Attic fan dead? (i.e. probably electric motor problem)
 

Hi,

My attic gable vent fan stopped working and so I went upstairs to find a plastic bag tangled in it.
It's this model:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Master-Fl...PG3X/100088166
I removed the bag, but nothing happened.
I unmounted the fan, took it to the garage, and found that power still gets to the motor, but... it just doesn't do anything. I don't see or smell anything burned. I don't see any fuses. Any ideas of whether/how I can fix?
Thanks

Theodore

Attic fan dead? (i.e. probably electric motor problem)
 

On Thursday, July 17, 2014 8:38:13 AM UTC-4, wrote:
Hi,



My attic gable vent fan stopped working and so I went upstairs to find a plastic bag tangled in it.

It's this model:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Master-Fl...PG3X/100088166

I removed the bag, but nothing happened.

I unmounted the fan, took it to the garage, and found that power still gets to the motor, but... it just doesn't do anything. I don't see or smell anything burned. I don't see any fuses. Any ideas of whether/how I can fix?

Thanks



Theodore

IDK what kind of thermal protection they have, but it might be a thermal fuse.
If it does and you can find and test it, it might be blown. HD and similar
also sell replacement motors that I think run ~$40 that fit many of the fans,
but for that type fan, it may not make much difference in price or ease
of installation. For roof mounts, it does.

Attic fan dead? (i.e. probably electric motor problem)
 

On 7/17/2014 8:38 AM, wrote:
Hi,

My attic gable vent fan stopped working and so I went upstairs to find a plastic bag tangled in it.
It's this model:
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Master-Fl...PG3X/100088166
I removed the bag, but nothing happened.
I unmounted the fan, took it to the garage, and found that power still gets to the motor, but... it just doesn't do anything. I don't see or smell anything burned. I don't see any fuses. Any ideas of whether/how I can fix?
Thanks

Theodore

I'd check for continuity. Might be as Trader says,
thermal fuse. If the thermal is open, I'd be sure
to replace it, not just jump out. Might save you
from a fire, if the motor over heats the next time.

--
..
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

Attic fan dead? (i.e. probably electric motor problem)
 

On Thursday, July 17, 2014 9:04:15 AM UTC-4, Stormin Mormon wrote:
On 7/17/2014 8:38 AM, wrote:

Hi,



My attic gable vent fan stopped working and so I went upstairs to find a plastic bag tangled in it.

It's this model:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Master-Fl...PG3X/100088166

I removed the bag, but nothing happened.

I unmounted the fan, took it to the garage, and found that power still gets to the motor, but... it just doesn't do anything. I don't see or smell anything burned. I don't see any fuses. Any ideas of whether/how I can fix?

Thanks



Theodore



I'd check for continuity. Might be as Trader says,

thermal fuse. If the thermal is open, I'd be sure

to replace it, not just jump out. Might save you

from a fire, if the motor over heats the next time.



And if it's a motor that's seen a lot of service and given
the application, I'd just replace the motor or the whole fan.
It's a tough environment and no one is going to see or smell
a smoking motor that's about to catch fire.

Attic fan dead? (i.e. probably electric motor problem)
 

On 7/17/2014 9:22 AM, trader_4 wrote:

And if it's a motor that's seen a lot of service and given
the application, I'd just replace the motor or the whole fan.
It's a tough environment and no one is going to see or smell
a smoking motor that's about to catch fire.


While OP is going through all that work, a $112
fan sounds like a pile of money. Might be cheaper
than the fire later.

--
..
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

Attic fan dead? (i.e. probably electric motor problem)
 

In ,
HomeGuy" "Home "Home"@Guy.com typed:
wrote:

My attic gable vent fan stopped working and so I went upstairs to
find a plastic bag tangled in it.

You could unscrew the 4 long screws and pry the case open and check
the windings. You might be able to find the thermal fuse (I'm
assuming there is one) and remove it (bypass it).

Wouldn't bypassing the thermal fuse be a VERY BAD idea due to the fire
hazard that could cause?

Attic fan dead? (i.e. probably electric motor problem)
 

Attic fan dead? (i.e. probably electric motor problem)
 

On 7/17/2014 11:00 AM, TomR wrote:
In ,
HomeGuy" "Home "Home"@Guy.com typed:
You could unscrew the 4 long screws and pry the case open and check
the windings. You might be able to find the thermal fuse (I'm
assuming there is one) and remove it (bypass it).

Wouldn't bypassing the thermal fuse be
a VERY BAD idea due to the fire
hazard that could cause?


Homo Gay is the biggest bumbling idiot who ever
had the misfortune to vomit onto his key board
some useless, worse than useless drivel that clogged
the news group with bilge water from a rotted
undertaker's barge. Homo Gay ought to be taken
out, left for the ants, eaten by elephants, turned
into elephant poop, and then rocketed to Mars.

At least this flame didn't burn down the OP's house.
Bypass a thermal fuse.... might.

--
..
Christopher A. Young
Learn about Jesus
www.lds.org
..

Attic fan dead? (i.e. probably electric motor problem)
 

On Thursday, July 17, 2014 11:00:58 AM UTC-4, TomR wrote:
In ,

HomeGuy" "Home "Home"@Guy.com typed:

wrote:



My attic gable vent fan stopped working and so I went upstairs to

find a plastic bag tangled in it.



You could unscrew the 4 long screws and pry the case open and check

the windings. You might be able to find the thermal fuse (I'm

assuming there is one) and remove it (bypass it).



Wouldn't bypassing the thermal fuse be a VERY BAD idea due to the fire

hazard that could cause?

Yes. It also doesn't seem like a particularly great idea to call a local
company called "Industrial Motor" about a gable fan motor when the
whole fan is easily replaced and they also have replacement motors
available that probably fit at HD for $40.

But then it is HomelessGuy, so what do you expect?

Attic fan dead? (i.e. probably electric motor problem)
 

Hi Everyone.
I'm the OP.
Thanks for all the good technical advice.
I will definitely not be reusing the fan, as it's not worth the risk or the effort to repair. At least it's worth something for scrap.
Thanks again!
Regards,
Theodore