A/C Blower fan

[TexasShooter]

So about 2 years ago I paid and had a new blower fan and control board installed in my house A/C unit. Here we are now, and I have another blown blower and board. The tech also wrote on his report that he believes the control board went out because someone bypassed it. Company says 1yr warranty is gone and it will be another $850.

So my question is, if the tech 2yrs ago installed my new blower motor and bypassed this control board could it have killed this motor prematurely? I went up in the attic and open the lid like I did last time it went out. There is a thick purple wire going from the motor, straight to where all the wires come up into the unit from my thermostat. Any ideas on this? I do flooring and woodworking, not much knowledge here about A/C units.

 

[TexasShooter]

Any ideas?

 

[bazar01]

Without the brand and model number of your indoor unit, nobody will be able to help you.
Post it here and you may get some responses.

 

[Wrench97]

I'm not a A/C guy but you need to post the manufacturer and model number for any one who is to know what you are working on.

Are you dealing with the same company as last time?

How old is the unit?

 

[mikebaker1129]

A picture would help .
The motor,the board,the wiring.
How old is the unit? Brand, BTU's or Tonnage?

Look on the board there should be a fuse like found on a car make sure it is not blown.
Is the condensing unit working ?

Gas or electric?
The board is what sends voltage to the motor.

 

[TexasShooter]

Thanks, I will get this info tonight with some pictures. I know it is gas, and this company replaced the board and motor 2 years ago. I still have not got an explanation as to why they bypassed a brand new board in the first place?

 

[Jking24]

Blower motors are relatively easy to replace if you have the access cover off your halfway their. Most local parts houses stock them. In my area all you need is a cfc license to start a account. You can get this online in less than a hour and most motors are under 100$

 

[yeldogt]

All bets are off it it was wired incorrectly .... how old is the furnace?

The newer motors don't like restrictive ductwork because they ramp up to provide the needed CFM -- this shortens the life as they pull more amps.

It's not something that I have experienced firsthand. This is something that you test for when you put a system into service.

 

[Wrench97]

Since they charged you for a new board that either didn't work or wasn't needed I'd asking for a refund...........................................

 

[mikebaker1129]

Thanks, I will get this info tonight with some pictures. I know it is gas, and this company replaced the board and motor 2 years ago. I still have not got an explanation as to why they bypassed a brand new board in the first place?

Where in E Texas are you located ?
Is there a Johnson or Johnstone supply or a Goodman around by chance? Do you feel comfortable changing the motor out yourself ?
Some AC supply stores will sell to homeowners and some only sell to licensed contractors.
I am a licensed Contractor in Texas, but I am located in the Houston area.
Suppliers do not offer refunds or exchanges on electrical parts like motors and boards.
Hook something up wrong and smoke it ,it foes happen.
What make of furnace is it ?
You could try the motor direct and see if it runs or not ? Like the shop fans being sold at the flea markets removed from old furnaces.
Did you check the fuse ?
Is the AC working?
Sometimes in TX dogs or other animals will chew the wires on the outside unit and short out the fuse on the board .
Hope th is helps.

 

[Riley]

I just replaced a "dual fuel" board in my goodman. I understand it could be bypassed if the thermostat had the capability to identify the heat pump and gas furnace.

After checking the 24 V transformer and verifying the red indicator light was on on the main board for 120V, I ordered the board from Alpine in Chicago, $48 and "Bobs your uncle".

A/C cooling away.....

 

[TexasShooter]

So here is the picture of what the tech said "someone" bypassed the fan relay board. Another one of the actual board. The sticker off the unit and the one on the blower motor can barely be read. Been super busy with work, this was the first chance I had to get up there in the morning and get some pictures.

The main thing I was wanting to know was if the bypassing from the original tech could have caused this motor to fail. I am going to zoom in on that blower motor sticker to see if I can figure out any #'s.

 

[bazar01]

So about 2 years ago I paid and had a new blower fan and control board installed in my house A/C unit. Here we are now, and I have another blown blower and board. The tech also wrote on his report that he believes the control board went out because someone bypassed it. Company says 1yr warranty is gone and it will be another $850.

So my question is, if the tech 2yrs ago installed my new blower motor and bypassed this control board could it have killed this motor prematurely?

Are you sure the blower motor is bad? They hardly go bad. Most of the time it's just a bad capacitor.
Well if the board relay is bad and the tech jumpered the relay to run the blower continuous so you will have cooling, that may shorten its life but not burn it out. Was your indoor blower running continuous ON or in AUTO with cooling?
$850 is too much for a new motor and control board.
A control board HK61EA010 is about $60.
A new motor with 3 speed taps (Low,med & high)will be about $100.
You can get rid of the board and just put a regular blower relay with a NO/NC contacts and with a delay on/off timer for cheap (B13707-38, $20).
Hire somebody who knows how to do it.

 

[TexasShooter]

I am just going by what this company told me. The fan is always in the AUTO with cooling setting. When I flip the breaker on the unit up top I can hear the motor humming.

 

[Wrench97]

A humming motor could be a capacitor or a seized motor, with the switch off can you spin the motor by hand?

 

[TexasShooter]

They did say my unit has an X13 motor and they are sensitive. They are not blaming the wiring, but a power surge to the motor

 

[TexasShooter]

A humming motor could be a capacitor or a seized motor, with the switch off can you spin the motor by hand?

I did try, fan will not come on.

 

[Wrench97]

Switch in the off postilion see if you can spin it by hand.

 

[TexasShooter]

Update. I have a new blower motor on the way, $250 Evergreen EM motor with the same HP as I have now. From what ive gathered its a exact replacement, but a superior motor than what I had. I finally got up there this morning before it got 120deg up there and pulled the whole thing down here. When I spin it it spins perfectly without any issues. So I guess now its not the motor, but the top module part of the motor? I attached a picture of my current motor label.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

ECMs can be a pain to diagnose. It's not really something you can do without an ECM motor tester.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00H84E264/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Tommy

 

[TexasShooter]

By the time I bought that, then figured out if it motor or module, would I be better off just installing this new motor and replacing the board?

 

[LS6 Tommy]

By the time I bought that, then figured out if it motor or module, would I be better off just installing this new motor and replacing the board?

Probably. I didn't see that you already got a new motor.

Tommy

 

[TexasShooter]

Ya I went ahead and just bought a new one since the company I used told me the motor was blown. But now after doing more research, and from you guys have said, I can spin the with ease so the motor should be ok, just that top module part.

I just got an update that the motor will be delivered today to me, so I guess I may go that route to get my wife and 2 girls in better moods. I guess I will box up the old motor and leave it next to the furnace for a possible backup I guess?

 

[TexasShooter]

So my new board got lost in the mail evidently, and will not be here until next week. Will I be ok to go ahead Saturday morning and put new motor in and leave the board bypassed until next weekend? From what I have read they bypass them for a temporary fix all the time. I just want to be sure. Thanks yall

 

[LS6 Tommy]

I'm not even sure you can direct wire it without causing damage.

Tommy

 

[Bert_]

I just replaced an ECM motor with a split capacitor motor today. Wasn't looking to spend that much money on an older air handler so the $50 motor was the easy choice. A couple relays to control the fan replaced the circuit board.

 

[TexasShooter]

I think I may just wait a few more days for the board to get here. Since the motor is turning and not bound up, I may try the new board first with the old motor and see what happens.

 

[bazar01]

I just replaced an ECM motor with a split capacitor motor today. Wasn't looking to spend that much money on an older air handler so the $50 motor was the easy choice. A couple relays to control the fan replaced the circuit board.

+1

I do this all the time because the split cap motor is way way cheaper than the ECM.
Just trace the electrical schematics and install a simple fan relay with time delay.

 

[TexasShooter]

Well finally had time this morning to getup there before it got hot and we are back in business! New fan control board installed and 1/3hp Evergreen ECM installed. After a month of no AC in the living room in this Texas heat, we are sitting at a comfortable 72deg.Thanks for all the help!

 

[TexasShooter]

So I spoke a little to soon. Once it got down to 71 I heard the thermostat click to go off, but noticed that the blower motor was still running. From the thermostat I turned it off and it continued to blow. Take a look at my witing and see if anything looks incorrect to you that would cause this.