Hello,

First, apologies - these questions are reeeeely basic but I've looked
online and at my local public library but I can't find any practical
information on the wiring-up and setup of small AC motors.

I have a 1/6hp split phase induction 1725rpm, and the wiring panel has
tabs onto which wires are connected via 90deg crimped-on terminal
sockets. I am aware of which line power wires need to attach to which
tabs in the wiring panel to get the thing running, but that won't tell
me if I'm doing it the right way or with the best/safest practices.

Some questions I have a
- one of the starter winding wires (red, black) is too short to reach
the other tab to reverse the rotation direction - is this normal or
should I pull on them harder?
- how would you normally attach a DPDT switch to reverse the rotation -
do you cut off the sockets and splice on another wire to extend outside
the panel? do you use the existing socket on the wire and plug in your
extension wire? something else?
- where would I ground the motor? I don't see any specific
tab/terminal/screw in the panel or on the case for the grounding
connection
- is the motor supposed to make any noises (other than the smooth sound
of the bushings) when the shaft is rotated by hand?

If there is a particular book that I should look at or an informative
website, or if you have pointers you can write me, I'd really apreciate
it.

Thanks!

- Daniel

I have a 1/6hp split phase induction motor 1725rpm, and the wiring panel has
tabs onto which wires are connected via 90deg crimped-on terminal
sockets. ...
Some questions I have a
- one of the starter winding wires (red, black) is too short to reach
the other tab to reverse the rotation direction - is this normal or
should I pull on them harder?

Rotation direction isn't always reversible (some motors, you would
reverse
the motor and use the shaft on the other end of the motor). If it IS
reversible,
you MUST let it spin down to a stop so as to re-engage the centrifugal
switch
before attempting to reverse

- how would you normally attach a DPDT switch to reverse the rotation -
do you cut off the sockets and splice on another wire to extend outside
the panel? do you use the existing socket on the wire and plug in your
extension wire?

I'd worry about wire-stuffing limits and heat rating of the terminals
(the motor
can get warm). If possible, you should put all wires from the outside
of the
motor into bolted-down attachment points (so they don't tug directly on
any
of the motor winding wires), and there are often 'spare' attachment
points
in the motor for this kind of addon. There are 'feedthrough' crimp
connectors
that both accept the wire terminal AND plug down onto a bolted
terminal,
for just such wiring issues. Because you have to stop before
reversing,
reverse switches are usually forward/brake(off)/reverse three way
paddles. The 'brake' means there's a resistor or short across the
motor
windings in the off position, to spin it down more rapidly.

Reversing switches are only common on three-phase motors.

- where would I ground the motor? I don't see any specific
tab/terminal/screw in the panel or on the case for the grounding
connection
Keep looking; sometimes a nut is painted green.
Sometimes you use the screw that closes the wiring door.

Yesterday, I took the motor to a motor repair shop and asked a few
questions. I felt really awkward and stupid about my questions.

- one of the starter winding wires (red, black) is too short to reach
the other tab to reverse the rotation direction - is this normal or
should I pull on them harder?

The guy suggested taking apart the motor and replacing the wires with
longer lengths, or using a crimp-down insulated tube (sorry, don't know
the proper term for this) to splice on another length of wire. I got
the feeling it's just "do whatever works".

(In normal residential home wiring, there are certain practices that
inspectors look for to see that a wiring job is done safely. I thought
there were similar practices when hooking up motors, hence my
questions.)

Rotation direction isn't always reversible (some motors, you would
reverse
the motor and use the shaft on the other end of the motor). If it IS
reversible,
you MUST let it spin down to a stop so as to re-engage the centrifugal
switch
before attempting to reverse

Yes, I was told this by a coworker.

The repair shop guy said the slight plucking noise I hear when I rotate
the shaft manually might be that switch. He couldn't confirm without
opening up the motor.

- how would you normally attach a DPDT switch to reverse the rotation -
do you cut off the sockets and splice on another wire to extend outside
the panel? do you use the existing socket on the wire and plug in your
extension wire?

I'd worry about wire-stuffing limits and heat rating of the terminals
(the motor
can get warm). If possible, you should put all wires from the outside
of the
motor into bolted-down attachment points (so they don't tug directly on
any
of the motor winding wires), and there are often 'spare' attachment
points
in the motor for this kind of addon.

There are two bolted-down attachment points, each one with three
prongs. One has L1 and one of the starter leads, the other L2 and the
other starter lead. The third prong is for power.

There are 'feedthrough' crimp
connectors
that both accept the wire terminal AND plug down onto a bolted
terminal,
for just such wiring issues.

Thanks, I'll look for these.

- where would I ground the motor? I don't see any specific
tab/terminal/screw in the panel or on the case for the grounding
connection
Keep looking; sometimes a nut is painted green.
Sometimes you use the screw that closes the wiring door.

There was a bumpy section on the case that the guy identified as the
grounding symbol (It was "upside down" from how I would usually draw
it.) He said to use an existing case screw (outside the wiring panel),
or to attach to a hole in the case inside the panel (I'd have to tap my
own threads into that hole).


Thanks for your help, whit3rd. I appreciate it!

- Daniel