Introduction
- Discussing fan blades and seized motors in the context of motor troubleshooting.
- Importance of inspecting fan blades when a motor is bad, especially for cracks, deterioration, or rust on the motor shaft.
Ordering the Correct Fan Blade
- Important factors to know: rotation direction (clockwise or counterclockwise), airflow direction, size, number of blades, and pitch.
- Blade pitch affects air movement and motor load; incorrect pitch can cause motor overload and damage.
Fan Blade Dynamics
- Blades "scoop and shoot" air: the front of the blade scoops air, and the curved rear portion throws it.
- Motor rotation combined with blade curve determines the direction of airflow.
Seized Motors
- Seized motors may result from lack of lubrication, causing locked rotor amperage or motor overheating.
- Many fan motors are permanently lubricated and last between 5 to 25 years, though some have oil holes for lubrication.
- Adding oil may temporarily fix a seized motor, but it’s usually a short-term solution.
Temporary Solutions for Seized Motors
Oiling the Motor:
- If the motor has oil ports, try adding oil as a temporary fix.
- Temporary fixes may last a few days to a few months, depending on the motor’s condition.
Disassembling and Oiling:
- Disassemble the motor, oil the bearing assemblies, and reassemble to attempt a temporary fix.
- Works temporarily but is not a long-term solution.
Lawn Sprinkler Trick:
- Use a sprinkler to spray water on the condenser coil to help reject heat in place of the fan.
- An experienced technician should monitor refrigerant pressures when setting this up.
- Spray should be directed under the louvers to hit the condenser fins, typically on one side of the coil.
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