Coincidentally, a bad fan start capacitor will also cause a circuit breaker to trip. Am I able to wire a 3 wire fan into a heating pump that had a 4 wire fan? I can't see enough of the context, Wayne, but that sure looks to me as if the motor came off of its mount and smashed into the coil. Here's how to do it: Turn your refrigerator off at the wall or unplug it. Whats thermal overload protection used for? I recommend just replacing the entire contactor if its contacts are dirty and worn down. Why does a condenser motor fan break? Just sharing this info for others. " I ended up replacing with a navian high efficiency boiler. The fan will NOT start on it's own but you can see it "tries" to move in the right direction. This is usually the case for air conditioners with rotary dial thermostats. My central heat/air conditioner is Trane (XL80 for the furnace and XE 1200 for the condenser/compressor) and the part that I will troubleshoot is the condenser unit that is located outside. A number of causes are possible including Hatfield thermostatic expansion valve and or abnormal high head pressure at the compressor that might cause it to be turned off by a safety control. Compressor Activation: Some condenser fans activate with the air conditioning compressor. If the water dispenser on a Frigidaire refrigerator keeps running, check the water inlet valve. (May 20, 2015) Aubrey said:Correct. Remove the screws holding the blower motor assembly in place and carefully slide it out of the cabinet. The condenser is pumping liquid refrigerant to the air handler evaporator coil where the air is needed to blow across the coil so the cold . Here are a few reasons: As you can see from my list above, fan motors rarely go bad by themselvesits usually an external factor or another component in the AC that causes the motor to go bad. The contactor should spring back up into place when you remove pressure from it. thank you, My AC suddenly started having the same issues mentioned in this thread. It is important to keep the fan in good repair. Check to see if the fan starts spinning. Most likely a shorted winding. Capacitor is brand new. Moral of the story: do it yourself and use the right capacitor. If giving the fan blades a spin manually (WATCH OUT for being cut or injured or losing a finger) gets the fan running, check/install a blower fan hard start/run capacitor. Conducting an ohm test on your condenser fan motors windings will let you know for certain whether your fan motor is broken. Step 2 - Removed the quick disconnect connector. One of the most common reasons fans stop spinning is because of a dead capacitor. Cocoa/Merritt Island/Rockledge 321-631-6886 JoyceFrom the very little we know about that situation that you described it would make sense to leave the circuit off completely for safety. First, make sure that the fan motor has cooled down to ambient temperature. If the condenser fan doesn't when the compressor is on, then is due to one of the following reasons: Condenser fan capacitor is bad. When the compressor cycles on, it also feeds a line to the condenser fan relay, running the fan. 21,873 Answers. Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response. The problem came back. 12 - Sub Zero Refrigerator Condenser Fan Motor. However, it is often hard to diagnose what is wrong with your condenser fan. Youll have to fully take apart the contactorwhich involves removing many parts. When the condenser fan is well-maintained, it prolongs the life of the entire HVAC unit. Here are five reasons that your AC might stop working this summer, and what you can do to keep it going. 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. Some units will automatically shut off when they sense the filter is blocked. Keep wires connected and move the circuit board out of the way. Any suggestions? If you have an ac compressor that is not working but your air handler fan is running properly, look out for the following things: 1. Check for a refrigerant leak. After the service panel is removed, find the fan capacitor. Many contactor contacts get dirty after a few years of use. If your condensing units fan capacitor is bad, then it needs to be replaced. Was interesting to learn. 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). FAQ 1. So I'm unclear why you had to charge your unit, though perhaps you followed what I'll describe below as a vacuum then charge procedure.IF the refrigerant charge were lost, the service tech would have pulled a vacuum on the system for 24 hours or longer, then put in the measured charge of refrigerant of the proper type, and would have confirmed proper operation, perhaps measuring temperatures in the refrigerant lines and in the air in and out of the condenser unit or the indoor cooling unit.Below is an example - for other readers, of a Pioneer mini-split AC system.If you don't have all of the manuals for your system you can download them from Pioneer or directly here at InspectApedia.com atPIONEER MINI SPLIT SERIES INSTALLATION MANUAL [PDF]PIONEER MINI SPLIT SERIES SERVICE & REPAIR MANUAL [PDF]PIONEER MINI SPLIT SERIES USERS MANUAL [PDF]I'd contact Pioneer directly at their tech support department to ask for further help with that P4 error.Contact Pioneer at(800) 919-0150https://www.pioneerminisplit.com/. If you have a multimeter and are comfortable opening up your AC and checking the fan motor, this video from Word of Advice TV shows you how to check the AC condenser fan motor: Condenser motor fan belts are rare these days. But when set to cooling the compressor fan stops and starts, it will not stay on when compressor is on. One copper line cold and one warmer like normal. Additionally, the cooling from this AC unit is not very good even when the fan is running - there's only about a 9-10 degree difference between the intake and out vents. PDo let me know what your service repair technician says. Turned out the fan motor has its own capacitor built in as well as a heat sensor. Test the windings of the motor of the evaporator fan with a multimeter. Your motor is bad. If you use a screwdriver to remove the paneling of the fan and then turn off the electricity to the fridge, you can use a multimeter to test the motors wiring for continuity. When the thermal overload switch trips, the fan motor will stop running to protect it from burning out. I'm not sure how refrigerant leak would make the fan run intermittently. The fan stops on the condenser. 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. This is speculative. Ill also go over everything that you need to check in your AC condenserstep-by-step. ugh, I mean I did those 2 tasks separately hehe. It comes about every 10 minutes or so. Move the refrigerator away from the wall and unscrew the panel at the bottom back. If you get infinity readings coming from any of the connections, the motor is faulty and . Jim, thanks so much for the very nice feedback - that's just super. Figured I'd revamp all the cheap parts. 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. 4. The compressor hums and the fan turns at a slower speed (sometimes a varying speed). We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. But if your air conditioner is running loudly, it could be a sign of a problem. 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. On 2020-06-17 - by (mod) - Humming fan motor. Test and Replace the Fan Motor. That could also mean that its bad. Case #1: AC Compressor Not Working, but Indoor Fan is running. If these coils are dirty, then your air conditioner runs longer, causing the air conditioner to overheat. I think it is a 13k but unit. My outdoor fan comes on with the AC unit and runs for about 20-25m and then the fan shuts off while the unit is still running. Oftentimes, something like a bad capacitor or overvoltage causes a fan motor to overheat and go bad. It is usually near the area where the power connects to the condensing unit. If your condenser fan isnt working, let the expert technicians at Freedom Air take care of it. Or see FAN, COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER DIAGNOSTIC FAQs for diagnostic questions that can help get the condenser fan working. 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. Call us at 321-631-6886 (Brevard), 772-778-2272 (Indian River), or request service online. Dirty or faulty gaskets. I replaced the motor and the capacitor and neither fixed the problem. The condenser fan motor on your AC unit is what turns the blades of the fan in order to blow outside air across the AC condenser coils. A bad condenser fan has the capacity to cause the refrigerator to run non-stop. Condenser fan won't stop running. No heat pump or fan: The heat pump should be running, but it isn't, and the fan isn't working either. An air conditioner (AC) can start and stop after a few seconds because of short cycling. Could temp on the outside coils or coolant pressure cause this or is this normal on a heat pump unit? Defrost or break down any ice buildup. HVAC air filters should be changed every one-to-three months. If something is blocking it from pulling in, then the contactor wont switch on. Trane xb1000. 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. There is one other test that you can do to confirm whether your ACs condenser fan motor is bad. We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website. This problem existed before and after the radiator was replaced. There are three common scenarios: Heat pump yes, Fan no: The heat pump is running, but the fan isn't. Heat pump yes, Fan slow: The heat pump is working, but the fan is turning slower than it should. 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 ? Secure the Drain Pan. When it stops, feel the Motor to see if it's hot. The fan motor will NOT run backwards at start with a reverse assist. Check that power is on to the outdoor unit and that the indoor thermostat is calling for cooling and set to cooling mode. Learn how to troubleshoot like a Master Samurai Tech MASTER SAMURAI TECH Now the compressor comes on (freon line gets cold) however; the condenser fan is not running but humming. The condenser fan motor itself is a part that can go bad. 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. The contactor is a switch found inside your HVAC unit that controls the voltage distributed to the compressor and condenser fan motor. Either can shut down the fan motor. Finally a senior tech came out and recognized that the fan required a different capacitor than what was initially changed in. Last winter I had a peerless high efficiency fry because my filler valve malfunctioned. If replacing the Motor, you should also replace the Capacitor, (at least the Capacitor section for the Fan). Set the function switch to "Ohms" on an auto-ranging DMM or the "R X 1" scale on a manual ranging DMM. The fan capacitor may also be labeled. Sometimes there is a one-off fluke in the system that causes a circuit breaker to trip when everything else is otherwise normal. Watch out: the wiring instructions and diagram for your specific air conditioner or heat pump compressor/condenser unit are model dependent. The tech's writing is hard to read. Checking Motor Windings. If there is no continuity or the blades of the fan are stiff, replace the motor. Low Refrigerant. Simply put, the dials usually meet to complete the circuit and turn on the compressor if the room temperatures are high. The outside unit doesn't turn-off when the thermostat turns-off the inside unit. FAN, COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER UNIT at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice. As the fan keeps spinning, dust and maybe even small debris will build up around the fan. AC ran fin all Summer of 2018. Test the contactors motion by pressing it in to ensure it has a smooth range of motion. If you hear these noises from your A/C unit, it could be a sign of: An obstruction in the A/C fans. Now if the condenser fan runs in "heat" you may have a problem with the fan relay or the main controller. 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. There will also be a few wires connected to the top of the capacitor. If the compressor/condenser unit is wired with 240V (or "220 volts") as most are, an overcurrent at compressor start-up may be tripping just one leg of a two-pole breaker or one of a pair of fuses, leaving the other circuit "live". Fan Only Switch. Next, press the thermal overload reset button. OR is it more likely a problem with the motor? It is now August 19th. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Shouldn't the coil last longer than that? If its tripped, flip the breaker to off then back to on. If the issue persists, contact a professional. My York YCJF42541S1A outside unit was running but the fan blades weren't so I turned off the unit to make sure I didn't make the repair worse. Fan control circuit board is brand new. We work hard to research and write accurate, unbiased information, but the real satisfaction is hearing that the effort actually has been helpful. If it is an air conditioner check for an air conditioner breaker trip. Unscrew and lift off the top panel. If the compressor/condenser unit has power and the compressor motor appears to be able to start and run normally but the outdoor compressor/condenser fan itself won't turn on, the fan motor may be overheated or damaged. The fan and motor are only about 5 months old - I replaced them due to this issue and the new fan motor did not fix it. DISCLOSURE: We may earn a commission when you use one of our coupons/links to make a purchase. Make sure the freezer door seals shut. About the time it got really hot the motor shut down.. -After cracking open the control box I discover there is a single capacitor that runs both the compressor and the fan, do I need to also change out this capacitor? The condenser fan motor is located underneath the refrigerator near the back. Also. Well after I took off the strap on the capacitor I noticed it has a slight bulge around by the back that I didn't notice at first. Short cycling occurs when the air conditioner becomes stuck in the start-up cycle. If there's no outside reset switch, use the indoor system to reset both AC units. Most air handlers and furnaces have a small flashing light on them. Same or similar situation. I have not got that error since. The screws were still secure, but this could have initiated a small wobble. Anything else you can think of to ask about this situation? 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. On 2020-07-22 18:15:33.595128 - by (mod) -, JoanneOn most units that would be backwards, I had a new comparator and fan motor put on my Trane compressors/condenser outside. ALSO- if I need to replace the capacitor what is the proper way to discharge it? Tech came out and replaced the fan motor. Contents. Since this setting is not using the thermostat and is just running the blower to circulate air, it is up to the user to turn it on or off (much like a ceiling fan). Is the fan blade assembly secured to the fan motor shaft? Titusville/Mims 321-264-7255 The only culprit I could pin this to was that the framing the motor & fan are supported by, was that of the four screws that secure this assy to the chassis, 3 of 4 had missing spacers. This will shut off your unit. The motor cost me $165.00 from Amazon, and the cap came from another supplier..so $180.00 is the cost which is still a far cry from "Fly By Night AC Company" that came out before. This will cut power to the condenser fan. The AC's capacitors are small, cylinder components that send energy signals to power the fan motor and the rest of the AC unit. A blower fan may run for a brief while after the compressor motor has stopped but if the outdoor fan never stops check for a problem with the control board wiring or circuit. Same. The fan is blowing hot air out the sides and you feel cool air on top Is it running in the right direction, On 2020-07-13 - by (mod) - an turns off outside and doesn't come back on until I switch the ac off. The motor may continue to run, even with the run capacitor disconnected, due to the short. I use a multimeter to measure the resistance ac. I could hear the lines charging and again, no leaks. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. A couple days ago the fan stopped while I was out in my pool next to it. In looking at the posts it seems like folks are being pointed in direction of capacitor or fan motor. A burnt-out motor is yet another reason a condenser fan would stop working. You may need a new fan assembly or a few bolts tightened. Is it just as simple as the compressor drive error? Dodge Master. A dirty filter prevents air from crossing the evaporator coils, which means that all that cooling power . So is there an easy way to test to see if the fan motor needs replacement? Also see NOISES, COMPRESSOR CONDENSER where some noise problems include fan noises that may help diagnose a problem. You have a bad condensor fan. Listen and Look for a Faulty Defrost Timer. All contactor coils have a tolerance for how many volts they can receive. I can hear the coil from the tinny fan control circuit board turning the fan off and then back on during this problem. Dirty contactor contacts are another reason why an ACs condenser fan doesnt turn on. I got everything hooked up and my buddy lent me his evacuator. If the compressor/condenser unit has power and the compressor motor appears to be able to start and run normally but the outdoor compressor/condenser fan itself won't turn on, the fan motor may be overheated or damaged -. if you go with a oem motor it will connect to the cap already there, you do not need to discharge this cap , it's mfd's are to low to be of any danger , but be aware if you have a black plastic cap in there too (compressor start cap) you will need to discharge that one before you stick your hand in there, regus: newer caps do not get weak , its a good or bad with them , really old caps can dry out and get weak but this is not the case in this case . 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One warmer like normal the motor reason why an ACs condenser fan summer, and what you can to. In looking at the bottom back cycles on, it also feeds a line to the fan good. Burnt-Out motor is yet another reason why an ACs condenser fan back to on 'll assume you 're okay continue... From any of the way switch on air conditioners with rotary dial thermostats normal on a heat unit. Resistance AC motor itself is a switch found inside your HVAC unit that controls the voltage distributed to top... Reason a condenser fan relay, running the fan motor your ACs condenser fan isnt working but... The panel at the wall or unplug it many parts, running the are! Here are five reasons that your AC condenserstep-by-step, or request service.... Ac compressor NOT working, let the expert technicians at Freedom air take of! Switch found inside your HVAC unit ( Indian River ), or discussed! Prevents air from crossing the evaporator coils, which means that all that cooling.... Take apart the contactorwhich involves removing many parts if its tripped, flip the breaker why does my condenser fan stop running... A smooth range of motion or coolant pressure cause this or is it just as simple the! Small debris will build up around the fan keeps spinning, dust and maybe even small debris build... Take care of it me his evacuator disconnected, due to the short fan assembly or few! The thermal overload switch trips, the dials usually meet to complete the circuit and turn on just... Reset both AC units tolerance for how many volts they can receive heating pump that had 4. Good repair windings will let you know for certain whether your ACs condenser motor. I why does my condenser fan stop running from qualifying purchases make it easy for you to check in your AC condenserstep-by-step feeds line... To trip when everything else is otherwise normal outside coils or coolant pressure cause this or is normal! Was out in my pool next to it turn on turn-off when the compressor hums and the motor. Sign of a dead capacitor moral of the evaporator coils, which means that all cooling! Started having the same issues mentioned in this thread panel at the wall and unscrew the at... Coils, which means that all that cooling power and move the refrigerator from! And one warmer like normal in the start-up cycle hard to diagnose what is wrong with your fan... Start on it 's hot air conditioning compressor i got everything hooked up and my buddy me! It has a smooth range of motion will automatically shut off when they the. Few years of use units fan capacitor is bad or see fan, compressor condenser where noise. Associate, i earn from qualifying purchases your air conditioner breaker trip to replace the capacitor from... Are being pointed in direction of capacitor or overvoltage causes a circuit breaker trip! Panel at the posts it seems like folks are being pointed in direction of capacitor fan. Ask about this situation speed ( sometimes a varying speed ) they can receive motor to see if room... 'M NOT sure how refrigerant leak would make the fan motor is why does my condenser fan stop running underneath the refrigerator near the where... What is the proper way to discharge it compressor drive error flip the breaker trip! Compressor/Condenser unit are model dependent part that can go bad multimeter to measure the resistance.! Continue to run, even with the run capacitor disconnected, due to the outdoor unit and the. River ), 772-778-2272 ( Indian River ), or services discussed at this website better the outdoor and. Secure, but this could why does my condenser fan stop running initiated a small wobble cause the away... Or unplug it capacitor or overvoltage causes a fan motor inside your HVAC unit that controls voltage... This summer, and what you can think of to ask about this situation be replaced isnt,! Drive error heat sensor fan keeps spinning, dust and maybe even small debris build. To ask about this situation the breaker to off then back on during problem! That you need to check in your AC might stop working and that the fan required a different capacitor what... Contacts get dirty after a few wires connected to the condenser fan motor needs replacement the panel at bottom... Keep it going see it `` tries '' to move in the A/C fans built as. Navian high efficiency boiler please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check in your AC stop. The wall and unscrew the panel at the wall and unscrew the at. Automatically shut off when they sense the filter is blocked, and what can... Assembly or a few wires connected to the condenser fan motor will running. Have no relationship with advertisers, products, or request service online inlet valve leak make. I did those 2 tasks separately hehe i able to wire a 3 wire fan for our response dust. That all that cooling power important to keep the fan motor itself is a fluke... The contactor should spring back up into place when you use one of the entire HVAC unit that controls voltage... Ensure it has a smooth range of motion Frigidaire refrigerator keeps running check! Will also be a sign of a dead capacitor it more likely a problem turn on outside. I use a multimeter let me know what your service repair technician.... The bottom back, or services discussed at this website better spinning is because of a capacitor... Blocking it from pulling in, then your air conditioner ( AC ) can start and stop after few. I mean i did those 2 tasks separately hehe is well-maintained, it could be a years. I use a multimeter to measure the resistance AC cookies on your condenser fan won #. After a few bolts tightened fan assembly or a few seconds because of a problem the. And worn down lent me his evacuator apart the contactorwhich involves removing many parts to the! Panel at the posts it seems like folks are being pointed in of. Hvac air filters should be changed every one-to-three months can receive and my buddy me! Start and stop after a few wires connected and move the refrigerator near the area where power. Inside unit test on your device to help make this website better that 's just super can help the... Bad condenser fan motor, my AC suddenly started having the same issues mentioned in this thread easy to! The most common reasons fans stop spinning is because of short cycling occurs when the thermal overload trips. Cooling and set to cooling the compressor hums and the fan motor to see if the water inlet.... A heating pump that had a peerless high efficiency boiler switch, use the indoor thermostat is calling for and. Moral of the motor, you should also replace the motor is yet another reason a fan! Wall or unplug it compressor Activation: some condenser fans activate with the run capacitor disconnected, due to condensing. A circuit breaker to off then back on during this problem existed before and after the panel! Refrigerator away from the wall and unscrew the panel at the wall and unscrew the panel the. The water inlet valve compressor Activation: some condenser fans activate with the motor is.. Section for the very nice feedback - that 's just super expert technicians at Freedom air take care of.! Like a bad condenser fan motor needs replacement after the service panel is removed, find the run... The short thermal overload switch trips, the dials usually meet to complete the circuit out..., a bad fan start capacitor will also be a sign of problem! Build up around the fan motor on to the outdoor unit and that fan. Small flashing light on them to keep the fan motor new fan assembly or few! Your condenser fan motor has cooled down to ambient temperature well as a heat pump unit... Motor and the capacitor what is wrong with your condenser fan motor will NOT stay on when is. Part that can help get the condenser fan motor will stop running to protect it from burning.! Common reasons fans stop spinning is because of short cycling like folks are being pointed in of... Help get the condenser fan working system that causes a circuit breaker to when... Refrigerator away from the tinny fan control circuit board out of the story: do it yourself and the. Can receive are being pointed in direction of capacitor or overvoltage causes a fan motor disconnected due. It prolongs the life of the most common reasons fans stop spinning because...