Heat Pump Fan keeps shutting down.

[BlackdogJunkyard]

My fan keeps shutting off in my heat pump. Currently I just want to use it as fan only. I need to repair some burst pipes before I can use the system for heat. So I have wired the fan so that I can just keep it plugged in and switch it on with a switch. Rather than attempt to figure out how to use the Johnson controls metasys 9100 **** that makes no sense to me. I just want to recirculate air in my house.
Anyway I flicked the switch the first time and the fan just hums. No spinning. I use my hand to start it spinning and away it goes. But then a few minutes later it shuts down with a single clicking noise. The motor feels hot to the touch. It is a GE 34**rpm electric motor. I assume it is bad. Can I get it rebuilt? Are new ones cheap? I am really looking to spend <$100.
Thanks
-Logan

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[Jackfre]

Get a mulit meter and check if something is interrupting power to the fan. Try Graingers, Johnstone Supply, Sid Harvey's, RE Michel for replacement motors. You don't post make on the HP, but you can see who your local distributor is and with complete info. Make/model of unit and the complete rating plate info off the motor you shouldn't have an issue.

 

[philjafo]

You shouldn't need to rewire anything to run just the fan, there's a switch on the thermostat for that. Did the problem start after you rewired it?

 

[Cheshirehvac]

Sounds like the run capacitor has gone bad. Most blower motors are PSC motors(Permanent Split Capacitor). The capacitor should be attached to the blower housing and are usually rated at 5 to 10 MFD. You will need to check it with a meter that reads capacitance.

 

[BlackdogJunkyard]

I don't know how to operate the system in my house. It was setup by the previous owners and they were pro electricians with hvac exp. So there is nothing that says "fan only" or "push this button for just the fan". I took the easy way out and just wired the fan to a plug.
I guess I will check the capacitor.

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[pattenp]

Sounds like the run capacitor has gone bad. Most blower motors are PSC motors(Permanent Split Capacitor). The capacitor should be attached to the blower housing and are usually rated at 5 to 10 MFD. You will need to check it with a meter that reads capacitance.

+1. Most likely bad run cap.

 

[Tim The Tool Man]

x2 on run cap. ...and look at your thermostat. It should have a slide switch & say something like HEAT, COOL, and FAN or it might say FAN: ON or AUTO. You should only have needed to select the FAN or ON setting and not rewire anything.

 

[BlackdogJunkyard]

These are pictures of the motor. Motor's ID Plate. The metasys dx9100 I have as a main board thing. And the "thermostats" I have inside.

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[Tim The Tool Man]

Check the wires running into that motor and ensure you haven't rewired a 220 motor set up with only 120. (Is your breaker a double(220v) or single (120v)?) If it is 120v then that bump or bulge on the side of your motor is where you will find your caps. Take the run cap to an electric supply house or Grainger and get a replacement.

 

[tp6729]

I have the Metasys system controlling heating/cooling, boilers etc. at work. I access controls via computer via internet. My headend unit doesn't have The screen and buttons like yours. If your t-stats do not have the heat/cool fan switches then the headend is where you would probably make any changes to your hvac system. I'm wondering if yours is connected to the net. It's a nice set up. You should google it.
It does sound like a bad capacitor, if you have correct voltage to fan.
Best of luck with it.

 

[Cheshirehvac]

First off.....Commercial controls on a residential equipment......OVERKILL. Get a reputable HVAC contractor to change over to a user friendly control setup. Metasys controls are intended for a commercial setup and will give you more trouble than they are worth. Secondly, thanks for the pictures. What you have is a belt driven blower motor. That type of motor DOES NOT have a run capacitor. That motor uses a start capacitor that energizes the start windings by way of a centrifugal switch. Either the Centrifugal switch or the bearing have went bad on that motor. Either way, the motor will need to be replaced. Take it to Grainger or your local havc supply house. Either one should have it in stock.

 

[BlackdogJunkyard]

Sigh. All these things sound expensive. I will most likely just replace my fan and use it for air circulation. Paying an hvac person to redesign the systems controls is not appealing.

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