York Heat Pump: Cooling
Re: High Pressure Lockout - Last Mode Heat Pump
The heat pump was running in cooling mode and the high pressure switch tripped.
A High Pressure Lockout is indicated by the following LED pattern on the outdoor unit control board:
- Green = Off
- Red = 2 Flashes
X/L Output
- 2 Flashes at Thermostat = Soft Lockout
- Switch opened two times in 6 hours.
- Reset by cycling thermostat or jumping Test pins.
- 3 Flashes at Thermostat = Hard Lockout
- Four Soft Lockouts in 12 hours.
- Reset by cycling 24VAC power to the board.
Qty |
Possible Causes: |
|
Bad Condenser Motor / Capacitor |
|
Refrigerant Over-Charge |
|
Bad I/D Expansion Valve |
|
Low Outdoor Airflow |
|
Refrigerant Restriction |
|
Bad Pressure Switch |
CHECKOUT:
1. Check Unit Operation
- Set the thermostat to call for cooling.
- If the heat pump is in lockout (flashing a code) ⇒ Reset by removing 24VAC power to the outdoor control board (Remove "R" or cycle power to the air handler).
- Allow 5 minutes for the anti-short-cycle delay or jump the Test pins to bypass the timer.
- Observe the outdoor unit to ensure that the compressor and condenser fan motor start.
- Unit Starts and Runs Normally → Step 3. Check Refrigerant Pressures
- Unit Doesn't Start ⇒ Check Control Board Diagnostic Light
- Flashing a Fault Code = Still Locked-Out
- Reset by removing and reconnecting "R" and "Y" at the o/d unit control board for at least 5 seconds.
- If the control board re-enters Code 2 without starting the compressor = Bad Pressure Switch
2. Check O/D Motor & Capacitor
- The YZH unit has an ECM outdoor fan motor, the YZE has a standard PSC motor with a capacitor.
- YZE
- Check Capacitor
- Turn off power to the unit by pulling the service disconnect or by turning the breaker off.
- Use a multi-meter to confirm that voltage is not present.
- Remove the capacitor wires (short terminals before touching).
- Move Multi-Meter leads to COM and MFD.
- Set Meter to 200 MFD.
- At the capacitor, place one meter lead on "C" or "Com" and the other meter lead on "Fan".
- Confirm MFD reading with capacitor rating.
- Less than 80% of rating = Bad Capacitor
- SWITCH METER LEADS BACK TO COM AND V BEFORE PROCEEDING!
- Check Motor
- Re-apply power to the heat pump.
- Set the thermostat to call for cool.
- When the compressor contactor energizes, check for 230V to the motor between "C" or "COM" at the capacitor and the Black motor wire.
- Power + No Motor Operation = Bad Motor or Capacitor
- No Power = Bad Control Board
- YZH
- Re-apply power to the heat pump.
- Set the thermostat to call for cool.
- When the compressor contactor energizes, check for 24V to the motor module between the Blue wire on the contactor coil and the Yellow wire on "ODF" at the control board.
- Power + No Motor Operation = Bad Motor/Module
- No Power = Bad Control Board
3. Check Refrigerant Pressures
- Initiate a call for heat from the thermostat.
- Hook-up refrigerant gauges to the pressure ports on the unit.
- Blue ⇔ "True Suction" Low Pressure
- Red ⇔ High Pressure (liquid refrigerant line)
Normal Pressure Range: Cooling |
Refrigerant |
55-70 Deg O/D |
75-100 Deg O/D |
R410A |
- 110-130 Suction
- 250-300 Discharge
|
- 125-150 Suction
- 270-400 Discharge
|
- Place an insulated temperature probe on the liquid line near the outdoor unit.
- Allow the unit to run for at least 10 minutes.
- Monitor pressures and temperature as the system operates.
- If pressure exceeds Normal Range or kicks-off on Hi Pressure safety in the first 5 minutes = Bad Overcharge or No Outdoor Airflow
- If the compressor never kicks on & the control locks-out on Hi Pressure ⇒ Suspect a Bad Pressure Switch
4. Check Sub-Cooling
- Record "Saturation Temperature" from the discharge pressure gauge.
- Subtract the Actual liquid line temperature reading.
- Saturation Temp - Liquid Line Temp = Sub-Cooling
- Sub-Cooling > 13 deg. + High Discharge + High Suction = Overcharged
- Sub-Cooling > 13 deg. + High Discharge + Low Suction = Bad Indoor Expansion Valve
- Sub-Cooling < 2 deg. + High Discharge = Low Outdoor Heat Transfer (Airflow).