Heat Pumps and Electric Heating - Blower Motor dies out?

Hello I was wondering if someone could help me out?
I have an Amana heat pump and I noticed that the blower motor wasn’t running anymore. So I replaced the start-up capacitor and when I turned the breaker back on it started right up and was running for about a 1 min, then the motor sounded like it was dying out. Eventually the blower would stop and "hum". I tried installing the old capacitor and the results are the same. I did notice if I turned the breakers off for 5 or so minutes and turn it on, the blower would start up again and die out. But if the breakers were switched off and back on, the blower wouldn’t do anything, so it seems like something is heating up and cutting power to the blower. Also the trouble light is flashing "6" = system error. I appreciate your help in advance!!


Jason

This problem is on the blower in the air handler inside the house, just to clear that up... thanks very much for your help in advance!!!

I think it sounds more like you need a new blower motor. Sounds like the bearings are shot and its heating up and slowing down. You'd need to check the voltage to it, but thats the first thing I'd look at.

Post M# of air handler or look on the inside of the access panel
to see what trouble code 6 is

the error code is "system error" that really doesnt say much!!

That only comes on when the system reaches high temp overload because the heating coils are glowing from the fan not blowing on them ( I think...)

thanks agian for everyones help. I will check the amp draw on the motor and also feel if the motor is getting hot. but to maybe help, I can spin the cage by hand and it spins free..??

But you can't spin it at rated RPM for 1 min or so. Could be insulation in the windings breaking down or bearings. Bad insulation will normally give an "overheated" smell in my experience, but that was with larger motors. Could even be something causing the overload to trip? Don't know whether you would get a hum or not though.

But posting the model # of the AH would still be a good idea. One of the Pro's may know something specific to your unit.

I never had a unit with any complicated electronic controls or error lights..so no help there. But I've had lots of experience with motors big and small.

If you happen to have a motor shop nearby, many will test it for free. We had several where I used to live, due to the proximity to the shipyard and several factories.

OK soo I ran the motor till it stopped and felt the bearing and they were hot, soo I pulled the fan. After I took the motor off I pryed the bearing cap off and it was toasted. So I bought a new motor but this one calls for a 5mF capacitor but I already have a 10mF...can I still my 10 mF cap??? Thanks for all your help!!

Can't answer that...I know you can use a higher voltage rating...but I don't know about the farad rating. Have to wait for a Pro to weigh in.

When capacitors are new they will test higher than indicated and when they age they decrease as it drys out from heat. With tolerance it could work until you do get the proper size. Play is safe.

I changed the motor and the cap to the correct one and everything seems to be running(a lot noiser than the orginal!). BUT I noticed that there wasnt any air comming from the vents. I checked the direction on the blower and its pulling air into the squirrel cage and the motor is wired on high speed. I even tried running the motor on low and med. and that had no effect. I checked the amp draw and it does increase on the diffrent speeds so I assume that the motor is spinning faster... what else could be the problem?? Thanks again for everyone's help!

if it is spinning correct direction and speed and the fan is mounted correctly, then either your coils are clogged completely or your intake air is blocked.

when I re-installed the blower, I didnt know which direction the motor would be spinning so I hooked it all up and ran it and noticed it was blowing the wrong direction. So I killed the power and switched the wire for the opposite direction and ran it. (this may sound stupid, but...) From me running it the wrong direction, could it have sucked a door/flap closed????

thanks again!

As I said...no HVAC pro, but no, I don't think so. Not familiar with your system of course, but I can't imagine that being an issue. Couldn't have been running wrong direction very long, was it?

Have you checked the airflow on the output with the cover off the unit? Just turn FAN to on at the thermostat, and temporarily disable any safety cutoff switches on the cover, if it has them. Tape or a tiewrap will normally work. If you get airflow at the vents, then the problem is on the intake. Check for blocked filter or similar.

If no airflow, then it problem has to be on outlet side. I'm assuming (bad thing, I know) that the output from the fan unit is sealed where it blows out of the air handler across the coils? Otherwise it could just blow around inside the AH and not generate much output I guess.

I mean, this is just an airflow problem....it shouldn't be that difficult to isolate the cause. You have an intake, a fan, and an outlet.

Oh, and remember, you should be doing all this with the heat/cool off...just use the fan on/auto function on the stat.

OK I'm an idiot!! I double check the blower rotation and I had the motor wired wrong! I switched the rotation and everything is working like it should!! ( and its quieter too!)

Thanks again for your help with this, I greatly appriciate it!!

Sometimes the simple things are what get overlooked. You aren't the first...and you won't be the last..lol

Glad it's working, happy I could help.