

just call an ac tech. if it's fried, i'd submit a claim to home owners insurance

4/3/2006 9:00:40 PM

you can live without AC, now if your computer got fried that would be an emergency

4/3/2006 9:26:23 PM

I checked the power boards on both central air handlers, and it looks like the transformers may have blown out. There's no voltage anywhere at the circuit board, but there is voltage where the ACs plug into the house circuits.

I'll probably have to call someone to replace that.


By the way, you should never make a homeowner's claim for anything less than catastrophic. Insurance companies are shady as shit and will drop coverage altogether for making a claim.

http://money.cnn.com/2005/05/26/pf/insurance/use_it_lose_it/

4/3/2006 9:34:47 PM

I have replaced one of those HVAC power boards before.. Paid about $300 for the board at a local supplier, but sure was cheaper than paying a company to come out and replace it. If you can afford to wait a few days, you can order the board online for a better price.

4/3/2006 10:26:04 PM

whole house surge arrestor for next time?

4/3/2006 10:44:52 PM

so 2 transformers, one circuit board, and a capacitor later,

I have A/C.

oh and $1100



I guess that's why they call it a "rainy day fund"

God has a twisted sense of humor.

4/4/2006 4:08:12 PM