Shop fan made from AC unit fan

[easton65]

Has anybody done this before? I have one with an ECM motor, and I might find a different one to use. I haven't seen anyone do this before. Is this a good idea? I would obviously build a cage and guard.

 

[Codyboy]

Sure why not?
When our AC was replaced I robbed all of that stuff that was going to be junked.
I made my fan from the ECM blower fan and housing from the inside unit. Took a while Utubing which set of the million wires to use though.
But it works great!
I also like you robbed the condenser motor and fan blade. For now it's just sitting on the shelf in the garage. I thought about using the condenser motor and fan to build an exhaust fan for the shop. May still do that but for now trying to get the AC in the shop working correctly.
If I do it would have to be for mild weather conditions and when I'm doing woodworking and want to try and help the dust to get out.

 

[easton65]

I'm pretty sure the one pictured in my first post has an option for PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control, for I assume controlling the speed. Not sure why it needs it for a condenser fan, but its there.

 

[Codyboy]

Is it a 240 volt motor? Probably is . Something else for you to consider.

Mine that I used from the inside blower was 120v from a gas furnace.

 

[easton65]

Yes its 240v, my uncle works in HVAC and may be able to provide one that runs on 120.

 

[Gutman]

Some ECM can be run on either 120v or 240v.
It's a matter of determining what pins to provide control power to.

 

[easton65]

The label on mine doesn't say it can run on 120, would it even say if it could or not?

 

[Gutman]

The label should specify. Not my motor but from www:



My motor came from an old hvac air handler and I used it and the squirrel cage blower wheel to fab a blower for my shop.

I've got some details on what I did in my thread titled: Re-purposing HVAC Blower; Need Some Help

It may help you out (I'm sure there's a way to make a link to it but that currently exceeds my ability).

 

[The Cobbler]

Re-purposing HVAC Blower; Need Some Help

I’m re-purposing a squirrel cage blower fan and motor, salvaged from my air handler after upgrading my HVAC system, for use as a blower in my shop. Although I did something similar many, many years ago, it was back when I was a little smarter and electric motors were much simpler with a just a...

www.garagejournal.com

(I'm sure there's a way to make a link to it but that currently exceeds my ability).

 

[easton65]

talked to my uncle, and he said that on condenser fans, they have to have some wind direction device, because the pitch of the blades is weird, so it would push the air to the sides without the shroud. Is this true?