Last year my home's central air condenser fan motor stopped working. When I noticed the house wasn't cooling down I went outside to investigate and found there was a humming sound coming from the unit, but the fan wasn't turning. After researching the problem online, I found the capacitor may be bad and causing the problem. The capacitor wasn't blown, but I replaced it anyways. The problem still existed; Fan won't spin and a humming sound is coming from the unit. So, I inferred that the motor must be bad. Yesterday I unbolted the fan from the unit to try and spin the blades by hand. To my surprise, it spun. It spun 3 to 5 rotations with a medium amount of force (the same force it would take to bounce a basketball 8 feet in the air). I expected the motor to be stuck and not spin at all, so now I'm second guessing myself. My question is: How freely should it spin? I've read in numerous places that the blade should spin "freely", but I'm not sure what that means. Should it spin around 50 times with a medium amount of force?

If I was holding it up in the air, should a 15mph breeze spin the blades like a pinwheel? Or is the 3-5 rotations freely? If you replaced the start capacitor, and you are getting proper voltage to the fan motor than the only thing left is to replace the fan motor. If the fan turns at all without forcing, it should spin when powered up. If the fan turns freely or not is not a definitive indication that is good or bad. It should spin freely... I looked at neighbor's condenser fan and they all spin freely with very slight force. However how a motor spins isn't necessarily indicator of whether it works or not. A coil could have shorted or insulation burnt. You can test this by taking an ohmmeter, one lead to the motor leads, and the other to the case. If there's continuity between the leads and the motor casing, it's bad (and in fact sometimes it should blow breakers too). You can also read the resistance of the motor leads, if it's too low then there's a short between the windings.

Basically a good fan should spin at least half a revolution with the amount of force it takes to lift a sheet of paper. I'm far from being a HVAC person, but I do like to figure things out on my own. I had the same thing happen and before you order a $300 part, all I did was take it apart and clean it really well. I used graphite lubricant on the blades and 3-in-1 on the shaft of the motor and guess what?!! It puuuurs now ;) if u change the capacitor and does not work turn the power on use a screwdriver and try turning the fan you will notice motor making a buzzing sound and hard to turn just replace motor.I had the same problem and that took care of it.Two more things your motor may have three wire black brown and orange today motor have five wire instruction come with it connect the two extra wire together with a wire nut and wrap it with some electrical tape.Last i recommend u change your contact switch because when your motor start going bad it spark more and more as the motor life coming to an end.

I hope this was helpful good luck.charging a home air conditioning unitBrowse other questions tagged hvac fans or ask your own question.types of portable air conditioner unitsWhat you will learn from the Condenser Fan Motor Repair article: Specific description of a motors job along with some technical detailsAir Conditioner & heat pump fan motor operationFan motor troubleshooting basicsCondensing unit fan motor repair warning and disclaimer - Turn the power off before working on the fanReplacing or repairing the motorWhy you should replace the capacitor when you replace the motorConclusion along with lots of resource and related links so you can take a closer look and learn more.my ac unit can't keep upCondenser Fan Motor Repair |

Air Conditioners & Heat PumpsThe condensing unit fan is responsible for pulling air through coils of the condensing unit. They pull air through the condensing unit coils. It runs the gamut in horsepower ratings from low fractional horsepower in small residential units all the way up to 1 horsepower (and larger) 3 phase motors in large commercial HVAC units.It is usually direct drive to a propeller blade which creates the air flow. Its job it to move air. A specific quantity of air through the condensing unit coils so that a heat exchange process can take place and rig the condensing unit of the heat it absorbed indoors or in the case of the heat pump in heating mode to absorb heat from the outside air and send it inside. Condenser Fan Motors Available for Purchase HereIt is the process of refrigeration and all the components work together to achieve one result and that is to move heat from one place to another.A Closer Look - The classic definition of refrigeration is to move heat from one place to another.

The condenser fan motor is an essential part of that process. Take a closer look at the HVAC RefrigerationCondenser Fan Motor Repair - Air ConditionersIn straight air-conditioners the air conditioner fan is used mainly in the summer or when the air conditioner is running. During the winter this fan sits idle until the air conditioner is turned back on in the spring when temperatures begin to rise.This can be a problem for the HVAC condenser fan motor. Sitting all winter without any motion the bearings and shaft in the air conditioner motor can seize up or rust. It is important that the air conditioner motor is checked to ensure it is running especially when it is first turned on after sitting idle all winter.This is a good reason to have air conditioning spring preventive maintenance performed by an HVAC professional.Condenser Fan Motor Repair - Heat PumpsThe heat pump condenser fan motor, on the other hand, sees run time during the winter because the heat pump motor needs to run to produce heat.

The heat pump condenser fan motor, like the air conditioner motor, is direct drive to a propeller blade which pulls the air through the condensing unit coils. Sometimes, people will hear the heat pump unit running but the fan will not be turning. This is usually when the heat pumps kicks into defrost mode in the winter and should only be a temporary occurrence that only happens when the heat pump unit is in defrost mode.A Closer Look: Learn more about electric motors used in HVACCondenser Fan Motor Repair - Condensing Unit Fan Problems & TroubleshootingSometimes problems can develop with the condensing unit fan that needs the attention of an HVAC professional or sometimes a handy DIYer.Since the condensing unit fan is an electric motor and out in the open and subject to the weather and changing weather conditions including temperature extremes the condensing unit fan must be rugged and durable enough to handle these extremes including rain which can kill any motor quickly if water gets inside it.

Many HVAC manufacturers take great pains to protect the fan from the elements including keeping the fan from getting wet.It is important with a condenser fan motor that the fan motor is protected from moisture. Most condenser fan motors have a closed motor housing to keep moisture from getting into the motor or windings of the fan motor.Here are a few common problems that happen with fans which generally need the attention of a professional HVAC technician simply because the condensing unit is really a dangerous place to work around as the condensing unit can start automatically. Severe injury can result so there is a danger unless one is trained at working safely around the condensing unit.The Fan BladeThe condensing unit fan-blade sticks and will not turn when the unit kicks on. Usually, this is a result of moisture and rust which will prevent the motor from turning even though is has power on it. Sometimes a quick flip with a screw driver (being very careful when doing it) will get it started again.

Another cause of a frozen blade can be the result of a bad or weak run capacitor as the motor needs the torque boost a capacitor provides to the single phase motor. Another problem with the motor can be a bad contactor or relay and a bad contactor will also effect the compressor. If it is a bad relay it is likely a heat pump and not an air conditioner as most heat pumps control the motor through the heat pump defrost control board.In the case of the heat pump the relay is located on the defrost control board and looks like a black cube. The entire board needs to be replaced as the black cube is integral to the board.A Closer Look: Learn more about capacitors used in HVACRepairing and Replacing the MotorSome additional notes on fan-motor repair. If the motor is replaced then it is always prudent to replace the run capacitor at the same time.This is done to ensure the run capacitor is properly rated for the new motor and secondly to make sure the capacitor will last as long as the motor (at least ideally).

Additionally, a closed case motor is preferred to prevent water from getting inside the motor where the windings and other electrical components are located. Don’t forget to remove the drain plug on the bottom of the motor in case moisture does get into the motor.On condensing unit fan replacements there is usually a plug on the bottom or top of the motor. The part of the motor facing down should have the plug removed to allow water to drain out of the motor in case water gets into it.Additionally, it is important to make sure the fan blade rotation is correct. The air should be blowing up from the unit as the fan blade pulls air through the coil and discharges it out the top. Many aftermarket motors have a wiring diagram on the motor for reversing rotation so that air is being pulled through the  motor.Catching Flack with the Fan Motor Repair – Condenser Fan Motor RepairI’ve had some people including technicians ask me why I replace the capacitor when clearly it is not bad? Again, when the fan motor is replaced the motor run capacitor for the motor should also be replaced.

I replace the motor run capacitor even if it tests good.The reason for this is because when some electrical components get hot they breakdown or have a history of breaking down if they are defective. When motor run capacitors are tested they are tested cold. It is nearly impossible to test the motor run capacitor when it is hot so I replace it. It is better to be safe than sorry.Secondly, capacitors are cheap compared to motors. Lastly, as stated above you make double dang sure you get the properly rated capacitor for the motor.To me, that is going above and beyond to make sure you are doing a Class A job for the customer. It is how I would want my air conditioner or heat pump technician to be if someone was called to repair my system.Variable speed condenser motors or variable speed blower motors do not use capacitors as conventional PSC motors use so there is no need to check capacitors in systems that have variable speed blower motors or variable speed condenser fan motors.Condenser Fan Motor Repair - ConclusionIf you have a failed motor it will cause severe issues with the refrigeration system especially when the temperatures and the load are high.