Evaporative Water Coolers - Need some help with cooler issue
Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.View Full Version : Need some help with cooler issue
feenixfire
03-14-07, 07:23 PM
Hey everyone,
Was hoping someone out there could help me figure out a problem I have with my swamp cooler, or at least point me in the right direction. The problem is that the motor does not run. The pump is running fine, in fact it never stops running which it is supposed to but that might be a different issue. Is there anyway to test the outlet that the motor plugs into? It's not a normal outlet (which I do have a tester for) so is there some special tester out there? Also is there a way to check the thermostat? I looked inside and everything looked ok. None of the breakers are tripped of course since the pump is running. The motor is brand new from last year so I doubt that's it. The breaker up on the actual cooler is a bit different then what I'm used to. It's a box that opens up and there's a block that you can pull out with two buss's in it and can flip the whole block over to turn it off. Is it possible one of those buss's are bad and that's the one the motor is running from?
I'm open for any input. Thanks!
Was hoping someone out there could help me figure out a problem I have with my swamp cooler, or at least point me in the right direction. The problem is that the motor does not run. The pump is running fine, in fact it never stops running which it is supposed to but that might be a different issue. Is there anyway to test the outlet that the motor plugs into? It's not a normal outlet (which I do have a tester for) so is there some special tester out there? Also is there a way to check the thermostat? I looked inside and everything looked ok. None of the breakers are tripped of course since the pump is running. The motor is brand new from last year so I doubt that's it. The breaker up on the actual cooler is a bit different then what I'm used to. It's a box that opens up and there's a block that you can pull out with two buss's in it and can flip the whole block over to turn it off. Is it possible one of those buss's are bad and that's the one the motor is running from?
I'm open for any input. Thanks!
Trying2Help
03-20-07, 11:26 AM
Since no one has replied to your post, I will see if I can help.
Your motor should have four wires going to it. High speed (black?), low speed (red?), nuetral (white) and ground (green). You will be able to get to these easily under the panel located on the side of the motor. Use a meter or test light; with the house switch set to high vent (pump shouldn't be running, prevents you from getting wet and/or shocked) measure between the HI contact and neutal. Light should light or meter should read 115V AC. Set the switch to LOW vent and measure the LO contact to neutral and you should get the same reading.
If you don't get the correct readings than move back to the breakers you would talking about. Without knowing how your is wired, this may be backwards: Measure from the top left post to a ground, you should get a light/reading. Measure for the top right post to ground, you should get a reading. (If wired different, you would have to measure the bottom posts).
This will tell you that you are getting power to the breakers, but not to the motor....bad fuse/conneciton in plug or loose wire.
If you are not getting any power to the breakers, you will have to move down to the switch and keep back tracking until you find where you are losing the power. It can be time consuming, just be careful not to short anything together or get shocked.
Side note: Your pump will run all the time, if you have switch set to cool.
Your motor should have four wires going to it. High speed (black?), low speed (red?), nuetral (white) and ground (green). You will be able to get to these easily under the panel located on the side of the motor. Use a meter or test light; with the house switch set to high vent (pump shouldn't be running, prevents you from getting wet and/or shocked) measure between the HI contact and neutal. Light should light or meter should read 115V AC. Set the switch to LOW vent and measure the LO contact to neutral and you should get the same reading.
If you don't get the correct readings than move back to the breakers you would talking about. Without knowing how your is wired, this may be backwards: Measure from the top left post to a ground, you should get a light/reading. Measure for the top right post to ground, you should get a reading. (If wired different, you would have to measure the bottom posts).
This will tell you that you are getting power to the breakers, but not to the motor....bad fuse/conneciton in plug or loose wire.
If you are not getting any power to the breakers, you will have to move down to the switch and keep back tracking until you find where you are losing the power. It can be time consuming, just be careful not to short anything together or get shocked.
Side note: Your pump will run all the time, if you have switch set to cool.
Dr D
03-22-07, 12:01 PM
We may have the same problem. I have a 2 year old Mastercool model CHC431E on my garage addition. My friend has a 2 1/2 year old MC that's a bit bigger on his house, and is having the same problem. In cool position, the pump starts and ater the pad wetting cycle, the blower may come on for a few minutes, or may not come on at all. I replaced the thermostat at a cost of $70 wholesale ($140 retail) last year and it worked semi OK. This spring, the same problem. My friend had an A/C tech determine that there is a problem in the main circuit board/relay causing the intermittent blower operation. On both of our units, all the test buttons: pump, clean machine, hi speed, low speed work fine. We are thinking that MC may have a defective component in the main control. The A/C tech will check price of new controler. If this is a problem that others are having, I will pester mastercool.
Ed Imeduc
03-23-07, 12:18 PM
feenixfire
It's a box that opens up and there's a block that you can pull out with two buss's in it and can flip the whole block over to turn it off. Is it possible one of those buss's are bad and that's the one the motor is running from?
Do you mean you have a small control board like in there ?
If so you maght have to buy a new board for it.
It's a box that opens up and there's a block that you can pull out with two buss's in it and can flip the whole block over to turn it off. Is it possible one of those buss's are bad and that's the one the motor is running from?
Do you mean you have a small control board like in there ?
If so you maght have to buy a new board for it.
Trying2Help
03-26-07, 10:50 AM
feenixfire
It's a box that opens up and there's a block that you can pull out with two buss's in it and can flip the whole block over to turn it off. Is it possible one of those buss's are bad and that's the one the motor is running from?
Do you mean you have a small control board like in there ?
If so you maght have to buy a new board for it.
I think what he is referring to here, is a disconnect. It has two fuses in it and he believes one may be for the motor and one for the pump. If he doesn't have a ohm meter to check the fuses....I would switch the fuses around and see if the motor will work and pump goes out!!?!??!? Meter would be much easier.
It's a box that opens up and there's a block that you can pull out with two buss's in it and can flip the whole block over to turn it off. Is it possible one of those buss's are bad and that's the one the motor is running from?
Do you mean you have a small control board like in there ?
If so you maght have to buy a new board for it.
I think what he is referring to here, is a disconnect. It has two fuses in it and he believes one may be for the motor and one for the pump. If he doesn't have a ohm meter to check the fuses....I would switch the fuses around and see if the motor will work and pump goes out!!?!??!? Meter would be much easier.