Thread: Vintage A/C - intermittent noise from control panel

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Originally Posted by Chicken Legs

Im with you in that it makes no sense in that there should be no moving parts from the control panel. I'm well aware of what a belt squeal sounds like. I'm thinking maybe its a vent door issue. The tag on the unit is Victory Climate. The door works off the control panel with an actuator. Ima check the location of the door and see if it changes when the noise is present. Thanks for the replies.

Victory Climate Systems is a Fort Worth, TX group that's a relatively new player, established in 2010 when they purchased a bunch of component companies. Their website remains "Under Construction" but seems focused on RV & military.

In my experience any movement of vent doors or dampers (Defrost or Recirculation, for example) are one time events, open or closed, not modulating. You engage the system, set the controls which positions any dampers, and then the only thing that "cycles" is the compressor on & off like Mike mentioned. I've never seen a system that "modulates" unless it has a specific temperature set point with a feedback loop from interior temp, and most of those just adjust the "on time" of the compressor. Some high end systems may modulate an outside air damper, but I've not seen it. No offense, but belt squeal can be a wide range of sounds, especially on an AC compressor which may just barely slip. A worn belt may have spots that slip more than others, adding to the weird sounds they can make.

It'll be interesting to hear what you find is "squealing"!!

Thanks for the detailed reply. With that and your mention of 'engage the system and set the controls which positions any dampers' what if there is a voltage drop or intermittent short that causes a damper to close?

I have a 10 second clip of it I can send if anyone is curious.