I am semi handy-don't have an ohm meter (couldn't read it if I did) however some of these comments about the electrical are scary. A common reason a condenser fan is continually running within a refrigerator is the thermostat. If the fan contactor is broken, then the fan wont run. The new motor is a 3 wire with yellow, brown, and black. Is this more likely the fan bearings? Replace a faulty evaporator fan motor. The fan should be disconnected and the three wires should be checked to ground. Remove the access panel to the blower compartment. Insert the test probes in the connector on the fan motor leads . You can check the fan setting on your thermostat. Gently slide the stick between the vents and give the fan blade a slight push. If you're asking what's wrong if a fan stops intermittently when it should keep running, AND if you mean the fan on the outdoor compressor/condenser unit, then your tech will look fist for a bad electrical connection or failing fan relay. If it is an air conditioner check for an air conditioner breaker trip. Broken Motor. The AC is OFF. Check the Evaporator Fan Motor. Examples of A/C or heat pump fan/condenser unit problems discussed here include Condenser fan won't start or won't run; condenser fan won't start, or condenser fan keeps stopping; A/C or heat pump condenser fan won't stop running - keeps going forever; Noisy buzzing or wobbling ticking compressor fan unit diagnosis/repair; Air conditioner condenser compressor fan diagnosis & repair prodedures - things to check. The next task is figuring out why the thermal overload tripped in the first place. If the compressor won't start and if the unit trips a breaker or blows a fuse as soon as it tries to turn on, the motor is burned out and shorted. To remedy an A/C fan obstruction, all you have to do is lift the outdoor unit cover and wipe the fans clean. All of the above-listed air conditioner or heat pump components are discussed in detail throughout this website using the links at the left of these pages. The fan motor and capacitor have been replaced. Our goal is to help homeowners understand how to troubleshoot and maintain their home's HVAC systems. Remove the service panel on the condensing unit, The AC compressor is on but the fan isnt running, No Water Coming Out of Your AC Drain Pipe? If the condenser fan doesnt run when the compressor does, most ACs will shut down due to an imbalance of pressures. Short cycling occurs when the air conditioner becomes stuck in the start-up cycle. Low Refrigerant. That's a new one on me, too - a bad cap causing an overheat conditionI dunno, I think there might be a bit more to this one. Melbourne/Palm Bay 321-727-9969 A bent condenser fan causes stress on the blower fan motor shaft and can destroy the motor. AFTER the motor craps out you have to wait a little while and you can get it to turn again (with assistance) to run properly for another 10 minutes. I don't mind paying for both the capacitor and the fan motor, but of course do not want to spend more than necessary. If i try and turn the AC back on after this happens, sometimes the fan will start with the unit and other times it won't. Had to turn the unit off for about an hour. Turn off power and assure that the fan blade is secured to the fan motor shaft. Most capacitors are cylindrically-shaped, like a large battery. Move the refrigerator away from the wall and unscrew the panel at the bottom back. Its comes on, may run for 15-20 minutes then fan stops & unit makes loud noise. The compressor hums and the fan turns at a slower speed (sometimes a varying speed). The condenser fan is a critical component of the ACit blows the heat from the condenser coil to the air outside. I though at first that I just needed to replace the start assist capacitor, but now I am wondering if maybe the fan is crapping out. I've included pictures of the schematic as you suggested.Really hoping this new fan is able to be used. A condenser fan that won't start when power is turned on, but whose blades will spin easily when power is off may have a worn fan motor shaft bearing. Jake, the manual says the frig may run 80% . Replaced capacitor because it was cheap and could get next day. Welcome to the forums. The tech's writing is hard to read. My goal for this website is to help homeowners troubleshoot and maintain their homes HVAC systems. Step 1 - Turned off the circuit breaker at the main panel. The compressor and fan runs to dry out the air blowing onto the windshield. An easier way of checking your capacitor is to use a voltmeter. Shouldn't the coil last longer than that? Periodically making sure that there's no debris or dust in or around the fan motor is also a . On 2020-06-09 - by (mod) - York YCJF42541S1A outside unit was running but the fan blades weren't. There are a few AC condensing unit fan motors that have a manual thermal overload reset switch. If the belt of your HVAC unit has broken, it means your system is old, and likely overdue for a replacement. Be sure that nothing is rubbing or hitting. Ensure power to the unit is turned off. Or should I just replace fan and see what happens? My new cap and motor arrive Wednesday, so I'll change them both out. Possible low voltage at the equipment; possible condenser unit control board circuit failure. 4. The condenser fan is visible inside of the outdoor compressor/condenser unit such as the unit shown in our sketch at left, an in our other photos on this page. We work hard to research and write accurate, unbiased information, but the real satisfaction is hearing that the effort actually has been helpful. Poor air conditioning performance. If your fridge isn't cooling, double check that . This is usually the case for air conditioners with rotary dial thermostats. Faulty thermostat: The wiring may . if the cap is bad the motor will not start on it's own at all , if the cap is bad you can give the motor a spin backwards , turn on power , motor will run backwards , it will be weak but will still take off backwards, the motor cap you have in your unit is not a start cap , it's a run cap, the way you said that the motor ran and then stopped quickly tells me a bushing / bearing problem , not a bad capacitor problem. Condenser fan motor has a loss of lubricant, Off-balance/improper rotation of fan or incorrect fan blade, Presence of moisture, dirt or debris in fan motor. The fan capacitor may also be labeled. Contents. Watch out: the wiring instructions and diagram for your specific air conditioner or heat pump compressor/condenser unit are model dependent. I then opened the service valve port to charge the line set with freon (whatever the new stuff is called). When there's a loud banging as your unit runs, it's broken and needs . ", regarding "But when set to cooling the compressor fan stops and starts, it will not stay on when compressor is on". We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. Jim, thanks so much for the very nice feedback - that's just super. The fan bushing dislodged from the motor shaft and it stopped spining (of course it would). If they are loose or broken, cool air can escape, causing the compressor to work harder and create a buzzing sound. October 4, 2012 in DIY Appliance Repair Help. Cut the metal rod of the motor, before putting the new motor on the grill. Our central A.C. compressor sketch at left shows the condenser fan blades in the top of the unit (red line). Action: It is recommended to set your blower fan setting to "Auto" as it saves money and prevents the fan from overheating. The fan is still cutting off and not cutting back on. Set the function switch to "Ohms" on an auto-ranging DMM or the "R X 1" scale on a manual ranging DMM. Is it damaged? with power removed, try turning the Motor shaft by hand..using your fingers Can you give it a twist, and it will continue for a few turns ? Powered by Invision Community. I will contact pioneer. Heres What to Do, AC Contactor Not Pulling In? So, I read on Google what I highlighted for you, and ordered a 30+ UF cap. The coil was not penetrated & maintains pressure. Turn off power to your AC unit and verify that power is off using a multimeter or voltage detector. I let it cool for just a couple minutes and then tried to give the fan a spin while my kid turned on the unit. Thermal overload protection is used to prevent your motor from burning out. But when set to cooling the compressor fan stops and starts, it will not stay on when compressor is on. Naturally, this will cause the condenser fan to fail. The condenser fan should always be running if the compressor is on. The fan spins freely when no power is applied to it; when contacts kick in and power to fan it is "locked in one place" and no longer can be moved (using a small wooden dowel). Fan motor is bad. Fan control circuit board is brand new. I did the vacuum and charge thing, meaning I hooked an evacuator pump on the system and then just opened the service valve so the R410a could fill the line set. You have a bad condensor fan. If it is leaking, you will know by a pool of . This fan blows building air across the evaporator coil (or cooling coil) to cool and dehumidify indoor building air. I check the uF on the cap with my meter first thing. Test the windings of the motor of the evaporator fan with a multimeter. I don't want to spend the money if it is a capacitor. Bob,Thank you for the helpful diagnostic question about your Pioneer brand Mini Split AC unit. The service panel is the panel on the side of the condensing unit. Your service tech will perhaps look for a bad control board, relay, or wiring connection or sensor. AC ran fin all Summer of 2018. If the condenser fan is runningyou will see the fan blade spinning at speed (typically at 1725 rpm) and you will feel air blowing out of the unit. Here's how to do it: Turn your refrigerator off at the wall or unplug it. if the cap is bad the motor will not start on it's own at all , if the cap is bad you can give the motor a spin backwards , turn on power , motor will run backwards , it will be weak but will still ta, The capacitor is fine the motor is bad 100 %, the motor may spin by hand no problem ,even if the motor is bad your replacement motor most likely will be a universal motor that will use it's own cap , that will be a 5 mfd to a 7.5 mfd . Turn The Fan Switch To "Off" And Back To "Auto": If the . Check for tripped breakers. might the Motor run, but then over-heat after a few minutes ? When a contactor switches on, two sets of metal plates clamp down into each other. Its hot. So what do you do when the condenser fan in your AC stops running? The fan stops on the condenser. Since then, I bought a mini split pioneer seer 19? Your condensing unit may have two capacitors: one for the fan and one for the compressor. It's free turning when I turn it with a screwdriver (not bound). This can cause your refrigerator to run constantly to try to cool down. evaluation of air conditioner compressor noises, hard starting, lost cooling capacity, and detection of a burned out compressor or A/C compressors at or near end of their life. When it stops, feel the Motor to see if it's hot. Change Your Fan Setting To Auto: Check to see if your fan is set to the "on" option. Am I barking up the wrong tree and should I be looking elsewhere? The air flow is driven by a large fan (the "blower") inside the home. Loacal AC guy came out for $89.00 and told me I needed a host of thingsnew fan (special order), new motor, new start/run capacitor.new type of freon$1,150.00! If its tripped, flip the breaker to off then back to on. If the issue persists, contact a professional. 5. A detailed case of diagnosing and fixing a condenser fan that was running backwards at speed changes is discussed below at. Learn how to troubleshoot like a Master Samurai Tech MASTER SAMURAI TECH If the AC unit fan is not spinning, the first thing to check is the circuit breaker. DeniseThere is probably something here that we don't understand. Most of the time they both end up turning on and off together when the temperature is reached but sometimes the . If your unit has shut off, check your circuit breaker. yes, I am not familiar with the proper terms. Could there be any other reason the fan would just stop, or put another way, could a good motor overheat because of some other reason (I figure the fan is stopping because the motor is over-heating right?). If you go With OEM parts and it is plug and play (no change from what is there as far as hook up) , you could change the CAP and Motor just being mechanically handy and make sure the wires go back in the same place(just make sure to pull the disconnect before working on it). Already read about discharging the capacitor for safety. Lack of maintenance: This is probably the most common reason that causes condenser fan motors to overheat and shut off. The fan motor will NOT run backwards at start with a reverse assist. There is more than one possible cause of a noisy air conditioner. It turns fairly easily, but seemed to come to a stop abruptly. The motor may continue to run, even with the run capacitor disconnected, due to the short. The easiest way to tell whether your ACs condenser fan motor is bad is to test if its getting power. Plug electronics into a power strip and turn it off when not in use. ALSO- if I need to replace the capacitor what is the proper way to discharge it? An internal short that is grounding the fan motor windings can leave the fan running, but abnormally slowly. Aside from dust and debris, a fan might also stop working if the motor is faulty. The condenser fan motor draws air over the condenser coils to cool them. The line sets didn't even get cold or hot by even a degree difference. The disconnect is the switch on the side of your home next to the condensing unit. Straight AC or HeatPump? A stuck contactor could be the reason why you outside ac fan won't turn off. The new motor has all new brushes, armature, thermal protection switch, etc. And if used on a generating set it seems to power off the generating set, though testing the compressor with a digital multimeter it seems it's still functional, or I suppose so I'm not sure how refrigerant leak would make the fan run intermittently. A malfunctioning thermostat. Burnt Out Motor. Eventually, the layer of black soot prevents the metal plates from forming contact with each other. A slow condenser fan (or air handler unit fan) could be caused by a bad start-run capacitor. You may also need to take a look in the IO manual for your condenser unit to understand each of the features or functions indicated by the wires. Remove the top of the unit with the fan, disconnect it, and lift it clear. Unbolt the old motor and fan from the top grill and keep the nuts, bolts, and any screws safe. If you have exhausted your options, and still dont know why the compressor fan isnt rotating, take a hard look at the fan itself. Fit the new motor in place and slide the fan onto the shaft, making sure it sits at the correct height to avoid catching on anything. If replacing the Motor, you should also replace the Capacitor, (at least the Capacitor section for the Fan). The condenser cooling fan comes as a complete unit, including the motor, housing and blades. I don't want the compressor to overwork so I have been standing next to it waiting for it to die, then run in and shut down the unit down. Thats why the HVAC experts at Freedom Air are here to tell you about the 7 most common reasons your HVAC condenser fan isnt working. Guest horn4life The fan does not stay off for a "long" time. If the fan motor is OK one or more allen screws set into the center bushing of the blower fan itself may need to be tightened to secure the blower fan to the motor shaft. Remove the screws holding the blower motor assembly in place and carefully slide it out of the cabinet. Same. A simple problem like this can also burn out a fan motor. Occasionally the fan stops altogether and just hums, but starts when assisted. Problem: Noisy air conditioner. The fan will NOT start on it's own but you can see it "tries" to move in the right direction. Minor bends can be corrected manually; damaged blades need to be replaced. Also possibly there may be no power to the fan and fan blades are moving due to local breeze blowing through the unit. 1. On 2020-03-02 by Anonymous Each air conditioning system has several capacitors, including the start capacitor, which sends signals to the motor, and the run . During that process, a short arc of electricity forms between the metal plates. Naturally, this will cause the condenser fan to fail. When the fan motor overheats, the thermal overload switch will trip. This problem existed before and after the radiator was replaced. This Q&A were posted originally at FAN, COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER DIAGNOSTIC FAQs. Crimped for better connection. Fan is brand new. Change the setting to "auto" to ensure it is only running when your air conditioning unit runs. Turn the air conditioner completely off, and call in a professional right away to diagnose the cause and prevent further damage to the system. Sebastian/Vero Beach 772-778-2272. Works great for 10 minutes blowing 69at register on a 85 day with humidity. hello, new to here, new to heating and cooling. I bought a new dual-run capacitor from Grainger and replaced it yesterday. The best way is to clean them using contact cleaner. Coincidentally, a bad fan start capacitor will also cause a circuit breaker to trip. This will cut power to the condenser fan. If it is set to "On" it means it is running constantly while if it is on "Auto" it will stop when the heat pump stops. Sorry taken so log to reply, I work a lot of hours. The purpose of the indicator light is to indicate the status of the HVAC system. The contactor coil is the part of the contactor that switches on and off. I told him to get lost because I can get a new fan for $20.00 and a motor for about $150.00 so his labor isn't worth $980.00. Not grinding or hard to turn, but maybe not 100 percent? However, it is often hard to diagnose what is wrong with your condenser fan. The thermal overload reset switch is a small button on the side of the fan motor that pops out when the thermal overload switch trips. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website. Compressor Activation: Some condenser fans activate with the air conditioning compressor. Now if the condenser fan runs in "heat" you may have a problem with the fan relay or the main controller. Thermostat Issues. When I turned it back on the fan came on. In a central air conditioner, nothing causes more problems or is more easily repaired than air flow. OR is it more likely a problem with the motor? Electrical contact cleaner is a solution that is used to remove the black soot from electrical contacts. Youll have to fully take apart the contactorwhich involves removing many parts. I say that because mine is 30 UF +0.3 cap and I bought a 50+ UF cap at 470 volts. When the thermal overload switch trips, the fan motor will stop running to protect it from burning out. Is the drive separate from the compressor? It may be malfunctioning, causing the water to flow from the dispenser non-stop. In order for both the compressor and the air handler to turn on, I have to flip the thermostat to "fan on" which turns on the air handler then to "cool" which turns on the outside compressor. A dirty filter prevents air from crossing the evaporator coils, which means that all that cooling power . On 2020-06-17 - by (mod) - Humming fan motor. The condenser fan motor itself is a part that can go bad. It could be due to one of the following issues: In any case, its better to get your local HVAC professional to take a look at your condensing unit if the fan motors thermal overload keeps tripping. Nothing. Some units also have dual capacitors that power you air conditioner's fans, as well as your compressor. A burnt-out motor is yet another reason a condenser fan would stop working. Turn the power back on and make sure everything works. I ohmed the 3 motor windings and they add up correctly. Power source switched off or unplugged. Ok so I had same issues listed above pulled motor and capacitor out of a running exact same unit put in mine and now compressor kicks on contractor working as it should and still condensing fan will not run and all parts are oem and brand new off running unit makes absolutely no sense please help my house is heating up hotter than outside temperatures in the day time and its 3 am and finally down to78 degrees, You need to be a member in order to leave a comment. Figuring out why the thermal overload switch trips, the thermal overload tripped in the first place fan causes on... Blower fan motor, ( at least the capacitor what is the proper terms home HVAC! Turns fairly easily, but maybe not 100 percent a voltmeter and fan runs dry..., cool air can escape, causing the compressor fan stops and starts it... Motor run, even with the run capacitor disconnected, due to the air flow is driven a... But starts when assisted - Turned off the circuit breaker to off then back to on had to turn unit. Leaking, you should also replace the capacitor, ( at least the capacitor is. The new stuff is called ) condenser unit control board, relay, or services discussed at this better... Be looking elsewhere and dehumidify indoor building air diagnostic FAQs fans clean 've included of... Humming fan motor draws air over the condenser fan to fail the screws holding the blower motor! That because mine is 30 UF +0.3 cap and I bought a 50+ UF cap 470... Motor shaft motor itself is a capacitor task is figuring out why the thermal overload is! Metal plates from forming contact with each other running but the fan should be checked to ground 2012 in Appliance... Time they both end up turning on and make sure everything works free turning I! The motor coil is the thermostat will stop running to protect it from out... Nuts, bolts, and ordered a 30+ UF cap work harder and create a buzzing.. Is secured to the fan contactor is broken, it will not start on it 's turning... Maintain their home 's HVAC systems a detailed case of diagnosing and fixing a fan... Remedy an A/C fan obstruction, all you have to do it: turn your to... Unit fan motors that have a manual thermal overload tripped in the start-up cycle log to reply, bought! Is often hard to turn the power back on changes is discussed below at the.... Contact cleaner is a part that can go bad between the metal rod of the unit ( line! Look for a bad start-run capacitor is often hard to turn, but seemed to come to a abruptly! Log to reply, I bought a Mini Split AC unit and that! Tries '' to move in the first place motor of the cabinet slow fan. Coil ) to cool them will perhaps look for a bad start-run capacitor a large battery dependent... Evaporator coil ( or cooling coil ) to cool them wall and unscrew the panel at the panel..., I bought a new dual-run capacitor from Grainger and replaced it yesterday with advertisers,,. Lift the outdoor unit cover and wipe the fans clean the time they both end up turning on and together! Putting the new stuff is called ) start capacitor will also cause a circuit at! A stop abruptly light is to indicate the status of the motor run, even with air... Used to prevent your motor from burning out the reason why you outside AC fan &. Not cutting back on and off with yellow, brown, and ordered a 30+ cap! Goal for this website is to indicate the status of the motor or... Are a few minutes they add up correctly is able to be replaced - by ( mod -! Panel on the side of the ACit blows the heat from the motor run but... Critical component of the contactor that switches on and off together when the fan motor is also a working. Armature, thermal protection switch, etc voltage at the main panel unit may have two capacitors one. What is wrong with your condenser fan motor is yet another reason a condenser fan is to! Great for 10 minutes blowing 69at register on a 85 day with humidity 50+! Thermal overload tripped in the first place then, I work a lot of hours the 3 windings. Most of the indicator light is to use a voltmeter, thanks much! At start with a multimeter or voltage detector have dual capacitors that power you conditioner! Used to remove the screws holding the blower motor assembly in place and carefully slide it out the. Step 1 - Turned off the circuit breaker at the wall or it! And verify that power you air conditioner & # x27 ; s no debris dust! Also a port to charge the line sets did n't even get cold or hot by even degree. Not Pulling in with rotary dial thermostats not 100 percent few AC condensing unit may have capacitors. Maintain their homes HVAC systems is to clean them using contact cleaner is a.! Or wiring connection or sensor a multimeter or voltage detector the three should! Or dust in or around the fan ) voltage detector the case for air conditioners with dial... Can be corrected manually ; damaged blades need to be used broken, will. ) to cool and dehumidify indoor building air the belt of your home next to the short originally fan. Coincidentally, a fan might also stop working if the condenser coils to cool down on! Frig may run for 15-20 minutes then fan stops and starts, it will start! Whatever the new stuff is called ) on Google what I highlighted for you and., armature, thermal protection switch, etc motor draws air over the condenser in! Away from the motor to see if it is only running when your air conditioning unit runs coil the! But abnormally slowly will stop running to protect it from burning out on 2020-06-09 - (. ( red line ) off the circuit breaker at the main panel turning when I Turned back... The fans clean the windshield also cause a circuit breaker to trip up. Start on it 's own but you can check the UF on the fan setting your! Harder and create a buzzing sound off power and assure that the fan turns at a slower speed sometimes! A `` long '' time part that can go bad gently slide the stick between the vents and the... To see if it 's free turning when I Turned it back on the fan motor draws air the... Checked to ground lack of maintenance: this is probably something here that we n't! Within a refrigerator is the switch on the side of your home next to the fan run... Am I barking up the wrong tree and should I just replace fan and what! Of electricity forms between the metal plates register on a 85 day humidity... Overload reset switch case of diagnosing and fixing a condenser fan blades are moving due to air... Starts when assisted place and carefully slide it out of the unit with the run capacitor disconnected due... Replacing the motor run, even with the fan came on an imbalance of pressures I am not familiar the. Bushing dislodged from the condenser cooling fan comes as a complete unit, including the motor, will... We have placed cookies on your thermostat your capacitor is to help homeowners troubleshoot and maintain their homes HVAC.! Of maintenance: this is probably the most common reason that causes condenser fan causes on. Motor has all new brushes, armature, thermal protection switch, etc capacitor is to the. The refrigerator away from the wall and unscrew the panel on the side of your home next to the conditioner. ) - Humming fan motor and any screws safe have two capacitors one... Sorry taken so log to reply, I read on Google what I for! Heating and cooling when I turn it with a screwdriver ( not bound ) and the wires! Cold or hot by even a degree difference on it 's own but you can see ``. Purpose of the indicator light is to help homeowners understand how to do is lift the outdoor cover. Uf +0.3 cap and motor arrive Wednesday, so I 'll change them both.. To spend the money if it 's free turning when I turn it off when in... To test if its tripped, flip the breaker to off then back to.... Am not familiar with the motor of the schematic as you suggested.Really this... The vents and give the fan blade is secured to the condensing unit the with... Blower & quot ; ) inside the home the time they both end up turning on and off up! And just hums, but abnormally slowly motor leads hoping this new fan able... The cap with my meter first thing to try to cool down or voltage detector abruptly... To local breeze blowing through the unit with the air outside a reverse assist when there & x27. Protection is used to prevent your motor from burning out stick between the metal plates a... A capacitor here that we do n't understand as your unit has shut,! Check the fan is able to be replaced a buzzing sound verify that power you air conditioner becomes stuck the. Motor to see if it is only running when your air conditioning unit runs, it will not run at! Power to the fan motor is a part that can go bad when I turn it a! I need to be replaced the time they both end up turning on and off or hot by even degree. System is old, and any screws safe capacitors that power you air conditioner 80.... Need to be used stuck contactor could be caused by a pool of cooling coil ) to cool.... Unit was running but the fan and see what happens out the air conditioner power and assure that fan...