11 Facts on Condenser Fan Motor: What, Size, Type, Replacement

There is a distinction between being an evaporator fan and a condenser fan. Let us look at eleven facts regarding condenser fan motors, including their size, kind, and replacement.

The condenser fan motor is one of the most crucial components of the air conditioning system. If the fan condenser is missing, the air conditioning system can stop working. If the refrigerant is not cooled from a hot gas to a liquid, the pressure will rise too high.

The owner’s first aim should be managing the ac before summer arrives. In this article, we will go into greater detail about just a variety of topics, including what a heat pump condenser fan motor is, how it works, where it ought to placed, its size, type, cost, and how it works.

What is condenser fan motor?

An air conditioners lifespan can be increased and it can operate more efficiently with regular planned maintenance. Now, let us define a condenser fan motor.

A condenser fan motor is one of the parts an outdoor HVAC system’s condensing unit contains. The comfort level in an owner’s home is significantly impacted by the condenser fan motor. As a result, it is crucial for maintaining the cooling system in the owner’s air conditioner.

640px Condenser unit for central air conditioning
Image – Condenser fan motor
Image Credit – Condenser unit for central air conditioning by H Padleckas (CC-BY-SA-3.0)

A cooling system is the most efficient way for sending cold air across the entire house. Users can enjoy less energy bills in addition to more comfort, cooler temperatures, and lower humidity. So the entire ac unit is outside, the user may be able to keep a good temperature with a very silent system.

Condenser fan motor working

A condenser fan motor’s contactor is one of its components. Let us observe the condenser fan motor in action.

The condenser fan motor blows air through the condenser coils to change hot refrigerant gas into a cool liquid, although the condenser unit functions to cool the air conditioner as it is running. The air conditioner will keep blowing cool air throughout the entire house while the fan blades rotate.

The compressor and condenser fan motor’s voltage is delivered to them by utilizing a switch on the inside of the HVAC system called a Contactor.

Condenser fan motor location

As the compressor and condenser coils operate, the condenser fan motor keeps them cool. Let us check out where the condenser fan motor is.

Condenser fan motors are often located behind a backdoor electrical panel, close to the HVAC unit’s bottom. Homeowners may need to elevate the front leveling legs and remove the base grill in order to move the refrigerator toward the wall.

When such compressor is functioning, the condenser fan motor should also be operating. The refrigerator’s temperature may increase if the condenser fan motor is not operating properly, which could lead to the compressor overheating.

Condenser fan motor size

The best approach for selecting the right horsepower for a spare part condenser fan motor is to use the fan blade’s specs. Let us see the size of the condenser fan motor.

NameDimension in inchesDimension in inchesDimension in inchesDimension in inchesDimension in inchesDimension in inchesDimension in inchesDimension in inchesDimension in inchesDimension in inches
ModelACHJPRSTU MAXMAX MTR FRAME
APK – 121612.40.54.013.01.52.50.0614.8143/5T
APK – 141814.40.53.515.01.02.50.0614.8143/5T
APK – 162016.40.54.317.01.33.00.0614.8143/5T
APK – 182218.40.54.819.01.33.50.0814.8143/5T
APK – 212521.40.55.522.01.54.00.0814.8143/5T
APK – 242824.40.55.525.01.54.00.0816.8182/4T
APK – 273227.40.55.529.01.54.00.0816.8182/4T
APK – 303630.40.45.533.32.03.50.0820.6213/5T
APK – 364236.40.46.039.32.04.00.0826.1213/5T
Different types of condenser fan motor and their respective size

The pieces of information required to make this determination are the number of fan blades and their diameter, as well as the condenser fan motor’s RPM.

Condenser fan motor types and cost, application

The capacitor serves as a source of energy for the fan of the air conditioner. Let us look at the many condenser fan motor kinds, prices, and uses.

Different types of condenser fan motorsRespective priceVoltagePower source ApplicationPhaseFrequency
1. Split ac fan motor1500 per piece220 VElectricAir conditionersSingle50 Hz
2. Voltas AC air conditioner indoor fan motor1200 per piece180 VElectricAir conditionersSingle50 Hz
3. Voltas air conditioners DC fan motors2400 per piece220 VElectricAir conditionersSingle50 Hz
4. 49W air conditioner motor  3500 per piece340VElectricFan motor for room air conditionerSingle50 Hz
5. Single phase fan motor condenser2800 per piece12 VElectricAutomobile industrySingle50Hz
6. Three phase aluminium cooling fan8000 per piece250 V -280 VElectricCGL ND frame motorThree50 Hz
7. Silver spindle fan NMb1000 per piece200 VElectricFanuc spindle motor fanSingle50 Hz
8. Table fan motor190 per piece230 VElectricFan motorSingle50 Hz
9. Flange mounding AC cooling tower fan motor5500 per piece440 VElectricCooling towerThree50 Hz – 60 Hz
Condenser fan motor uses in different types of HVAC and their respective features and application

There are a number of causes for the HVAC system’s capacitor to malfunction. They include getting too hot, getting old, and rotting too long. The condenser fan will stop spinning if the capacitor fails.

Condenser fan motor replacement

An even worse scenario is a condenser fan motor failure. Let us study the replacement condenser fan motor.

  • Unidentified noises start to occur, indicating that the condenser fan motor needs to be replaced. If somehow the technician can discriminate between acceptable and uncomfortable noises the condenser motor of an HVAC unit generates as it functions, the system should be inspected if consumers notice weird noises.
  • Replacement of the condenser fan motor is required to stop the rise in energy prices. The HVAC unit’s condenser fan motor is not using power usage if the controller does nothing in the midst of increasing electricity prices.
  • Condenser fan motor replacement is necessary because the blower motor requires ongoing maintenance. The HVAC unit’s condenser fan motor necessitates occasional maintenance according to natural ageing wear and tear.
  • Condenser fan motor replacement is necessary because it is almost ten years old. Condenser fan motors last 12 years on average.

How often and when should condenser fan motor be replaced?

  • If the HVAC system makes a scratching noise, the condenser fan motor requires to be changed.
  • If energy costs are unpredictable, it may also be important to service the HVAC condenser fan motor.
  • The HVAC condenser fan motor must be changed after evaluating whether the air filter is unhygienic. Obstructing filters makes it more difficult for cool air to pass past heat exchangers, which causes overheating and disconnection.

What happens if condenser fan motor is not replaced?

  • If the condenser motor fan is not replaced, the HVAC system could overheat and break down completely.
  • The Air conditioner won’t ever have any airflow at all if the condenser motor isn’t replaced. Condenser fan motors can generate a variety of noises, depending on the issue.
  • If the HVAC condenser fan motor is not replaced, a bad odor could start to appear.

How to replace heat pump condenser fan motor?

  • The HVAC system’s electricity should be turned off, and a meter should be used to confirm this.
  • The HVAC unit will be fastened to the fan motor, which will be concealed by a circular grill.
  • Take note of how far down the HVAC unit’s motor is positioned; the replacement motor ought to be about where it is.
  • Make sure the fan’s blades are positioned correctly before mounting it to the new motor.
  • After reinstalling the grill with a bolt, screw the motor back onto it.

How to test condenser fan motor?

The original motors in almost all condenser fan units are single speed and are not reversible. Let us examine the condenser fan motor testing procedure.

  • The common, start, and run cables are the users’ three wires.
  • The other wire is common because it has the lowest resistance from beginning to end.
  • Ohms are higher from Com to start than from Co to run.
  • The other, higher reading will be equal to the sum of the two lower readings.

How to test condenser fan motor with multimeter?

  • Users must first turn the multimeter to ohm and unplug the motor from its power source to check for a short to ground.
  • Then look for unending reading on each wire.
  • Finally, a cable issue should exist if the examiner receives a read of 0.  

How to test refrigerator condenser fan motor?

  • Firstly, remove the refrigerator’s plug from the electrical outlet.
  • Next, try manually spinning the fan blade before grabbing the DMM. The motor frequently struggles to start and run because the bearing in the motor gets clogged with dirt.
  • Spraying penetrating oil on the shaft may be able to save the motor if it is tightly bound or the shaft is difficult to turn.
  • The user must verify the continuity of the fan’s windings if it rotates freely.

How to wire a condenser fan motor?

Connect is the quick beginning. The Cory terminal is where the orange cable goes. Let us glance at condenser fan motor wiring.

  • The white cable initially connected one side of the power on the contactor to the condenser fan motor.
  • The black wire connecting the condenser fan motor to the contactors other side comes next.
  • The capacitor should then be connected to the brown wire coming from the condenser fan motor. The terminal side is irrelevant because this is air conditioner power and not a dual capacitor.
  • Finally connect white plus brown wire to the capacitor‘s opposite side.

How to wire a heat pump condenser fan motor?

  • Cut off the power to the appliance where the motor is located. If the device is plugged into a wall outlet, unplug it.
  • Push the “Common” wire terminal, typically the black wire, from the start capacitor relay to the common terminal on the load side of the unit’s contactor.
  • Place the “Run” wire terminal from the start-capacitor relay onto the “HERM” terminal of the run capacitor.
  • Insert a wire terminal from one of the short wires in the start-capacitor kit onto the terminals of the start capacitor.
  • Place the “Start” terminal of the start capacitor relay over the terminal on one of the start capacitor’s wires.
  • Push the wire terminal from the second start capacitor wire onto the run capacitor’s common terminal, which is sometimes marked with the letters “C” or “COM.”

How to wire a refrigerator condenser fan motor?

  • Put in the fresh capacitor. A replacement capacitor that works with the new 5-Rheem 5 wire condenser fan motor must be purchased by the customer.
  • Connect the new capacitor to the brown wires.
  • The black hot wire should be connected to the black fan wire.
  • The orange wire must be connected to the connection.
  • Connect the contactor to the white wire. Place the white wire where the line’s neutral wire is connected.

When does condenser fan motor stops running?

Consequently, the condenser fan motor should not run continuously. Let us monitor when the condenser fan motor shuts off.

  • Capacitor issue
  • Contactor issue
  • Motor stall
  • Unfastened or damaged belt
  • Clogged air filter
  • Compressor motor

Capacitor issue

The capacitor serves as a source of energy for the fans of your air conditioner. Your HVAC system’s capacitor may fail for a number of reasons. Age, running too long, power spikes, and overheating are a few of these.

Contactor issue

The contactor switch will eventually stop supplying the condenser fan with voltage as a result of wear and tear. Naturally, the condenser fan will stop working as a result.

Motor stall

Another cause that can for a condenser fan to stop is a fired motor. HVAC motors wear out over time and quit the job, like the contactor does.

Unfastened or damaged belt

In older HVAC, a belt is used to spin the pump fans. The compressor fan will seize up if this belt comes loose or breaks. Your HVAC system is likely old and in need of replacement if the belt on it has broken.

Clogged air filter

The air filter is arguably the most unexpected cause of the compressor fan not operating. Every one to three months, HVAC air filters need to be replaced.

Compressor motor

If the HVAC system has tried everything and still can’t figure out why the compressor fan is not spinning, take a close check at the fan.

Conclusion

We can conclude with this article that, a warning sign that there is a problem with the HVAC system is an air conditioner fan that operates nonstop. A condenser fan motor’s wiring Condenser fan motor replacement these subjects are discussed when the condenser fan motor shuts down.