Our ac unit froze up, so we turned if off to thaw. Why won't the outside ac unit shut off?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by JH_RTR

our ac unit froze up, so we turned if off to thaw. why wont the outside ac unit shut off?

---

Do you have a thermostat? And if so does it work? The thermostat will shut yo AC down.

The outside unit has a contactor that operates off 24 volt signals from the inside unit/thermostat. Many times the contacts on the contactor weld together and will keep the unit running until you shut off the main breaker.

ChecK the contactor.

It does sound like your contactor is stuck shut. If you want to know
For sure it's the contactor and not 2 low voltage wires grounded toge
There, you can turn off both breakers to the unit, normaly your breakers are marked A.C for outside unit and heat or air handler for inside unit. Pull the low voltage wire from contactor, then turn breakers back on. If outdoor unit comes on contactor is stuck. If it does not come on you have a low voltage problem. If your having a problem figuring out what the contactor is, your high voltage wires from your disconnect lead into the bottom of it.