Intermittent Low Voltage Short Hiding In Plain Sight!

In this video I visit a vacant house that had no heat and found a blown low voltage fuse! #hvacguy #hvaclife #hvactechnician #airconditioner #hvac #hvactrainingvideos #furnace #heatpump #hvacinstall #hvactroubleshooting #lowvoltage #lowvoltagenation
Merch Store : hvac-guy-2.cre...
HVAC LIFE FB Group: / 521086622906115
Here are links to the tools I use, And it costs you nothing extra to buy from this list:
Appion AV760: amzn.to/3OkrwHC
Fielpiece SC680 Clamp Meter: amzn.to/33rhxvE
Fieldpiece SC480 Clamp Meter: amzn.to/33kfgCB
Fieldpiece SMAN 480 Digital Manifold: amzn.to/3twfVvA
Fieldpiece DR58 Leak Detector: amzn.to/3nt1TXw
Fieldpiece JL3KM2 Bluetooth Manometer set: amzn.to/3blMrJR
Fieldpiece Bluetooth Scale: amzn.to/3Gzveab
Fieldpiece SDMN6 Manometer: amzn.to/3qwk9RP
Yellow Jacket Tubing Expander: amzn.to/3sjuK3a
Milwaukee M12 Impact Driver: amzn.to/37xXkqk
DIY Vacuum Attachment for drains: amzn.to/3tDpfNU
Fieldpiece Smart Probe Kit : amzn.to/34NG3HL
Klein Heavy Duty Wire Strippers : amzn.to/3I8YNzT
Klein Needle Nose Crimpers/Stippers: amzn.to/3fuwXlw
Klein Knee Pad: amzn.to/3cy6FB0
Klein 7in1 Flip Socket: amzn.to/3bpabwG
Klein Journeyman Pliers: amzn.to/3tvB60w
Milwaukee Slim Packout On My Torch: amzn.to/3KeLm3j
Aluminum Packout Wall Mount on torches : amzn.to/3Kf9hQg
Milwaukee Tool Box: amzn.to/322iyK9
Veto Pro Pac Tech MCT: amzn.to/3nwwQdA
Milwaukee Hook Blade Knife: amzn.to/33F3m5T
Testo 300 flue gas analyzer: amzn.to/3IcS3Bd
Western Nitrogen Regulator: amzn.to/3rmdKrx
Klein Canvas Bucket: amzn.to/3FyzKVf
Flag Velcro Patch Kit: amzn.to/3K8Eswx
Supco Magnetic Door Switch Holder: amzn.to/34IcXcL
Milwaukee Magnetic Light: amzn.to/3FulCfF
Milwaukee Rechargeable Headlamp: amzn.to/3nuXsvf
SS2 Float Switch: amzn.to/3K7LJMW
3-Amp Breaker: amzn.to/3nxaSXJ
Appion Valve Core Removal Tool: amzn.to/33CFArw
Appion G5 Twin Recovery Machine: amzn.to/33Dvd6C
Yellow Jacket Large Tubing Bender: amzn.to/3qwJv1U
Similar Small Tubing Bender: amzn.to/3fJsziJ
Fluke Twist Guard Test Leads: amzn.to/3216R6j
Fluke 975 Air Meter: amzn.to/3GwD9oM
Honeywell T-4, 2-Heat, 1-Cool Programmable Thermostat: amzn.to/3qtIuaX
Kidde Carbon Monoxide Alarm: amzn.to/3qtIIyP
SolderWeld Flame Resistant Magnetic Blanket: amzn.to/3qtJ4Wb
Malco 1/4 - 5/16 flip bit : amzn.to/3nr67yU
Quick Check Acid Test: amzn.to/3GA2XAy
Aims Power Inverter: amzn.to/3qOSc87
Wiha Torqe Screwdriver : amzn.to/3u1swH6
Wiha Torqe Screwdriver 1/4” adapter: amzn.to/3IH22Pw
American Flag Gator : amzn.to/3rKBl5u
Compressor Tote: amzn.to/3H8xHst
Inspection Mirror: amzn.to/3r9PERV
Wiha TorqueVario-S 10-50 in/lb Torque Screwdriver : amzn.to/3GbKAku
1/4” adapter for Wiha Torque Screwdriver : amzn.to/3u8g0pq

[@Cmart270]

Been doing this for 18 years strong...... and Ohhhhhh goodness!!! Intermittent low voltage is always hard to track down, and alllllll kinds of strange things with the equipment, can occur!!! Pride you on your persistence!!!❤😅

[@HVACGUY]

Thanks

[@andreeriner811]

Oh my Lord bud lol, that’s my worst nightmare on a heat pump. A low voltage short can drive you insane. I’ve had I don’t know how many like that and I can drive you out of your mind. Trying to find it. Then every now and then it’s something simple and you find it right away. I’ve had everything. I had a Payne one time it was new had been in just a little over a year, it was doing that intermittently turned out. It was the wires going to the defrost thermostat had the most tiniest of spots it was grounded out and when it would call for a defrost cycle guess what it would blow the fuse every time. Good job my friend I was pulling for you because I’ve been in your shoes so many times lol.

[@throttlebottle5906]

the T-stat wires pinched through the cover caught my eye right away, now I'll finish watching to see if that was all or others things. **edit: the spot pinched under the disconnect I missed, but that will sure do it! well, that turned into an real time consuming sheet show! 😬 found in the end though, it's very hard to find sometimes.

[@Bob.W.]

It's a Payne! :) Thanks.

[@brianwaldo2642]

What a Payne in the butt😂. Your dogged determination is appreciated.

[@jimharmon3404]

It's like peeling a rotten onion. Layer by layer you find more rot but finally resolve it. Great job Curtis!

[@HVACGUY]

Thanks

[@jthonn]

You finally got it. I thought a new wire was coming.

[@zack9912000]

I have done thar a few times and it isnt always a bad thing. When the wire look like crap from sun damaged and hacks installs.

[@dashcamandy2242]

22:30 - Would you say that you "still haven't found what you're looking for?" 🎶

[@myfastcars]

Have you ever opened up a panel and found an animal or insect surprise?? Love the channel and enjoy when you pop up in my feeds!!

[@HVACGUY]

Definitely

[@bige859]

Service techs find animals all the time. I found a fried frog that’s leg was touching the common on the capacitor the other day😂

[@gtpforever]

I seem to find mice, bats, birds, and insects galore, nuts of all sorts, rats, the occasional opossum or raccoon

[@jackdonovan2270]

Years ago I was replacing and old r22 janitrol condenser, threw the condenser up in my truck, (I was young) there was a 2’ baby rattler, right there⚡️⚡️ Lucky I guess

[@dfirth224]

I'm surprised to see that propane tank sitting next to the house. In CA they need to be at least 10', 25', or 50' from buildings, depending on the size of the tank.

[@woody95124]

Your very good bud....You know lot on this stuff.....

[@cjeffcoat2]

I’m sure these types of calls are very frustrating, but I do like the more in-depth videos.

[@tedhicks5431]

At least you spotted the short its the one's you fix and never pin point the short fun ain't it

[@jaymartin5095]

You are a man of exemplary patience. Good work getting that operational again. Thank you for posting.

[@Zeviticus]

These hard to find sources of fault are the best videos, especially low voltage. Thanks for posting!

[@timothygingras6939]

Excellent work, Curtis. I admire your tenacity.

[@HVACGUY]

Thank you kindly!

[@markcotter2355]

wow that one gave you some trouble. good job.

[@gregsidel3557]

You done a damn good job you had several problems and you kept chasing it and you finally found it all of them plus you had to change out the dirty filter thank you for the video

[@josefmerritt1849]

Thanks for the video, I enjoy watching how the thought process progresses when looking for these shorts

[@HVACGUY]

Glad you enjoyed!

[@Azzen234]

this is why, when i personally install a new hvac system, i always install THREE wire to the outdoor condenser if its a cool only, and an 8 wire if heat pump because if these issues... and an 8 wire indside ALWAYS

[@mattliebenau9083]

Intermittent low voltage problems stink. I was very happy when I discovered those Poppers and didn’t have to carry around 50 fuses. Good on ya for being persistent and I hope you got paid!

[@stevencossaboon3237]

Excellent troubleshooting and work Curtis.

[@kens.3729]

It would be Horrible to go up in the Attic especially in your Hot and Humid Georgia Summers. 🤪👎

[@deanmartin1966]

I enjoy the more in depth videos. Good video

[@HVACGUY]

Thanks

[@TomLawson05]

Curtis that Payne was a pain glad you figured it out great job thanks for the video

[@5DangerRanger0]

Carry some 40/40 connectors with you so when you find wires entering a metal enclosure without one you can throw one in.

[@AutomationDnD]

That was a GOOD one (Not Easy) You were like a Hound sniffing a trail, & you keep circling & circling & eventually find the problem. Most of us who don't know HVAC would not even GET CLOSE to finding the issues , IF we even tried. & that looked like a fairly decent installation too---- aside from those basic wiring / shorting issues.

[@kg4muc]

Low voltage shorts for some reason seem to always be intermittent. Good job sticking with it! Have a nice weekend 😅

[@HVACGUY]

Thanks, you too!

[@robavis4906]

Good job Curtis

[@Emerickocsis]

Excellent work i enjoy all your videos

[@HVACGUY]

Thank you very much!

[@Emerickocsis]

Do you work on any oil fired equipment down in Georgia

[@glenmartin2437]

Thank you. Intermittant problems are a challenge. Thanks for getting it running.

[@caru3257]

I had one where the homeowner replaced the thermostat and it burned it. The contactor was stuck open but the system did not blow the fuse at the transformer.

[@MrMultitool]

You did a great job.

[@wendelfears1027]

Smashed our faces into the insulation twice. We'll be inching the rest of the night.

[@HVACGUY]

😂

[@robalexander7348]

You done well Curtis with that annoying fault, i hope your next job is a more easy job to finish off with. 🤔 Au

[@tylerdonley9130]

I love how long it took to find this short. Who would have thank to look inside the condenser for rubs.

[@ErickHernandez93]

Haha once i saw that vibration from the blower i figured it’d be in the man 😂😂

[@myfastcars]

LOL!! The way that inside unit was jumping around, That Fan is D I R T Y !! Man, that filter was NASTY!

[@TimHandy-o1r]

Low voltage problems are always my personal hell. Great job!

[@stevea6722]

Just wondering if some of that (thermostat, fuse, contactor) could have been caused by a lightning strike nearby that ran in on it.

[@AaronPowellvox]

Been there so many times. I found a fried caterpillar today trying to short high voltage. Poor dude didn’t stand a chance.

[@KevinKinder-ey9gv]

Propane tank probably for stove or fireplace gas logs

[@KenKen-ui4ny]

It could be also for a tankless water heater. There a few houses in my area too, that are set up with gas hot water, but the central heating is electric.

[@KevinKinder-ey9gv]

Never thought of that

[@andys5203]

Thank you, sir. Awsome determination 😊

[@fairinwhite7694]

I like th new camera and getting educated

[@fernandobazan829]

Wow what a nightmare T/S but you did it great video fyi if you ring the wires you could have found it faster maybe?

[@harrydickson4575]

👍👍👍

[@jonathanbrantley8406]

Need to carry you around a 2'x3' -3/4" ply so you can have a plank to stand on over access holes and if you like you can screw it down so it doesn't move until done a lot better feeling than that sudden stop !

[@petersteffen9228]

In a severed case, sometimes a complete replacement of ALL the wires in the system starting from scratch, might bring good results.

[@rickcrain8685]

Great job!!

[@Djcarp83]

Been their many times and in my experience I e started looking for the white arch marks on the copper most of the time on the liquid lines

[@chuckstillwell9549]

Good catch

[@Bjornar_Gjostol]

Another good video, love the troubleshooting videos, have a great weekend. Greetings from Norway

[@richardyates1033]

You should have a grommet or some kind of anti-chafe connector in the hole where the wire goes in. The vibration may make the metal of the hole cut into the wires and cause a short.

[@optionstraderman]

Great Video, love the troubleshooting part that most tech's never show.

[@Wade6242]

you,ll have dreams about that one

[@emptech]

I didn't go to the end of the video, I ran out of time. Before you completed the job, did you install either a bushing, grommet, or "alligator teeth" in the hole of the junction box where the low voltage wires passed through? Also noticed where the stat wires follow the refrigerant lines as they passed under some sheet metal, did you tie the wires off so they can't rub out? I'm asking, what is going to prevent this problem from happening again? Jim

[@waltdembeck4634]

why in the world do they put the inside unit where you either cant get to it or like this one can't hardly work on it, must be the same people who make cars.

[@TheKawasakiBros]

every time you put your hand on that suction line that boy goes crazy i think it might be there tbh but ill keep watching

[@rafaelandreano]

Quite a journey only to find out the pressures are low wow.

[@RedWhiteNBlade]

Hi Curtis, wanted to know if you encountered any probs on the M18 Vac Pump post-decay test (Lesson Learned is to purge hose/ zero out to ambient pressure from tee and hard reset) hope this helps. Dont condemn the battery

[@kennybakerhvacr5751]

Like most id rather a high voltage short all day long over these. Good work buddy

[@bobgallo3775]

I used to find the low voltage wire shorted to the copper tubing in many Goodman/Amana units. After wrapping the wire, I would put a short piece of Armorflex on the tubing and wire tie so that it could not happen again. Hope you were able to recover most of the cost of this job, Curtis.

[@josephtramutola592]

Sometimes you get a thing that I was told years ago they called faint voltage even though you see voltage it’s not necessarily true voltage so what I would take a contactor and if it can’t pull contact in, it’s not true voltage.

[@m9ovich785]

I'm surprised You didn't inspect the T-stat wire right at the corner of the cabinet and the cable under the Disconnect Box. 1st before anything else.. In the Tele, Satellite and sound Bizz, I had a knack to spot stuff like that and be suspicious and check it out.. Thanks.. Mike M.

[@MrMoon275]

Wow you definitely earned your money on that service call alot of techs would probably leave it for the next person!

[@Atchapa]

Love your videos! Hvac’n out of Texas!

[@Ogtonyg]

Have they been quoted for replacement? That thing has definitely lived way past its design life. I wouldn't dump hardly any money into that system at this point but the customer wants what they want.

[@derek10w]

What a coincidence. A few weeks ago I went on a service call with a coworker who spent the previous day searching for a short. Thanks to a previous post on the HVAC reddit, one of the first things I did was look inside the heat pump and I found a pressure switch wire that was rubbing against a pipe and shorting out.

[@charlespaine987]

Why don’t the manufactures put in screw terminals in air handlers to land thermostat and condenser wires instead of the rats nest . Simplify installation make trouble shooting simpler with easy visual verification. A set of indicator led lights would be instant verification of function commands

[@derek10w]

@@charlespaine987 add some float switches and condensate pumps to the mix 🤪

[@charlespaine987]

@@derek10w yes a terminal strip to land them on would save a lot of field chasing in the spaghetti of lose wires. There is no absolute cure for insulation errors but we could make it a lot easier for those that follow up in field work . I have worked in the field for years.

[@fairinwhite7694]

Sounds better also

[@DJV94022]

With that dirty air filter im sure it made the unit quit running making the attic tenant (rat) go chew on the wire in hopes of making the unit kick on 😂

[@clivejoyce9437]

That disconnect probably controls all the street lights too 😂

[@hvacmania8323]

😂

[@cafemolido5459]

Instead of having to walk outside to just see if the compressor kicks on, best use a baby monitor to monitor from inside.

[@4thlinegooner582]

Yep, the outdoor unit definitely has that Carrier family rattle.

[@chrissmith513]

That's Dangerous in the Stairwell

[@HVACGUY]

Yes, it was

[@AdamCraig-ir6yl]

See curtis, this is what we want to see. We dont wanna see dirty units or bad caps. We wanna see the sloppy stuff. Other people post same ez stuff all the time

[@abtechgroup]

That fan needs a balance!

[@JAWmankato]

What brand of light are you using?

[@SevagArmoudikian]

How much did you end up charging for that

[@TheKawasakiBros]

low voltage cam be a payne lol couldn't pass up the chance

[@tedlahm5740]

no light up in the attic?

[@jeanlawson9133]

Someone should make a wood insert for the ladder hole 😮

[@bruceorourke5432]

How do you like using those Fieldpiece transducers and vacuum gauge hoseless or Wireless whatever you want to say

[@n.harper2652]

Was the blower out of balance?

[@nikkid4798]

It was running rough wasn't it. I thought for sure the disconnect rubbed a hot spot. 😅

[@cyclingfan2010]

Learned something so thank you. What light are you using?

[@topher8634]

That looks like a 3 phase 100 amp disco

[@natepeterson7145]

I think we need to start being rude or saying something different to customers about how important regular filter changes are. I've been to many customers houses that I've documented that I was there because a severely dirty filter causes an issue or the issue. We need to explain it longer or just simply say if you want to loose over $300 or more because you saved $100 worth of filters and risk damaging your $7000 plus investment than don't get mad. Especially if I charge double the price for the filter and a service fee for 10 minutes of work. If im busy and a furnace is going off on limit im replacing or removing the filter, checking temp rise and leaving. Of course this is a different issue but could easily be blamed on the filter. Filter causing the blower to work harder causing it to vibrate and causing the rub outs. Thanks for the business.

[@otisgregory5939]

Drives me crazy when guys twist wire nuts so tight that it starts to braid the 2 wires . You're creating a weak point , twist until snugg never braid your 2 wires together

[@fairinwhite7694]

Sounds like the draft fan is out of balance and vibrating

[@andrewclarke3622]

Is this a dual-fuel system? I noticed the small propane tank.

[@HVACGUY]

No, just a heat pump

[@butlerstouchHVAC]

can someone explain to me why he 9:43 was checking megahohms to ground and what should his reading been?

[@TheKawasakiBros]

so if you getting high ohms on 24 volt your grounding some where? whats the regular ohms on it if its working properly?

[@woodystokes1543]

Ginormous 😮

[@robertlamey7612]

Couple of hundred for 2 hours is way to cheap

[@karellodewijks4971]

👍👍😊😊

[@stevedavidson8802]

Are your customers cool with you making KZbin videos on their dime? I surely wouldn’t can’t do that in California it’s for sure.

[@derek10w]

What do you mean on their dime? Are you setting a timer and charging by the minute?

[@nikkid4798]

I thought Cali was laid back? When you work for yourself, you do what you want. That wasn't a couple of hundred dollar job either. 3 hours, a contactor, thermostat and freon.. sheet man that's at least $750.

[@arturofromtucson6262]

I would’ve caught that in the first 15 minutes of being there

[@rkochair]

Well, I have to say Curtis you have "It" all right. You either have "It" or you don't have "It". Patience that is. It's like an electrician that spends 4 hrs trouble shooting an issue only to find a loose neutral somewhere that caused the entire problem and of course many customers are like "Ok, this must be cheap because it was just a loose (shorted) wire right?" You pay for experience and the "It" factor.......well done sir. On a different note - LP tanks can be placed right next to a home there? Asking because here in Calif. it's 10' min. Maybe an earthquake thing.