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  1. #1
    jatt's Avatar
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    Default 4 wire fan motor

    Hi,

    Need to test a 4 wire fan on a swampy.

    Looking to hook it up to a standard 10 amp single phase outlet to test.

    Got a new cap to hook it up to.

    Get the fact I havent got any speed control hooked up.

    Before I hook it up thought I would put up how I am proposing to wire it up.

    From schematic looks like there is a start winding and maybe? what I call a centrifugal switch to enguage the main winding?

    If the motor tests fine and prob winds up being the controller, then thought is working out how to setup some kind of speed controller to it.
    Seen some pre-made speed controller units that a prepackaged, but as yet havent done any research on what may be suitable.

    Its only for the shed.

    Thoughts from the collective.
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    Frisky wife, happy life. ​Then I woke up. Oh well it was fun while it lasted.
    From an early age my father taught me to wear welding gloves . "Its not to protect your hands son, its to put out the fire when u set yourself alight".

  2. #2
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    Default

    Hello Jatt,

    I have a very similar motor from a swamp cooler ! You’re lucky that you have a circuit diagram on the body of your motor. The picture you posted looks to be correct. So wiring it shouldn't be a problem.

    The one I have doesn't have a centrifugal switch, but does have four wires and a 6 mfd capacitor. At the time of salvage I just recovered the motor, capacitor and the three speed control switch which also has an off position.

    From what I can make out it seems that the motor winding has three tappings one end going to, I assume mains neutral, the other three going to the speed switch, the common of which going to the mains live via the capacitor. So far I've not managed to get this motor to do anything but hum and get warm. It did work before I took the cooler apart so it should still work.

    I was going to use this for my modified Brooks TCG but ended up using a different one.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

  3. #3
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    Default

    Not sure what you are reading as a “centrifugal switch”, the symbol below the SW winding is an electrical standard symbol for a capacitor.
    The symbol in the active line above the two windings is a thermal cutout and as it is inline with both windings it affects both start and run functions.

  4. #4
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    Default

    Its a split phase motor so no centrifugal switch just a capacitor permanently in circuit.

  5. #5
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    Default

    Did you measure the voltage at the motor before removing it? That would give you an idea if the motor was getting power.

  6. #6
    jatt's Avatar
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    The symbol in the active line above the two windings is a thermal cutout and as it is inline with both windings it affects both start and run functions.
    I went for a "brief" search on Aust symbols. Cap I knew, but admit wasn't really sure about the symbol above the windings. Have heard of units having a switch, but hey thats why I start asking questions before just blindly hooking stuff up.

    Did you measure the voltage at the motor before removing it? That would give you an idea if the motor was getting power.
    No I didn't. Should I have? yeah guilty as charged.

    Its a split phase motor so no centrifugal switch just a capacitor permanently in circuit.
    The symbol in the active line above the two windings is a thermal cutout and as it is inline with both windings it affects both start and run functions.
    cool. Thanks for the fast replies.

    I will give her a run and see what I get
    Frisky wife, happy life. ​Then I woke up. Oh well it was fun while it lasted.
    From an early age my father taught me to wear welding gloves . "Its not to protect your hands son, its to put out the fire when u set yourself alight".

  7. #7
    jatt's Avatar
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    Motor tests out fine. Of course it ran at max speed, without having any speed control.

    Figured whilst I was there I run the "pond" pump -- all good. Float valve to run the water into the sump is a goer.

    Kinda leaves the controller and the main board up in the swampy.

    Unit was installed in about 07, so done a few years service.

    Once that bit is sorted, pond pump is just a simple on/off switch.
    Unless I'm missing something, there really aint much more to an evaporative unit?

    Unless the collective has any other suggestions, guess VFD is a real option wrt controlling the fan speed. Of course most of the stuff I have seen on this site has been about single to 3ph units.swampy plate.png

    Motor has (CSR) Capacitor Start & Run on its plate.
    Frisky wife, happy life. ​Then I woke up. Oh well it was fun while it lasted.
    From an early age my father taught me to wear welding gloves . "Its not to protect your hands son, its to put out the fire when u set yourself alight".

  8. #8
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    Something like this
    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/14420805...Cclp%3A2047675

    should work for fan speed control. Apart from speed control there is not much more in a evap cooler. The one on our roof has been going well , touch wood, since 1990 apart from pad changes and a few pumps, and is a cheap way to cool especially in a climate like perth with low humidity. I used to service and install Breezeair unit years ago.

  9. #9
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    A VFD is only for a 3phase motor so you’d have to replace the motor, find somewhere in your roofspace to mount a VFD where it won’t get a gut full of dust and then run remote cables for speed and on/off control.
    Not a trivial undertaking and given your demonstrated level of electrical knowledge it will likely turn into a cluster f@@k getting it working.

    The simplest way to fix it is to see if spares are still available or if retro fit controllers are available.

  10. #10
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    Parts are still available, from motor I would say its a Bonaire unit, but if speed board or wall controller is gone then you could be looking at over $800 for parts.
    What model is it and is this new to be installed or been on roof for a while.

  11. #11
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    Looking into a CMG motor with a capacitor problem, I recently downloaded a CMG catalogue including the page shown outlining common single phase motor wiring options.
    Source is Industrial and Bearing Supplies | CMG

    CMG motor windings.jpg

    I found this useful, and possibly it will help others sort out what sort of motor they have.

    Bill

  12. #12
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    Back when we had a 7 day IGA minimart we fitted 4x evap air cons, the speed controllers were by a company (I think Australian) called Tekelek, I was told that the motor and speed controller were designed for each other - might pay you to do some research to see if this is the case before you invest in an Ebay offering.

  13. #13
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    Hi Guys,

    The Swamp cooler fan motor that I have gets its speed control from taps on the motor winding ! The control switch has "Off, 1, 2, 3", three being the highest speed.
    Best Regards:
    Baron J.

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