Air Conditioning, Heating and Plumbing - Advice, Discussion and Tips from ARS®/Rescue Rooter®. Welcome to the ARS/Rescue Rooter Home Connect, your online resource center for information, answers and interactive advice about air conditioning, heating, plumbing and drain maintenance. As part of our commitment to providing exceptional service, we created the ARS/Rescue Rooter Home Connect to be a useful tool with many helpful ways to find what you need.
My outside fan was not working on my air conditioner. I had a HVAC technician come out and he said the condenser fan motor was bad. The motor was a GE 5kcp39gf 1/4 hp 825 rpm 208-230v. I called and ordered a replacement. The new motor is an AO Smith 4MB33 1/4 hp 2 speed 1075 rpm 208-230v. We installed the new motor (which had 5 wires) to the unit using only three wires per the old set up. The AC works but the fan blades are spinning slowly on the outside unit and the motor seems to be running hot. We were unable to install the new capacitor that came with the new motor because we can't figure out how to switch the wires from the three-prong capacitor to the new two-prong capacitor (which has no markings on it). What I would like to know is what is causing the fan to spin so slowly. Is it the difference in the rpm's of the two motors and, if so, should I return the motor to the company and tell them they gave me the wrong replacement part? Or is the problem our inability to hook up the new capacitor? If the problem is the capacitor, can someone please explain how to hook up the three wires from the old capacitor to the new two-prong capacitor?
The motor must have the capacitor hooked to it so that the motor will work properly. If the capacitor is not connected, the fan will spin slowly and/or overheat. The correct hookup would depend on the existing unit’s wiring configuration. I suggest you contact a qualified service technician who can look at your new motor and determine how it should be connected.
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