Was away at work and wife told me that A/C has been running for hours, and only hot air comes out of the vents.

I went and checked today and the fuse for the A/C unit had tripped. Toggled at the circuit breaker, but still same problem. After 5 minutes of seeing that the fan unit outside did not come on as it usually does, I turned the circuit breaker off again.

Everything at the outside unit was also extremely hot, even the freon line which is normally cold to the touch.

Could someone help me identify what these units are that are at the outside A/C fan blower unit?

Any ideas to what may have gone bad would be really appreciated as well ;););)

Shot of the whole unit.
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...c/HPIM1482.jpg


What is the top and buttom parts?
http://i254.photobucket.com/albums/h...c/HPIM1483.jpg

in second photo =the top relay is called a contactor,it is pulled in by 24 Volts and sends the power to fan motor and to the compressor

at the bottom is a capicitor= it holds a extra charge of electricity and give motor and compressor a extra boost of power to get them started
just from looking it looks like the capicitor is OK but you need a special tester to know for sure or have high knowledge of using a analoge tester
I would guess without being there that you have a bad motor

Yes the compressor appears to be getting 240V and running. So I'm guessing the contactor is operating OK.