What is the Compressor Time Delay switch and do I need it in teh circuit?
Answer Richard, The compressor time delay is to prevent the compressor from cycling back on again less than 5 minutes after it has shut off. The 5 minutes allows the pressures in the system to equalize and then the compressor doesn’t start under a load. This time delay radically reduces the chance of a compressor not starting (due to an overload). If you have an electronic/programmable thermostat, chances are that the delay is also built into the thermostat and you don’t need one at the condenser also. You can check this by allowing the thermostat to call for cooling and then turning it off and back on again right away. If it doesn’t send a call for cooling to the condenser until after a 4-5 minute delay then it also has a time delay. You can then just permanently jump past the delay in the condenser. If your thermostat does not have the delay, you can either get one that does (don’t get the cheap electronic stats that the home centers sell – get a more expensive one they have like a H
