Air Conditioning Fan Motors

Condenser fan motors take heat out of the air conditioning system by drawing air through the condenser coils (the fins that wrap around the unit). If your fan motor fails, the compressor will shut itself off and no cold air will be delivered to the house.

There are several important things to look for when replacing a fan motor.

1. HORSE POWER - This is usually a fractional number ranging from 1/10th to 3/4. This is how powerful the motor is.

2. RPM - Revolutions Per Minute. Most fan motors run at 1075-1100 RPM. Some run at 825-850 RPM. It's important to replace with a motor that has similar RPMs.

3. SHAFT DIAMETER - Most fan motors have a 1/2" shaft diameter. Some have a 5/8" shaft diameter. We currently do not carry any 5/8" shaft motors.

4. AMPS - Amps are usually shown on the motor as a decimal number like 2.1 or 3.5 sometimes with an "A" before or after. This is the overcurrent protection of the motor. The rule of thumb is that you want to stay within 10% of your old motor's rating. If that is not possible then it is ok to upgrade to the next HORSE POWER size up. It will usually have a higher amp rating which is ok. You would not want to downgrade to a lower size.

5. FRAME SIZE - Most residential AC units use a frame size of 48z or 48y for fan motors. That translates to a motor diameter of 5-1/2". This is currently the only frame size we carry.

6. MOUNTING STYLE - There a several different mounting styles. If possible, you will want to try to reuse the original mounting bracket.

The most common mounting style is STUD MOUNT. The motor is attached to the unit via 4 threaded studs that protrude from the back of the motor. They are inserted through matching holes in the grille of the condenser unit and secured with nuts on the top.

Some units use a round bracket that wraps around the motor called a belly band. The belly band is tightened around the motor and secured to the grille via legs that flare out from the bracket. There are several different shapes and sizes that these come in.

Another mounting system (used in Rheem and Ruud units) is a square plate that screws to the sides of the motor. This requires a special motor that has screws tapped into it already. See the "Rescue" motors below.

7. RUN CAPACITOR - Your old motor may use a different capacitor then the replacement motor. It is recommended that whenever you replace a motor you should also buy a new capacitor.

8. ROTATION - Motor rotation is determined by looking at the lead end (where the wires come out) of the motor and find which way it spins to deliver air. Some motors spin counter-clockwise lead end. Some spin clockwise lead end. All of the motors listed below are factory set for counter-clockwise lead end rotation BUT can easily be reversed to clockwise lead end rotation.

SELECT A FAN MOTOR REPLACEMENT
Remember to add a run capacitor from the recommended accessories list.

1/4 HORSE POWER 1075 RPM 1.7 AMP

1/3 HORSE POWER 1075 RPM 2.1 AMP

1/2 HORSE POWER 1075 RPM 3.0 AMP

3/4 HORSE POWER 1075 RPM 5.1 AMP

1/4 HORSE POWER 825 RPM 2.0 AMP

1/3 HORSE POWER 825 RPM 2.4 AMP

"RESCUE" FAN MOTORS
Rescue motors give you multiple options for horse power and amps in the same motor. Just match the desired size to the appropriate wiring scheme.

1/6-1/3 HORSE POWER 1075 RPM 1.8-2.6 AMP

1/6-1/3 HORSE POWER 825 RPM 1.2-1.9 AMP