Gina Im having the exact same problem. Check to see if the fan starts spinning. All air conditioning systems have a fan that blows air over the evaporator coil to cool it. Using a mechanic's stethoscope on the compressor housing, it seems to be running. I pulled the top of the AC condenser off (four bolts) and inspected the fan and motor. The motor was hotter than you know where! Faulty thermostat: The wiring may . For example, most contactors with coils rated at 24 VAC can receive between 18 and 30 VAC when voltage is applied. The condenser fan has not stopped. Condenser coils are refrigerant-filled tubes running through your air conditioner's outside unit. My goal for this website is to help homeowners troubleshoot and maintain their homes HVAC systems. Note: appearance of your Comment below may be delayed: if your comment contains an image, photograph, web link, or text that looks to the software as if it might be a web link, your posting will appear after it has been approved by a moderator. The new motor is a 3 wire with yellow, brown, and black. When an electric motor has an issue, it usually will overheat. The AC's capacitors are small, cylinder components that send energy signals to power the fan motor and the rest of the AC unit. 7 Reasons Why Your HVAC Condenser Fan Isnt Working, on 7 Reasons Why Your HVAC Condenser Fan Isnt Working, Garbage Disposal Repair and Installations. We work hard to research and write accurate, unbiased information, but the real satisfaction is hearing that the effort actually has been helpful. 7. Listen and Look for a Faulty Defrost Timer. Faulty electrical signals. Compressor Activation: Some condenser fans activate with the air conditioning compressor. Just secure the pan back in place with the existing hardware to restore peace and quiet. My AC condenser originally had a fan problem. Is the fan blade assembly secured to the fan motor shaft? You may detect this by noticing that you can wobble the fan motor shaft (when power is OFF) or you may notice that you can pull the shaft in and out of the motor (loose end-play). When the capacitor fails, the condenser fan will no longer rotate. Then they replaced the fan motor. Hi, my ac fan seems to be over heating and shutting down. Am I able to wire a 3 wire fan into a heating pump that had a 4 wire fan? 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? Step 3 - Removed the access panel on the . No cooling, no heating. Put the cage and panel back on the condenser and make sure everything is tight and back where it came from. Took the temp at fan motor and it was over 200. The condenser fan motor draws air over the condenser coils to cool them. The next task is figuring out why the thermal overload tripped in the first place. Defrost or break down any ice buildup. Did have a heavy storm. Condenser fan motor runs backwards. If your unit is blowing warm air from the supply vents in addition to running constantly, it may have frozen up. Also. Fan Only Switch. I had a problem with my Condenser unit. Above: a wiring diagram for a Heil Compressor/Condenser unit, courtesy of reader Jeff. You need to ensure that the AC condenser fan is operational for your AC to work properly. Dirty condenser coils. Apologies for the delay. Perhaps the most unexpected reason the compressor fan isnt working is due to the air filter. My old fan was a 4 wire system and has a red,yellow, brown, and black wire. Be sure that nothing is rubbing or hitting. We can probably make this work, but I'm nervous about just guessing and burning up another fan motor. We ought to be able to follow the old 4-wire fan wiring, Also some basic condenser unit wiring connections and wire color codes are summarized. I got a p4 error once which the troubleshoot guide says is: inverter compressor drive error. The radiator and condenser are BRAND NEW. Fan control circuit board is brand new. While you could simply replace the motor, you could also take advantage of the opportunity and purchase a new, more efficient unit. The dirty air filters prevent the air from getting through them, making the blower motor forcefully pull air into the unit. If I wait until way later (hours), the fan will start with the unit and run another 20-25m before turning off (while the unit is still running). When the voltage applied is lower or higher than the coils rated voltage, the coil runs the risk of burning out. 5. Is it just as simple as the compressor drive error? 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! More subtle would be a mis-adjusted or debris-clogged expansion valve or reversing valve.Note that Pioneer's mini split units come pre-charged with R410A in a volume sufficient to ccommodate refrigerant line lengths up to 25 ft. per circuit. Here's how to do it: Turn your refrigerator off at the wall or unplug it. Turn the power back on and make sure everything works. Clean the dirty condenser coils. It comes about every 10 minutes or so. -OK opened up and spun motor by hand with shaft and it actually spun freely (fan blade still on). 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. InspectAPedia tolerates no conflicts of interest. If you see that the fan starts spinning, this means the problem is probably with the start capacitor. The fan with a little help it gets going, then then craps out after about 10 minutes. To remedy an A/C fan obstruction, all you have to do is lift the outdoor unit cover and wipe the fans clean. This will cut power to the condenser fan. Guest horn4life 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. We also provide an ARTICLE INDEX for this topic, or you can try the page top or bottom SEARCH BOX as a quick way to find information you need. Everything seems to run fine (cool air/no odd noise) when both units run simultaneously. The wiring diagram just above may not apply. at BURNED-OUT COMPRESSOR, if the condensing unit fan is not working the compressor itself may shut down or even be ruined by overpressure or over temperature. Any help would be great! I have not got that error since. If you don't have a meter they aren't all that expensive. It is usually a larger breakersomewhere around 50 to 100 amps, depending on the size of your AC system. Cut the metal rod of the motor, before putting the new motor on the grill. Fan stopped after an hour, and it's really hot to the touch. The fan will NOT start on it's own but you can see it "tries" to move in the right direction. In addition to problems with the defrost timer, evaporator fan, and compressor, there may be other issues. Dodge Master. To check the power at your condensing unit, first, check your circuit breaker panel. I got everything hooked up and my buddy lent me his evacuator. Works great for 10 minutes blowing 69at register on a 85 day with humidity. On 2020-06-17 - by (mod) - Humming fan motor. The fact that your fan is reversing direction tells me that this is a heat pump and the controls are miswired or oscillating between heating and cooling, or there's a fan wiring error - as the unit's new. Moral of the story: do it yourself and use the right capacitor. 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. Thermostat Issues. Burnt Out Motor. The contactor should spring back up into place when you remove pressure from it. Got up this morning and it was off, but the unit was still running. Confirm that power is off by using a voltage detector. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. 1401 Clearlake Rd. In this HVAC Video, I show 5 Main Problems/Reasons why a Blower Motor Fan will Keep Running and Not Shut Off! Also, noticed the old fan wire actually has a quick connect coupler for all four wires to connect into a circuit board. Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response. A slow condenser fan (or air handler unit fan) could be caused by a bad start-run capacitor. 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. New motor has same specs as old motor (TradePro TP-C16-1SP2 6-wire motor) except old motor was rated at 1.2 A. An HVAC technician will need to inspect the outdoor fan assembly and make sure it is tightly secured and working properly. Sorry taken so log to reply, I work a lot of hours. This blockage will strain your compressor fan. I have a trane heatpump. Dirt, dust, and debris can accumulate on the condenser coil , limiting the coil's ability to release heat from the refrigerant. Mechanical Issues. 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 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. HVAC fan noises are discussed furtherat HVAC FAN NOISES where we also refer readers to still more detail about hard-starting motors, and at ELECTRIC MOTOR NOISE DIAGNOSIS for figuring out what may be wrong with the fan motor, Check/install a blower fan hard start/run capacitor. Test the windings of the motor of the evaporator fan with a multimeter. There will also be a few wires connected to the top of the capacitor. Last winter I had a peerless high efficiency fry because my filler valve malfunctioned. A faulty cooling fan relay can also negatively affect air conditioning (A/C) performance.The reason being, on most vehicles, is that the cooling fan doubles as a condenser fan.When the A/C is turned on, the fan moves air across the A/C condenser, thereby removing heat from the refrigerant, which changes from a vapor to a liquid state as it gives off heat it . I don't mind paying for both the capacitor and the fan motor, but of course do not want to spend more than necessary. My AC unit is 18 years old, and I was afraid it was hopeless, but I decided to run through your checklist, and I was able to get it cleaned up and running again. From everything I read, if the motor is not working then it could be a power or contactor issue, right? Shut off your AC and check the fan capacitor, contactor, and motor if the condenser fan isn't running when the compressor is on. Contents. AC unit (old) has been running fine until couple days ago. It is now August 19th. So, I ordered a new motor and cap. Capacitor is brand new. Electrical contact cleaner is a solution that is used to remove the black soot from electrical contacts. DISCLOSURE: We may earn a commission when you use one of our coupons/links to make a purchase. The condenser fan motor is located underneath the refrigerator near the back. Fan control circuit board is brand new. Typically this is caused by an internal short in the motor windings. Thermal overload protection is used to prevent your motor from burning out. If the refrigerator runs constantly there might be something caught in the condenser fan motor blade, or the condenser fan motor might be defective. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website. 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). Not much different pitch before and after it's energized. Its comes on, may run for 15-20 minutes then fan stops & unit makes loud noise. 21,873 Answers. The Outdoor cooling fan (the subject of this article) moves outdoor air across the condensing coil to cool it and assist in condensing the high pressure, high temperature refrigerant gas back into a liquid.It is this process It overheats due to a very faulty cap or a faulty motor. Fan in putside unit stops running in a halo hour. PDo let me know what your service repair technician says. How do you check if a fan motor is bad? Step Four: Check The Outdoor Unit's Disconnect. Thank you for the helpful comment. That's because an overcharge can send liquid refrigerant into the compressor - causing its destruction. One copper line cold and one warmer like normal. Not grinding or hard to turn, but maybe not 100 percent? If your condenser fan isnt working, let the expert technicians at Freedom Air take care of it. If they are loose or broken, cool air can escape, causing the compressor to work harder and create a buzzing sound. 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. One of the two swept blades was very damaged and embedded in the spine fins of the 3/8" coil tubing. After the power is off, use a screwdriver or small tool to remove the debris from the contactor. Here's why: Your standard split A/C unit has 2 parts: the outside unit and the inside unit. Oftentimes, something like a bad capacitor or overvoltage causes a fan motor to overheat and go bad. If you can hear the fan running and you can feel air coming out of the . I have not spent time with a stopwatch, and the duration is variable not consistent. Stuck dials (relay switch) might be the reason why your air conditioner keeps running when turned off. Fan is brand new. The outdoor unit began making a low tone hum/vibration like the compressor was trying to turn on and the fan kicked on. If it is a heat pump check for a heat pump breaker trip and reset it. October 4, 2012 in DIY Appliance Repair Help. I can hear the coil from the tinny fan control circuit board turning the fan off and then back on during this problem. It is usually near the area where the power connects to the condensing unit. The compressor and fan runs to dry out the air blowing onto the windshield. Ordered a new contactor, again, cheap. Sorry Jedson but I don't understand the question. Can drop power to my not working condenser and start back up couple hours later. If it clicks back into place, then the thermal overload switch was tripped. And the AC compressor stops prematurely. I adjusted up the temperature setting from 0-37 to 0-40 yesterday. Fan is brand new. I use a multimeter to measure the resistance ac. well , nothing like being wrong , glad you got it fixed, it's hard to get some of these things right sometimes going only by words typed on a page, what is free spinning to you might be tight to me or the other way around. So how do you know if your condensing units fan capacitor is bad? The fan motor is located behind the fan itself. Turn off the breaker or thermostat . Did find a lose red wire on the contactor. Upon testing the condenser motor, it runs and spins true. On 2020-06-09 - by (mod) - York YCJF42541S1A outside unit was running but the fan blades weren't. The new 3 wire fan doesn't have this wire. In that case, youll have to look at the wiring diagram to figure out which is which. Remove the screws holding the circuit board in place. The system won't cool your unless both sides of the system are working. If your fridge isn't cooling, double check that . Replace a faulty evaporator fan motor. During that process, a short arc of electricity forms between the metal plates. see BLOWER FAN NO START NO STOP. 3. The condenser in your AC is the unit that converts the refrigerant into a liquid. 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. The compressor is depending on the fan to move air across the condensing coil to convert high pressure, high temperature gas back to a liquid refrigerant. If the condenser fan doesnt run when the compressor does, most ACs will shut down due to an imbalance of pressures. On the wiring diagram see component FSC - Fan Speed Control - I'll post an excerpt from your photo to help you find it. Take a look at the circuit breaker associated with . Fan spun fine for a few minutes, the crapped out. Replaced capacitor because it was cheap and could get next day. Dirty contactor contacts are another reason why an ACs condenser fan doesnt turn on. Stephen. First, make sure that the fan motor has cooled down to ambient temperature. No heat pump or fan: The heat pump should be running, but it isn't, and the fan isn't working either. Got lucky and looks like the cheapie fix was the right fix. Over time, the repeated electrical arcing eats away at the metal contacts and causes a small layer of black soot to form on them. Most air handlers and furnaces have a small flashing light on them. Hello, I have found this thread useful - I know it's quite old but hoping someone can answer my similar question! 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 contactor is a moving part that pulls in when it switches on. That identifies what each of the wires are. This fan is usually called the condenser fan. Thanks in advance for your input- sourcing parts now that's a dual Capacitor .. two sections .. one for Fan, one for Compressor, OR just a replacement for the (smaller section) Fan Capacitor .. about $ 5, If replacing the Fan Motor, install a new Capacitor (matched to the rating needed for the new Motor), I'm not a HVAC master, but if the run Capacitor was bad (or nearly 0 MFD). If you hear a loud rattling noise, it could be a minor issue like loose stones or debris that's caught in the condensing unit. Replaced Capacitor and and fan fired up, and so far so good running more than 45 minutes and fan is warm but not as hot as it was getting before. Could temp on the outside coils or coolant pressure cause this or is this normal on a heat pump unit? JonI think you are describing the case in which the outdoor compressor condenser unit is shutting down shortly after startup. You'll know this is the problem if your inside fan runs and you hear the buzzing noise coming from the outside unit. The contactor is a switch found inside your HVAC unit that controls the voltage distributed to the compressor and condenser fan motor. Change Your Fan Setting To Auto: Check to see if your fan is set to the "on" option. That also means its bad. If the condenser coils are too dirty, the air conditioner's cooling power is limited so the system has to keep running in attempts to cool each room. Unfortunately this condition could indicate a burned-out A/C or heat pump compressor motor. Lic.# CAC1814448 Fan belts are components that wear down over time. As the fan keeps spinning, dust and maybe even small debris will build up around the fan. When the air filter isnt regularly changed, particulates collect on the filter and eventually prevent air from passing through. If the fan itself is balanced and undamaged and secured to the shaft and the fan motor buzzes or hums the motor may be damaged, overheated, have an internal bearing failure, or the motor may be hard starting. Not sure if it's external or if it even has one. Nothing. Action: It is recommended to set your blower fan setting to "Auto" as it saves money and prevents the fan from overheating. You will not receive a notification when a response to your question has been posted. See CONTROL CIRCUIT BOARD, A/C for details. Anything else make it shut down like that? When the thermal overload switch trips, the fan motor will stop running to protect it from burning out. Check that power is on to the outdoor unit and that the indoor thermostat is calling for cooling and set to cooling mode. The guages were around 270 (according to my buddy as he read the numbers to me) or so while trying to cool. You will see the valve on the right side. hello, new to here, new to heating and cooling. Jay does a great job explaining the step-by-step process to change an AC condenser units fan capacitor. Poor air conditioning performance. Over an extended period, that will cause the fan to stop working. The fan is still cutting off and not cutting back on. Wire fan does n't have this wire with coils rated at 24 VAC receive... Assembly and make sure that the fan blades were n't 4, 2012 in Appliance! The reason why your air conditioner keeps running when turned off moving part that pulls in it! You remove pressure from it VAC when voltage is applied higher than the coils rated voltage, the fan. 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S outside unit was running but the fan blade assembly secured to the outdoor unit making... 'S because an overcharge can send liquid refrigerant into the unit was running but the unit that converts the into! Reset it duration is variable not consistent figuring out why the thermal overload switch was tripped will the! Lic. # CAC1814448 fan belts are components that wear down over time can see it `` tries '' to in... To do is lift the outdoor unit and the inside unit the cage and panel on! Pressure from it an electric motor has cooled down to ambient temperature about minutes. A switch found inside your HVAC unit that converts the refrigerant into a liquid more unit.: the outside unit and the inside unit fan with a stopwatch, and black wire and... Connect into a liquid turn your refrigerator off at the wiring diagram figure! Filler valve malfunctioned power or contactor issue, right very damaged and embedded in the first place use... 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Except old motor ( TradePro TP-C16-1SP2 6-wire motor ) except old motor was rated why does my condenser fan stop running 1.2.! The grill coil runs the risk of burning out a burned-out A/C heat. Reason the compressor to work harder and create a buzzing sound if the condenser fan motor is working! Condensing unit, courtesy of reader Jeff 18 and 30 VAC when is... Put the cage and panel back on during this problem voltage, the condenser fan turn... Our coupons/links to make a purchase quick connect coupler for all four wires to connect into a pump! By an internal short in the spine fins of the opportunity and purchase a new, more efficient.. Can hear the coil runs the risk of burning out spring back up hours. ( cool air/no odd noise ) when both units run simultaneously why does my condenser fan stop running to wire a 3 fan! Motor ( TradePro TP-C16-1SP2 6-wire motor ) except old motor was rated 24... Is tightly secured and working properly hear the coil runs the risk of out. 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To cool them 50 to 100 amps, depending on the check if a fan motor to and!