Window A/C Connection Question
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: San Francisco, Ca.
Window A/C Connection Question
A friend on mines wife just bought him an wiindow a/c unit inwhich he installed.
The problem is that the 3 prong outlet is NOT grounded.
His son was barefooted on the cement slab outside and touched the a/c unit and got a slight tingling sensation.
We got his pen type non-contact tester and put it near the a/c unit.
It lit up.
There's a ground wire disconnected inside his electrical panel.
I won't go inside to re-attach it because there's no main breaker to shut off the power.
Maybe I'll run a ground wire from the outlet to the nearest cold water pipe.
Would that help?
Is there a danger of a severe electrical shock if the a/c unit is ungrounded ?
The problem is that the 3 prong outlet is NOT grounded.
His son was barefooted on the cement slab outside and touched the a/c unit and got a slight tingling sensation.
We got his pen type non-contact tester and put it near the a/c unit.
It lit up.
There's a ground wire disconnected inside his electrical panel.
I won't go inside to re-attach it because there's no main breaker to shut off the power.
Maybe I'll run a ground wire from the outlet to the nearest cold water pipe.
Would that help?
Is there a danger of a severe electrical shock if the a/c unit is ungrounded ?
Last edited by sierraben; Jul 3, 2005 at 11:08 PM. Reason: add
Posting Guru
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 1,321
Likes: 2
From: MI
yes there is a danger of electrical shock if there is no ground. you should only have to turn off that circut, but first test it for ground/shorts using an multi-meter before connecting the ground. if you are not sure of what to do call a licensed electrician.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,848
Likes: 1
From: Kentucky
Originally Posted by sierraben
A friend on mines wife just bought him an wiindow a/c unit inwhich he installed.
The problem is that the 3 prong outlet is NOT grounded.
His son was barefooted on the cement slab outside and touched the a/c unit and got a slight tingling sensation.
We got his pen type non-contact tester and put it near the a/c unit.
It lit up.
There's a ground wire disconnected inside his electrical panel.
I won't go inside to re-attach it because there's no main breaker to shut off the power.
Maybe I'll run a ground wire from the outlet to the nearest cold water pipe.
Would that help?
Is there a danger of a severe electrical shock if the a/c unit is ungrounded ?
The problem is that the 3 prong outlet is NOT grounded.
His son was barefooted on the cement slab outside and touched the a/c unit and got a slight tingling sensation.
We got his pen type non-contact tester and put it near the a/c unit.
It lit up.
There's a ground wire disconnected inside his electrical panel.
I won't go inside to re-attach it because there's no main breaker to shut off the power.
Maybe I'll run a ground wire from the outlet to the nearest cold water pipe.
Would that help?
Is there a danger of a severe electrical shock if the a/c unit is ungrounded ?
Holy Moly ! Yes as said above , get a circuit to it that carrys a equipment grounding conductor in it. I would recommend shutting that ac down now, it may go full voltage to the frame at any time, and will not trip the fuse/breaker.. The equipment ground is meant to take any fault current in an appliance to earth ground, causing a overcurrent draw which will then trip the circuit protection. That unit has a serious voltage to ground fault in it now, which is probaly as high as 90 volts, if a neon test light lit, and a human felt it also. I can feel 50 volt ac in my hand when grounded,
Last edited by Greg 79 f150; Jul 4, 2005 at 09:40 AM.
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Joined: Apr 2003
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I am not an electrician, but I don't believe a new a/c should be giving any shock, unless its not wired correctly. Is it 110 or 220? Check to make sure that the outlet and A/c pigtail are wired correctly. I would get an electrician if your that uncomfortable. There are too many things that we cannot see that could be doing this.
Hotshot
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 12,170
Likes: 5
From: The hills of No. Calif.
First of all Ben, what are you doing with A/C in the Bay Area? Did it get up to a scorching 80 degrees there and you guys are all burning up? 
Seriously, you need to get that ground wire hooked up, and soon! If you can see it disconnected in the main panel, then it's easy to see where it goes but I have to wonder whay it was disconnected in the first place. Maybe there's a short and it trips the breaker, and that was someone's idea of a quick fix.
Anyway, some good advice above, if you're not comfortable messing with it, have your friend get someone who is. If you like, I can PM you with a contact for an old friend down there who has a home fix-it type of business and does that sort of thing all the time. Let me know, -TD
Seriously, you need to get that ground wire hooked up, and soon! If you can see it disconnected in the main panel, then it's easy to see where it goes but I have to wonder whay it was disconnected in the first place. Maybe there's a short and it trips the breaker, and that was someone's idea of a quick fix.
Anyway, some good advice above, if you're not comfortable messing with it, have your friend get someone who is. If you like, I can PM you with a contact for an old friend down there who has a home fix-it type of business and does that sort of thing all the time. Let me know, -TD
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 13,873
Likes: 3
From: Atlanta GA
> Maybe there's a short and it trips the breaker, and that was someone's idea of a quick fix
I agree. Plus, you may have another device that is actually at fault on that circuit causing the problem since the A/C unit is new.
On a house I am buying, not only was the bathroom circuit not GFCI, it was hot/neu. reversed
When you see one bozo fix you have to assume it is done throughout the house.
I agree. Plus, you may have another device that is actually at fault on that circuit causing the problem since the A/C unit is new.
On a house I am buying, not only was the bathroom circuit not GFCI, it was hot/neu. reversed
When you see one bozo fix you have to assume it is done throughout the house.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: San Francisco, Ca.
Originally Posted by TigerDan
First of all Ben, what are you doing with A/C in the Bay Area? Did it get up to a scorching 80 degrees there and you guys are all burning up?
Seriously, you need to get that ground wire hooked up, and soon! If you can see it disconnected in the main panel, then it's easy to see where it goes but I have to wonder whay it was disconnected in the first place. Maybe there's a short and it trips the breaker, and that was someone's idea of a quick fix.
Anyway, some good advice above, if you're not comfortable messing with it, have your friend get someone who is. If you like, I can PM you with a contact for an old friend down there who has a home fix-it type of business and does that sort of thing all the time. Let me know, -TD
Seriously, you need to get that ground wire hooked up, and soon! If you can see it disconnected in the main panel, then it's easy to see where it goes but I have to wonder whay it was disconnected in the first place. Maybe there's a short and it trips the breaker, and that was someone's idea of a quick fix.
Anyway, some good advice above, if you're not comfortable messing with it, have your friend get someone who is. If you like, I can PM you with a contact for an old friend down there who has a home fix-it type of business and does that sort of thing all the time. Let me know, -TD
It's a buddy of mine in San Anselmo, Ca.
I'm going to forward these posts to him.
I'm just wondering why a ground wire was disconnected inside his circuit breaker box.
I never seen a circuit panel with NO main circuit breakers.
I guess he could pop off the meter. Naw!
I'll tell him to call an electrician instead.
A/C in S.F.? Un-heard of.
And thankyou everyone for your input on this serious matter.
I will call him tonight and tell him to unplug it and get it fixed right.
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Post Fiend
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From: San Francisco, Ca.
Originally Posted by 220k-f-150
I am not an electrician, but I don't believe a new a/c should be giving any shock, unless its not wired correctly. Is it 110 or 220? Check to make sure that the outlet and A/c pigtail are wired correctly. I would get an electrician if your that uncomfortable. There are too many things that we cannot see that could be doing this.
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What we are trying to say is the A/C, with or without the ground wire hooked up, should not be giving a shock. The ground is there in case there is a short somewhere in the A/C or outlet. As some pointed out earlier, why is the ground wire disconnected? There could also be a short in the run to the outlet or something else plugged into outlet. Is the A/C unit new or used? Gotta run. Finally getting some rain or at least a storm. Good Luck.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: San Francisco, Ca.
Originally Posted by 220k-f-150
What we are trying to say is the A/C, with or without the ground wire hooked up, should not be giving a shock. The ground is there in case there is a short somewhere in the A/C or outlet. As some pointed out earlier, why is the ground wire disconnected? There could also be a short in the run to the outlet or something else plugged into outlet. Is the A/C unit new or used? Gotta run. Finally getting some rain or at least a storm. Good Luck.
I to am also wondering why the ground wire is disconnected.
Previous owner did do some gonzo-bozo electrical work.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Kentucky
Originally Posted by sierraben
Friends A/C unit is new.
I to am also wondering why the ground wire is disconnected.
Previous owner did do some gonzo-bozo electrical work.
I to am also wondering why the ground wire is disconnected.
Previous owner did do some gonzo-bozo electrical work.
The oulet most assuredly needs checked out by a electrician and wired properly, if it is a new unit that is shocking people. Sounds like reversed polarity on the receptacle wiring, or a loose circuit neutral, a loose conductor or abraded insulation on a conductor in the AC that is touching the frame, or a, or a, on and on......... Hey, one more post and I got 1000 posts !!!
Last edited by Greg 79 f150; Jul 4, 2005 at 03:29 PM.
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Post Fiend
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From: San Francisco, Ca.
Originally Posted by Greg 79 f150
The oulet most assuredly needs checked out by a electrician and wired properly, if it is a new unit that is shocking people. Sounds like reversed polarity on the receptacle wiring, or a loose circuit neutral, a loose conductor or abraded insulation on a conductor in the AC that is touching the frame, or a, or a, on and on......... Hey, one more post and I got 1000 posts !!!
I'm just going to call him and advise him to call an electrician and fix the problem.
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