Troubleshooting Guide to Common AC Motor Problems
Eventually, all motors will have problems or failures which is why knowing how to troubleshoot common AC motor problems is a must. If you have recently run into an AC motor situation then you are in the right place!
Keep reading to learn how to diagnose common issues before calling your local motor repair shop.
First Things First
Before you start working on any motors you want to put safety first. Make sure you disconnect the power to the motor first. Next discharge all the capacitors. If there are any moving parts make sure you keep your hands and clothes away from moving parts at all times.
Motor Has Been Working But Suddenly Fails to Start
There are a few things you can do for an AC motor that suddenly stopped starting. First, check to see if a fuse was blown or the breaker was tripped. Hopefully, it is one of those two issues and you are good to go.
If the motor is making a humming noise and the fuse or circuit breaker keeps tripping check for any leaks through the coils. If you happen to spot any leaks then the motor will have to be replaced. Make sure you call a reliable tech like Invertek Drives Midwest, LLC to make sure the job is done correctly.
Takes Too Long to Accelerate
If the motor is taking too long to accelerate this can mean you have bad bearings or a defective capacitor. You can typically hear noisy bearings, if yours are loud then the motor supplier should be contacted to replace the bearings.
To test the capacitor you will have to discharge it and then set the volt-ohm meter to RX100 scale and then touch its probes to the terminals on the capacitor. The needle will jump to zero ohms and then drift back to high if the capacitor is fine. If it stays at zero ohms then that means that there is a short circuit. If the ohms stay high then this means you have an open circuit.
Running in the Wrong Direction
If you notice the motor running the wrong way this is more than likely incorrect wiring. You will have to rewire the motor according to the schematic for that specific model.
If you do not feel comfortable following a schematic or doing the work make sure you call in the pros.
Ready to Troubleshoot Your AC Motor?
As you can see there are a few common AC motor problems that you can troubleshoot yourself. Please keep in mind that if any of the above sounds outside of your comfort zone then call in someone with experience. You do not want to cause further damage if you are not sure you can tackle the task at hand.
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