GE Air-Conditioner Repaired

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I repaired the circuit breaker plug on this A/C window unit around 1 ½ years ago. I didn’t write an article about it because I was new at learning electronics and did not have my camera or my digital microscope camera. It quit working again – so let’s open it up and see what is wrong with it.

You can see in the photos how the hi-voltage lead has broken from the PCB and the LED anode lead. I checked the LED and it was still good.

 

So I soldered a piece of a lead that I clipped off of a 3 watt resistor to give the connection more strength and to also make sure power reached the resistor on the opposite side of the PCB in case the track was broken. It seems to be pretty sturdy now.

Although my nephew says nobody took it apart, I know that someone did because they lost the spring that goes around the nub and inside the cup of the slide lock that locks the hi-voltage contacts together so the unit can get power. As you can see in the photos, I need a spring with an ID of at least 1.7mm and about 7mm long. I don’t have one that size so I’ll just make one as a temporary fix. I have some small stainless steel wire, but it isn’t spring steel. I’ll find a good spring later and install it. I went ahead and soldered the homemade spring into the cup of the slide lock to make sure it didn’t pop out and short on anything.

Here are some pictures:

I carefully wrapped the wire around my precision screwdriver that has an OD measuring about 2mm. Then I heated the spring red hot and quenched it in cold water several times. It should last a few days until I can find a spring with stronger steel.

Success, it’s fixed for now until I can get a more dependable spring. I hope you guys enjoy the article.

Robert Calk Jr. is a Hobbyist from Texas, USA and loves learning device repair and electronics.

 

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16 Comments

1. 

   mike retz

   January 9, 2015 at 10:13 am

   great thinking Robert... ive always wondered how to make a lost spring..i keep a drawer full but never the right size or strength..thanks for sharing your info... mike retz dallas texas.

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     Robert

     January 9, 2015 at 10:19 pm

     Thanks Mike. My steel wire is really too soft for a good spring. I'm thinking about using a spring from a ball point pen.

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2. 

   randy warren

   January 9, 2015 at 10:19 am

   Robert, what kind of head magnifier are you using, and do you like it? thanks

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     Robert

     January 9, 2015 at 10:21 pm

     Hi Randy,

     It is an Aven Carson Pro. Yes, I love it, but it's not cheap.

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3. 

   Ehsan Murad

   January 9, 2015 at 12:34 pm

   What a complicated plug.

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4. 

   Yogesh Panchal

   January 9, 2015 at 1:02 pm

   Good work Mr.Robert.

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     Robert

     January 9, 2015 at 10:22 pm

     Thanks Yogesh.

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5. 

   Gary

   January 9, 2015 at 4:59 pm

   What about a spring from a pen?

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     Robert

     January 9, 2015 at 10:23 pm

     Lol. I was thinking the same thing.

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     Robert

     January 11, 2015 at 1:14 am

     On second thought, it seems to be working fine. So I'll just leave it alone for now and see how long it works.

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6. 

   Dominic

   January 9, 2015 at 8:20 pm

   A lot of smart Technicians know that old electro-mechanical equipment(especially VCRs & DVDs) should always be salvaged with as many parts removed as possible-especially springs.When this is done one knows that he'll end up with a large drawer full in no time & there will be many types, lengths,widths & thickness, which, if required, can also be cut to size & used wherever needed.

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     Robert

     January 9, 2015 at 10:27 pm

     Absolutely Dominic! I salvage everything I can. I need to start going to pawn shops and find stuff like that I can get cheap to salvage what I can if it can't be fixed.

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7. 

   mahmoud

   January 10, 2015 at 2:00 am

   hi dear robert iknew that you are actually an elecric and elctronic explorer therefore i gongratulation to you.

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     Robert

     January 10, 2015 at 9:47 am

     Thanks Mahmoud. I appreciate it. I can't do much, but I do what I can. No matter what our age or physical condition, we can always try to increase our knowledge and teach others.

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8. 

   Taring

   February 23, 2015 at 2:13 pm

   Thank you Robert. That is a clever and good idea. Once again thank you for sharing.

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     Robert Calk

     February 23, 2015 at 6:06 pm

     You are welcome Taring. And thank you for commenting - it means a lot to us: and makes me want to write more articles.

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