Mark42
Fleet Admiral
- Joined
- Oct 8, 2003
- Messages
- 9,334
I installed a 30" belt drive whole house fan last week (mounts in the ceiling and sucks air from the house and blows into the attic). It would run for about 3 minutes then the motor would overheat and shut off. After about 15 minutes it would cool, reset and come on again for another 3 minutes.
I checked out everything, making sure the belt was not too tight, and that there was adequate attic vents to accommodate the 6000 cfm fan , wire nuts were tight, and there were no shorts.
After repeated failed attempts at cooling the house, I decide that the attic ventilation was not enough (ridge vents and Sofie vents) . If the air can not leave the attic, the motor runs under load, and could overheat. So I look up attic louver vents to install in the gable ends of the attic. I also called the fan manufacturer to request a new wall switch because it fell apart. When talking to them, I asked why the fan would overheat. After a long q/a discussion, they determined the fan motor was defective and would send out a new one. So I post pone the gable end vents until the new motor arrives and see how thing go from there.
Yesterday morning while lying in bed (5:00 am), I suddenly realized that the power circuit I tied into for the fan was a 220V. I knew that at the time. I should have, and intended to, only take one side of the circuit to get a 120 feed to the fan. I new that at the time. I realized that I probably screwed that up, and after showering, did a quick re-wire to use only (half) of the circuit giving 120V and the fan runs fine.
Later that same day I get an email that a replacement motor and switch have been sent UPS.
So, a new motor is on the way, and I will send it back, seeing as this motor is just fine.
Anyway, just a lesson to be learned: While making wire connections and having a helper (my 19yr old son) don't let the lesson distract you from making the proper connection. The fix was to make a simple change of connections (as per electric code) and all was well.
I still need the replacement switch they are sending, because the original one popped in half, spilling the switch contents on the floor (china crap). Even though I was able to re-assemble the switch, it still pops open when the lever is thrown. Duct tape is holding it together for now. I guess I will have to eat the return postage on the (very heavy) 1/3hp motor.
The bottom line is this:
- A 120 volt motor will run on 240, but eventually over heats . Ask me how I know this....
- Don't get distracted while doing wiring, especially if trying to teach basic wire techniques to your kids.
- Your subconscious knows you made a mistake. It may just take a few days for your subconscious to get in contact with your conscious and pass the message along (that's when the "light" goes off in your head). Take time to let your subconscious catch up to your conscious, and all will be well.
I checked out everything, making sure the belt was not too tight, and that there was adequate attic vents to accommodate the 6000 cfm fan , wire nuts were tight, and there were no shorts.
After repeated failed attempts at cooling the house, I decide that the attic ventilation was not enough (ridge vents and Sofie vents) . If the air can not leave the attic, the motor runs under load, and could overheat. So I look up attic louver vents to install in the gable ends of the attic. I also called the fan manufacturer to request a new wall switch because it fell apart. When talking to them, I asked why the fan would overheat. After a long q/a discussion, they determined the fan motor was defective and would send out a new one. So I post pone the gable end vents until the new motor arrives and see how thing go from there.
Yesterday morning while lying in bed (5:00 am), I suddenly realized that the power circuit I tied into for the fan was a 220V. I knew that at the time. I should have, and intended to, only take one side of the circuit to get a 120 feed to the fan. I new that at the time. I realized that I probably screwed that up, and after showering, did a quick re-wire to use only (half) of the circuit giving 120V and the fan runs fine.
Later that same day I get an email that a replacement motor and switch have been sent UPS.
So, a new motor is on the way, and I will send it back, seeing as this motor is just fine.
Anyway, just a lesson to be learned: While making wire connections and having a helper (my 19yr old son) don't let the lesson distract you from making the proper connection. The fix was to make a simple change of connections (as per electric code) and all was well.
I still need the replacement switch they are sending, because the original one popped in half, spilling the switch contents on the floor (china crap). Even though I was able to re-assemble the switch, it still pops open when the lever is thrown. Duct tape is holding it together for now. I guess I will have to eat the return postage on the (very heavy) 1/3hp motor.
The bottom line is this:
- A 120 volt motor will run on 240, but eventually over heats . Ask me how I know this....
- Don't get distracted while doing wiring, especially if trying to teach basic wire techniques to your kids.
- Your subconscious knows you made a mistake. It may just take a few days for your subconscious to get in contact with your conscious and pass the message along (that's when the "light" goes off in your head). Take time to let your subconscious catch up to your conscious, and all will be well.
