[HiPocket]

My condensor Fan on the outdoor unit 3 ton gave up on me yesterday evening. Notice no cool but air blowing after taking shower. Went outside and the refrigeration system was working but the fan was not and needless to say it was buiding up quite a head of pressure. I cut it off asap!

I oiled the sleeve bearing holes on it and got it to run but can tell it needs a new motor. Picking up a new one from grainger in the am.

The nameplate on old motor calls for a 5 uf 370v capacitor. Someone put it on a 5uf 440v dual capictor(other half is 35uf for the compressor which is correct for uf and volts) back in 2006.

My question is. Do you think this incorrect volt caused it to die early?

 

[Frank865]

No. A higher voltage rating on a capacitor won't hurt anything.

 

[Byron R]

Its not uncommon to have a diffrent (hard start compacitor)..wired in..B.:trink40:

 

[HiPocket]

This motor is 16 years old on the downstairs system, which ran much more I imagine than the upstairs did. I oiled the upstairs condensor fan while I had my maintenance man hat on, and noticed how much easier it would spin with a push.

 

[coldone]

Grainger will eat you up on the price. Try CC dickson
http://www.ccdickson.com/ccdlocations.aspx?zip=27344

Or ACR
http://www.acrsupply.com/greensboro.html

 

[scoyt]

You may have some trouble getting the fan off the shaft. Have some type of oil handy when you go to work on it. I replaced my condenser blower the other day and I had a heck of a time getting the fan off!!

 

[HiPocket]

Yea I was thinking the same. When I had it off this morning I sprayed some PB blaster on that joint. Tommorrow am will tell the tale.

I got it running now chilling the house down before going off to sleep. Will shut system off before going off to sleep prevent it from restarting in the night and risk fan not blowing and screwing the compressor up. Fan dragged for 3 -4 secounds at last startup. Been running it for long periods and shutting it off for same. That motors about gone.

 

[HiPocket]

Grainger will eat you up on the price. Try CC dickson
http://www.ccdickson.com/ccdlocations.aspx?zip=27344

Or ACR
http://www.acrsupply.com/greensboro.html

Thanks but don't have an account except at grainger. it was 76 plus tax. for dayton 1/3hp ball bearing.

They are high on everthing and seldom buy there. But their on line lookup is good and prices are quoted there. I buy little hvac and they have what I need and don't hastle me with a bunch of questions about liscences, business name etcc. just point and click, pick up in am.

 

[HiPocket]

Update ...

Picked up new motor and capacitor(called for 7.5 uf) at grainger tuesday morining. Did a couple of other errands and hurried on back to start change out.

PB blaster evidently did the trick as fan blade came off with a couple of taps. Good things since there nothing stout to attach the pulley puller to. Had to sazall the motor shaft down since it wouldn't clear top of compressor shell.

Had to fab a Capacitor mount since this was an add on to the existing dual cap that was now only used as run capacitor for compressor. Used a couple of hd tie wraps with the mount holes formed into them. Made up one wire. Wiring worked out fine except for some reducing of length.

Cleaned coils on both outdoor units while at it with some alkaline coil cleaner I had from previous career in hvac. These intercool units are cheaply built supprised I haven't got a leak from what little moving around of coil enclosure this caused.

Buttoned up everthing and got much higher rpm than the old motor was delivering. House is cool and wifes happy!