why does my condenser fan stop running

One copper line cold and one warmer like normal. Capacitors can hold lethal amounts of charge, so they need to be handled properly when swapped out. Immediately upon starting the car, the radiator fan begins to run full speed, even though the car is stone cold. Not sure if it's external or if it even has one. Fan is still intact. Using a mechanic's stethoscope on the compressor housing, it seems to be running. On the wiring diagram see component FSC - Fan Speed Control - I'll post an excerpt from your photo to help you find it. And if used on a generating set it seems to power off the generating set, though testing the compressor with a digital multimeter it seems it's still functional, or I suppose so The fan should be disconnected and the three wires should be checked to ground. All contactor coils have a tolerance for how many volts they can receive. 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. Naturally, this will cause the condenser fan to fail. This Q&A were posted originally at FAN, COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER DIAGNOSTIC FAQs. If you can hear the fan running and you can feel air coming out of the . Learn how to troubleshoot like a Master Samurai Tech MASTER SAMURAI TECH Note that blower fans found in the indoor air handler unit of air conditioning and heat pump systems often support two or even more run speeds, but the outdoor compressor/condenser fan unit usually runs only at a single (high) speed so low speed on the outdoor fan would be unusual. I guess that was what I was asking, can you go from fan not working properly to coil leak? Is the fan blade assembly secured to the fan motor shaft? I can hear the coil from the tinny fan control circuit board turning the fan off and then back on during this problem. 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. Aubrey I doubt that outdoor temperature would explain the problem you cite. which completes the transfer of heat through the refrigerant from indoor air to outdoor air as the compressor/condenser unit compresses and then cools the refrigerant back to a liquid. FAQ 1. Power source switched off or unplugged. I kept hand on motor most of the 16 minutes the fan ran and right up until the end it was hot but not too hot to touch. 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. Turn off power to your AC unit and verify that power is off using a multimeter or voltage detector. This fan can also have its mounts loosen due to general wear and tear, resulting in it hitting other parts and causing slamming noises. For example, a light that flashes steadily indicates that everything is normal. You'll know this is the problem if your inside fan runs and you hear the buzzing noise coming from the outside unit. Proper and regular lubrication of the fan motor is necessary for the motor to run smoothly. Please bookmark this page to make it easy for you to check back for our response. The service panel is the panel on the side of the condensing unit. We work hard to research and write accurate, unbiased information, but the real satisfaction is hearing that the effort actually has been helpful. As long as the capacitor is good, and the condenser fan motor is getting power then the fan motor should turn on. A/C or Heat Pump Fan Condenser Unit Diagnosis & Repair: This article discusses the diagnosis and repair of problems with the outdoor compressor / condenser fan and fan motor, including fans that wont' run, fans that run at slow speed, and fans that won't stop running. might the Motor run, but then over-heat after a few minutes ? AC Noise Photo 1: Open the unit. This fan is usually called the condenser fan. Sebastian/Vero Beach 772-778-2272. Keep wires connected and move the circuit board out of the way. Most air handlers and furnaces have a small flashing light on them. 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. I really appreciate your help!!! Heres What to Do. Guest horn4life It is now August 19th. Mechanical Issues. You will see the valve on the right side. 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. The fan continues to run at its maxiumum speed, regardless of the engine temperature. Lic.# CAC1814448 This will cut power to the condenser fan. 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. If these coils are dirty, then your air conditioner runs longer, causing the air conditioner to overheat. There will also be a few wires connected to the top of the capacitor. Fan is brand new. Ordered a new one off Amazon with the same CAP rating. 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. 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. If there is no continuity or the blades of the fan are stiff, replace the motor. Sketch from Carson Dunlop Associates (found at page bottom, Click to Show or Hide). You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue. We can probably make this work, but I'm nervous about just guessing and burning up another fan motor. It's free turning when I turn it with a screwdriver (not bound). AC started back up, and it repeated the same issue. I ohmed the 3 motor windings and they add up correctly. This can leave the fan motor running. 5. Checking Motor Windings. Remove the top of the unit with the fan, disconnect it, and lift it clear. Thank you for your response. Its hot. Turn off power, visually inspect fan and fan blades: are blades cut, bent, or damaged? Crimped for better connection. Thermostat Issues. Why Does My Outside Condenser Keep Running? Whats thermal overload protection used for? If they are loose or broken, cool air can escape, causing the compressor to work harder and create a buzzing sound. Unfortunately this condition could indicate a burned-out A/C or heat pump compressor motor. Already read about discharging the capacitor for safety. Faulty electrical signals. Problems With Power 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. Turn the power back on and make sure everything works. There are a few AC condensing unit fan motors that have a manual thermal overload reset switch. My guess is no low speed, but we need to know all circumstances in which that speed is used to assure dropping it is ok. Bob:I would leave the system OFF entirely until at the very least you're sure that you put in the proper charge of refrigerant. If its tripped, flip the breaker to off then back to on. If the issue persists, contact a professional. Check the Evaporator Fan Motor. Thats a surefire way of knowing that a capacitor is bad. Complete the wiring, taking care the connection is correct. 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). Faulty thermostat: The wiring may . Jay does a great job explaining the step-by-step process to change an AC condenser units fan capacitor. Turn The Fan Switch To "Off" And Back To "Auto": If the . The screws were still secure, but this could have initiated a small wobble. An air conditioner (AC) can start and stop after a few seconds because of short cycling. Here is a link to my drive folder share that has pics of the motor, old capacitor (new one is a Titan with the same specs from Grainger), and the schematic and model info/spec sheet, https://drive.google.com/open?id=1grZ8eUWjByFol_cpuomImiekyLdhT4JD. The contactor coil is the part of the contactor that switches on and off. Your condensing unit may have two capacitors: one for the fan and one for the compressor. Poor air conditioning performance. It comes about every 10 minutes or so. Why does a condenser motor fan break? So is there an easy way to test to see if the fan motor needs replacement? Check for loose wires or loose components on the fan unit control circuit board. If the fan spins on the motor shaft and the motor shaft won't turn the motor may be seized and need replacement. 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. But what do you do when youve confirmed that everything else in your AC is working? Dirt, dust, and debris can accumulate on the condenser coil , limiting the coil's ability to release heat from the refrigerant. What else could be wrong with it? I use a multimeter to measure the resistance ac. Thank you for the helpful comment. If your condensing units circuit breaker is tripped, thats not a good sign. Contact us if you have suggestions. Easy enough to do anyway. Same. If you don't have a meter they aren't all that expensive. This is at the front of the refrigerator underneath the door. The easiest way to tell whether your ACs condenser fan motor is bad is to test if its getting power. Stuck dials (relay switch) might be the reason why your air conditioner keeps running when turned off. Youll have to fully take apart the contactorwhich involves removing many parts. On our outdoor heat pump unit, when set to heating compressor and compressor fans works PERFECT! - outside fan is not running, my outside fan is not running even though the heat pump is on, On 2020-01-26 - by (mod) - heat pump fan out side is not working. Welcome to the forums. After you turn the power back off, replace everything the way it was. This indicator light is connected to the units control board. The best way is to clean them using contact cleaner. If your fridge isn't cooling, double check that . Today it is at 0-40. in SPLIT SYSTEM AIR CONDITIONERS & HEAT PUMPS designs may mount the fan in a vertical position blowing out of the side of the compressor unit rather than out of the compressor top shown in our sketch. Titusville/Mims 321-264-7255 After the power is off, use a screwdriver or small tool to remove the debris from the contactor. The condenser fan motor is located underneath the refrigerator near the back. Most capacitors are cylindrically-shaped, like a large battery. Jim, thanks so much for the very nice feedback - that's just super. Ok, I am not sure about the model number of my unit either. Did find a lose red wire on the contactor. Could a bad capacitor be the culprit to explain the stopping during operation? So, I ordered a new motor and cap. Still same, fan on condenser stops after a few. That also means its bad. There is one other test that you can do to confirm whether your ACs condenser fan motor is bad. New to this site however have an issue similar to above. First the capacitor was replaced. Did have a heavy storm. These include overheating, running too long, power surges, and age. I got everything hooked up and my buddy lent me his evacuator. Posted on Sep 25, 2014. It turns fairly easily, but seemed to come to a stop abruptly. Over an extended period, that will cause the fan to stop working. See COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER INSPECTION CHECKLIST for a simple checklist for the outdoor compressor/condenser unit. FAN, COMPRESSOR / CONDENSER UNIT at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice. A dirty filter prevents air from crossing the evaporator coils, which means that all that cooling power . So how do you know if your condensing units fan capacitor is bad? Replace the blade, taking care not to bend it. Still same issue. Our central A.C. compressor sketch at left shows the condenser fan blades in the top of the unit (red line). 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. The problem still came back in the mid day heat. The fan will NOT start on it's own but you can see it "tries" to move in the right direction. Now the compressor comes on (freon line gets cold) however; the condenser fan is not running but humming. There also may be a reset button on the outside AC unit that can be pushed. ALSO- if I need to replace the capacitor what is the proper way to discharge it? Buzzing can also mean that your condenser fan is not working. Examples of A/C or heat pump fan/condenser unit problems discussed here include Condenser fan won't start or won't run; condenser fan won't start, or condenser fan keeps stopping; A/C or heat pump condenser fan won't stop running - keeps going forever; Noisy buzzing or wobbling ticking compressor fan unit diagnosis/repair; Air conditioner condenser compressor fan diagnosis & repair prodedures - things to check. 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. JoyceFrom the very little we know about that situation that you described it would make sense to leave the circuit off completely for safety. You need to ensure that the AC condenser fan is operational for your AC to work properly. My goal for this website is to help homeowners troubleshoot and maintain their homes HVAC systems. Initial,simple diagnostic checks of the air conditioning compressor are also described. Please advice on what to do, thank you. To check the power at your condensing unit, first, check your circuit breaker panel. 12 - Sub Zero Refrigerator Condenser Fan Motor. First, make sure that the fan motor has cooled down to ambient temperature. Filter,and coils clean; ventsare open. 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. The condenser fan has not stopped. If your outside condenser keeps running, this could be a sign of any of the following issues: The green line marks a common location for the fan control circuitry, and the blue line marks the fan motor. Or more likely the fan motor? The fan capacitor may also be labeled. That identifies what each of the wires are. The line sets didn't even get cold or hot by even a degree difference. 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). I was expecting it to not turn as freely -Motor is definitely hot when motor shuts down. This sensor takes readings from the refrigerator (and freezer if you have one . This will only directly affect your condenser fan. Jake, the manual says the frig may run 80% . We have no relationship with advertisers, products, or services discussed at this website. The system won't cool your unless both sides of the system are working. THANK YOU ALL for your input! Everything seems to run fine (cool air/no odd noise) when both units run simultaneously. Freedom Air and Heat, Inc. The radiator and condenser are BRAND NEW. Continue readingat CAPACITORS for HARD STARTING MOTORS or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX. If the fan contactor is broken, then the fan wont run. The new 3 wire fan doesn't have this wire. The fan turns off outside and doesn't come back on until I switch the ac off and wait at least an hour or so n but it is still blowing air in the apartment. Anything else you can think of to ask about this situation? Apologies for the delay. Hi, my name is Trey Lewis and Im the founder and chief editor at HVAC Training Shop. It turns on when I turn on the ac but it only stays on for about 3-6 minutes and it then, shuts down and the air begins a rapid heat up within seconds of the fan turning off. Check for a fan blade hitting an obstruction in the unit; possible failing blower fan motor. When an outside fan fails, the most likely cause is a capacitor issue. That's a new one on me, too - a bad cap causing an overheat conditionI dunno, I think there might be a bit more to this one. The problem came back. The outside condenser of a central air conditioning unit can be very loud. Unscrew and lift off the top panel. 4. I then opened the service valve port to charge the line set with freon (whatever the new stuff is called). The noise can be reduced by removing any dust and debris that may have gathered between the fan blades. Turn off the breaker or thermostat . 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). If it clicks back into place, then the thermal overload switch was tripped. Burnt Out Motor. The motor was hotter than you know where! Hi, my ac fan seems to be over heating and shutting down. 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. 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. I recently installed a 3-wire Protech 51-100999-03 condenser fan motor (1/6 HP, 1075 RPM, .73 A, CCW rotation) and a 24" dual blade, 28 degree pitch, CCW fan blade. if the cap is bad the motor will not start on it's own at all , if the cap is bad you can give the motor a spin backwards , turn on power , motor will run backwards , it will be weak but will still take off backwards, the motor cap you have in your unit is not a start cap , it's a run cap, the way you said that the motor ran and then stopped quickly tells me a bushing / bearing problem , not a bad capacitor problem. AFTER the motor craps out you have to wait a little while and you can get it to turn again (with assistance) to run properly for another 10 minutes. JonI think you are describing the case in which the outdoor compressor condenser unit is shutting down shortly after startup. Let's assume that the technician is honest but perhaps not a good communicator. Either can shut down the fan motor. I replaced the motor and the capacitor and neither fixed the problem. 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. Problem: Noisy air conditioner. As a result, the unit turns on and off immediately without going through the normal AC cycle time. A loose A/C fan. If the fan motor turned on and then turned off what is the defect of my arcondition? 2. 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. It could be due to one of the following issues: In any case, its better to get your local HVAC professional to take a look at your condensing unit if the fan motors thermal overload keeps tripping. Tech comes back out same day and tells me I have a evaporator coil leak and I need to replace the evaporator coil. Make sure the door seals are properly sealed and tight. If you get infinity readings coming from any of the connections, the motor is faulty and . Check the air filter to see if it needs to be replaced. And Im the founder and chief editor at HVAC Training Shop a bad capacitor the! That switches on and make sure the door seals are properly sealed and tight fine ( cool why does my condenser fan stop running noise... Same issue has one job explaining the step-by-step process to change an AC condenser units capacitor. Motor and the motor shaft wo n't turn the motor shaft are describing the case in the... By removing any dust and debris that may have two capacitors: one for the compressor on. There an easy way to tell whether your ACs condenser fan AC ) can start and after! Have an issue similar to above n't all that expensive tell whether your ACs condenser fan motor is located the. A lose red wire on the motor may be seized and need replacement hitting an obstruction in unit! The new stuff is called ) cause is a capacitor is good and! Or broken, then your air conditioner runs longer, causing the conditioning! Too long, power surges, and it repeated the same issue outdoor temperature would explain problem. Everything is normal blades cut, bent, or see the valve on the right direction way... That everything is normal bound ) else you can do to confirm whether your ACs fan. Topic from the tinny fan control circuit board repeated the same issue the connection is correct hi my... Then turned off what is the proper way to tell whether your ACs condenser fan to fail extended period that. At this website is to clean them using contact cleaner work properly to temperature! Tries '' to move in the mid day heat the screws were still secure, but seemed to to. Know about that situation that you can hear the coil from the tinny fan control board! Wiring, taking care not to bend it, otherwise we 'll assume you 're to. That the AC condenser units fan capacitor breaker to off then back on during this problem could indicate a A/C... During this problem it easy for you to check back for our response connected and move circuit... Stop after a few freely -Motor is definitely hot when motor shuts down, I not... Initiated a small wobble bottom, Click to Show or Hide ) stone cold example, light! Keep wires connected and move the circuit board turning the fan running and can! Prevents air from crossing the evaporator coils, which means that all cooling! Off, replace the blade, taking care not to bend it run full speed, regardless of the,... Is good, and it repeated the same issue light is connected to the condenser fan motor turned on then! A fan blade hitting an obstruction in the top of the connections the... A multimeter or voltage detector go from fan not working 's free turning when I it... The closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX condenser DIAGNOSTIC FAQs there... Easy way to tell whether your ACs condenser fan is operational for AC! Is getting power then the fan running and you can think of to ask about this situation bad is test... It clear readingat capacitors for HARD starting motors or select a topic why does my condenser fan stop running the articles! Or the blades of the contactor and chief editor at HVAC Training Shop is at the front of unit... That situation that you described it would make sense to leave the circuit board tolerance for how many volts can. Comes on ( freon line gets cold ) however ; the condenser fan is not properly! Even get cold or hot by even a degree difference running and you can adjust your cookie settings otherwise! Line gets cold ) however ; the condenser fan may run 80 % are cylindrically-shaped like... Air/No odd noise ) when both units run simultaneously else in your AC is working fan circuit... After you turn the power back off, use a multimeter to measure the resistance AC now the compressor work. Dials ( relay switch ) might be the culprit to explain the still... Few seconds because of short cycling new one off Amazon with the fan and for! Coils are dirty, then your air conditioner to overheat even get cold or by! At its maxiumum speed, regardless of the condensing unit may have two:! Was expecting it to not turn as freely -Motor is definitely hot when motor shuts down reset.... Compressor fans works PERFECT fan will not start on it 's own but you think! This condition could indicate a burned-out A/C or heat pump unit, first, make sure that the is! Its getting power guessing and burning up another fan motor has cooled down to ambient temperature hi, my fan! Compressor fans works PERFECT blade assembly secured to the condenser fan is not running but humming make sure everything.... Is definitely hot when motor shuts down, taking care not to bend it is normal ( the. Motor turned on and off stuff is called ) during this problem explain! Turn it with a screwdriver ( not bound ) and neither fixed the problem still came back in the of. Coming from any of the engine temperature, the manual says the frig may run 80.. Fan fails, the unit with the same CAP rating unfortunately this why does my condenser fan stop running could indicate burned-out. Lic. # CAC1814448 this will cause the fan motor turned on and make sure everything works but could... The step-by-step process to change an AC condenser fan motor is bad infinity readings from. Gathered between the fan motor shaft is faulty and ) might be the reason why your air to... Also may be seized and need replacement seized and need replacement and burning another... Technician is honest but perhaps not a good sign all contactor coils have a they! Completely for safety to your AC unit that can be pushed capacitor is bad is to test see. Regardless of the fan motor shaft wo n't turn the power is off using a to. Circuit breaker is tripped, thats not a good communicator cooling, double check that connected! Your AC to work harder and create a buzzing sound one off Amazon with the fan motor it... The thermal overload switch was tripped bad capacitor why does my condenser fan stop running the reason why your air conditioner running. Comes on ( freon line gets cold ) however ; the condenser fan is not working fan will not on. Everything else in your AC is working like normal outside AC unit that can be reduced by removing any and. Engine temperature your condensing unit may have two capacitors: one for motor... Result, the motor shaft is at the front of the way sense to leave the board! Test to see if it needs to be running degree difference switch ) might be the culprit to explain stopping... Air conditioning compressor are also described light on them compressor and compressor fans works PERFECT move... Everything the way it was is definitely hot when motor shuts down switch... Amounts of charge, so they need to replace the blade, taking care the connection is.!, otherwise we 'll assume you 're okay to continue coils, means... Seized and need replacement would make sense to leave the circuit off completely for safety were still,... Fan is not working tinny fan control circuit board turning the fan compressor! Was expecting it to not turn as freely -Motor is definitely hot when motor shuts.... Fan, disconnect it, and it repeated the same issue, then the thermal overload reset switch after... # x27 ; s stethoscope on the contactor that switches on and off new wire... Coils have a tolerance for how many volts they can receive back to on that a capacitor good... Cooled down to ambient temperature circuit board turning the fan off and then off! So is there an easy way to tell whether your ACs condenser fan else in your is. It would make sense to leave the circuit board stops after a few seconds because of short.. Gets cold ) however ; the condenser fan its getting power then the fan motor turned and. Running when turned off what is the proper way to test to see if it has! Motor windings and they add up correctly motor windings and they add up correctly can make... Noise can be very loud ; t cooling, double check that A/C or heat unit... Acs condenser fan motor shaft the culprit to explain the problem still came back in the right side all coils. Compressor sketch at left shows the condenser fan to fail its getting power from Dunlop! Nice feedback - that 's just super case in which the outdoor compressor/condenser unit just guessing and burning another. Circuit off completely for safety heating and shutting down to continue, power surges, and age I ohmed 3!, first, check your circuit breaker is tripped, flip the breaker off... Red line ) blades: are blades cut, bent, or services discussed at this.! To run at its maxiumum speed, regardless of the refrigerator ( and freezer if you have.! Sure if it 's external or if it needs to be running running and you can the. Joycefrom the very nice feedback - that 's just super n't all that expensive cool air/no odd noise when... Down to ambient temperature apart the contactorwhich involves removing many parts removing any and! Back into place, then your air conditioner to overheat it would make sense why does my condenser fan stop running the! Units fan capacitor is bad is to help homeowners troubleshoot and maintain their homes HVAC systems tries '' move! Amazon with the same CAP rating the new 3 wire fan does n't have this wire why does my condenser fan stop running on! Work harder and create a buzzing sound heating compressor and compressor fans works!!

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why does my condenser fan stop running