How Do You Check if Your AC Fuse is Blown?

Air conditioners keep us cool and comfortable when it’s hot outside. As the summer peaks, you can see long lines for air conditioning installation in Corpus Christi. However, imagine your newly installed AC suddenly shuts down! That’s right; it’s an absolute nightmare as all the peace and comfort comes to an end. The chances are that your AC’s fuse might have blown up as it’s a common issue during hot temperatures. Now the question arises-How do you know if your AC fuse is blown?

An AC fuse is an essential part of the system which helps it run smoothly. While there are certain ways by which you can check for a blown fuse, let’s learn about the basics of a fuse at first.

What is The Role of an AC Fuse?

During an AC installation in Corpus Christi, TX, a fuse is connected to your AC unit, located in a disconnect box outside. When the temperatures outside are very high, your AC works extra hard to maintain the cool atmosphere inside the room/home. Now, the extended hours of non-stop operation can cause overheating of the unit. An AC fuse is heat-sensitive; thus, excessive power surge or overheating of the unit melts the filament in the fuse. This is typically called a blown fuse.

The fuse is designed so that it can bear the load of a specific limit of amperes. Therefore, If the voltage increases beyond its capacity, the fuse blows. Although the fuse blows itself, it happens to prevent any major damage to your AC. We can say that a blown fuse is just a precautionary measure to protect the system.

How Can I Check For a Blown AC Fuse?

Yes, you can check by yourself; however, we won’t recommend it. Although the unit seems shut, the current is still passing through the system, and handling it can be dangerous. However, most professional ac installations in Corpus Christi, TX, have special equipment like a voltmeter by which they can easily examine the unit.

Steps to check a blown fuse with a voltmeter

  • Firstly locate the disconnect box, which is usually mounted near the outdoor AC unit.
  • Lift open the disconnect box to expose the cables and locate both the incoming and outgoing wires. Be cautious as both of them carry 110 volts!
  • Attach the voltmeters lead to the lugs joining the two incoming wires. Here, a typical voltmeter reading should come between 220-240 volts depicting that the power supply is at its place. If you see no reading on the voltmeter, the problem isn’t the fuse.
  • Now, join the voltmeter’s leads to the lugs of the outgoing wires. A zero reading indicates a blown fuse. Otherwise, the problem is somewhere else and not the fuse!

Checking blown fuse can be dangerous if handled without experience and protective gear. That’s why it’s best to leave it to a professional air conditioning installation in Corpus Christi. We can examine and fix it right away! Call us at (361)-287-7032.