Electronics gurus: need your help!

[tekdeus]

I have an air conditioner in my bedroom with a stupid feature that disables it when the outside air temperature is below 70 degrees. In the manual it says "if it is that cool, just open a window". Needless to say, I live near farmland of untold stench and allergens that would make most weep. My room could be sweltering from sunlight all day, but the damn air conditioner won't work in the evenings when it cools off outside.

Anyways, I figure the easiest solution would be to find a resistor that I could wire up to the 120vac inside to keep the temperature sensor warm so the unit will function at all times. I'm just not sure how to esitmate how warm a resistor might get, and which one to buy to do what I want safely. If my calculations are correct, a 10,000 ohm resistor at 120vac would draw 12ma of current, but I'm not sure how warm it would get.

I noticed that a 7 watt night-light bulb stays warm to the touch but not too hot, so perhaps I need a resistor with similar wattage? But which one to choose?

 

[CyFi6]

maybe you could just test the resistance of the sensor when it is warmer than said temperature and replace the sensor all together with a resistor of the same value.

 

[Poodles]

or just move the resistor to a different part of the unit (like inside)

 

[figgie]

I am highly surprised that the A/C doe snot have a "bypass" feature for that?

 

[Doward]

The only cure for electronics trying to tell you what to do, is fire.



Seriously, it's probably just a simple thermistor. Warm the thermistor up, read the resistance, replace with a resistor of same voltage that is that resistance.

 

[TopSecret]

Get a new one?
They aren't that expensive, are they?

 

[Who]

Thats got to be the dumbest idea any ac company ever came up with. Did they ever consider humidity. It can be 70 degrees outside but at 100% humidity it feels like 90 degrees. Thats why they call it Air Conditioning.... not Air Cooling.

 

[tekdeus]

Thats got to be the dumbest idea any ac company ever came up with. Did they ever consider humidity. It can be 70 degrees outside but at 100% humidity it feels like 90 degrees. Thats why they call it Air Conditioning.... not Air Cooling.

I totally agree. The brand is "Danby", be sure to avoid it! I have a Maytag AC in my music studio that works at all times.

Gonna try your guy's rewiring suggestions. Thanks!!

 

[Who]

Ok this is a major rig if your electronic skills fall short. If the sensor is outside you take a small light bulb. A 10-15 watt appliance light bulb will do. You wire it up so it turns on when the ac is on. Place it next to the sensor. Bingo, the sensor thinks its 120 degrees outside.

 

[tekdeus]

I was able to find the sensor, it was an inturrupt relay in line with the compressor so I easily bypassed it. Thanks for the advice! It gave me the courage to tear into this stupid thing

 

[Who]

Yahoo!!! You beat the man down