Otis Singleton
If your electric fan is not spinning, there are several possible reasons and fixes. First, check that the fan is plugged in and turned on. If it is, the problem could be due to poor lubrication, blockages in the vents, or a burnt-out start winding. To fix these issues, you can try disassembling the fan, lubricating the central pin and bearings, and cleaning out the vent and motor case. If your fan still won't spin, you may need to replace the capacitor or the motor itself.
Characteristics and Values
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Cause | Poor lubrication, blockages in the vents, faulty capacitor, broken coil wire, faulty motor |
| Solution | Disassemble the fan, lubricate the central pin and bearings, clean the vents and motor case, replace the capacitor, solder in a new coil wire, replace the motor |
| Tools/Materials | Capacitance meter or multimeter, lubricant, electrical tape, soldering iron, new wire, screwdriver |
| Difficulty | Moderate to difficult |
| Time Required | A few hours |
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What You'll Learn
Check for dust and grime, then clean the motor
If your electric fan is not spinning, one of the first things you should do is check for dust and grime. Dust and debris can accumulate on the blades and motor over time, reducing airflow and even leading to overheating. This can cause your fan to stop functioning, especially if your fan has an automatic overheating shut-off feature.
Before you begin, make sure to unplug the fan for safety reasons. Depending on the model of your fan, you may need to use a screwdriver to remove the protective grill covering the blades. Once the grill is removed, inspect the back of the motor case for dust or grime. Use a clean microfiber cloth to carefully wipe away any dust or grime that has built up. Turn the fan around and look inside the case surrounding the motor, working your way all the way around the interior to ensure that all dust and grime are removed.
If there is stubborn grime, you can mix a small amount of mild dish soap with water and gently scrub the affected areas with a cloth or brush. Be careful not to bend the blades, as this can affect the fan's performance. You can also use a vacuum cleaner with a brush attachment to carefully remove dust from the motor housing. If you have access to compressed air, this can be very useful for blowing away any dust in hard-to-reach areas.
It is important to note that you should not use water to clean the area around the motor, as this could cause an electrical short or damage your fan. Additionally, be cautious not to let any moisture get into the motor during the cleaning process. Once all parts are clean and dry, you can reassemble the fan by putting the blades, bolts, and case back together in the reverse order of disassembly.
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Oil the bolts and central pin
If your electric fan is not spinning, one of the possible reasons could be that the bolts and central pin are not oiled. To fix this, you will need to disassemble the fan, oil the bolts and central pin, and then reassemble the fan.
Firstly, you need to disassemble the fan. Use a wrench to unscrew any washers or bolts blocking the base of the pin. You don't need to remove them completely, but you need to be able to get underneath them to reach the pin. If there are no washers or bolts, skip this step.
Next, apply lubricating oil to the front and back of the central pin. Get a bottle of lubricating oil with a thin nozzle for pouring. Place a clean rag underneath the pin to catch any oil drips. Turn the bottle over at the site where the pin meets the frame of the motor, and squeeze the bottle to apply oil to the front of the pin. Get underneath the bolts by sliding them away from the site you are lubricating, and repeat this process on the backside of the frame to get both sides of the pin. Ensure that you use enough oil to completely coat the pin, but be careful not to get any oil on the motor itself.
Now, spin the bolts around a lubricated section of the pin while spinning it. With your pin totally oiled, slide the bolt back into place. Hold the bolt with your non-dominant hand and the pin with your dominant hand. Slide the bolt back and forth over the lubricated section while spinning the pin by hand. Repeat this process for any bolts on the other side of the pin assembly. This will ensure that oil gets on the inside of the bolts, reducing friction and allowing the pin to spin freely.
Finally, reassemble your fan by putting the blades, bolts, and case back together. Work in the reverse order that you disassembled the fan. Tighten the bolts on your pin with a wrench and put any washers back before sliding the blade guard back over the pin. Slide the blades on top so that the back blade guard separates the blades from the motor. Plug your fan in and turn it on to see if the pin spins. If it does, your fan is now repaired and ready to use!
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Check the capacitor with a capacitance meter
If your electric fan is not spinning, the capacitor may be faulty. To check this, you can use a capacitance meter or the ohms setting on your multimeter. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to check the capacitor with a capacitance meter:
- Disconnect the capacitor from the circuit it is a part of.
- Identify the capacitor; it is the small black box with two wires coming out of it.
- Note the capacitance value on the outside of the capacitor.
- Set your capacitance meter to its capacitance setting.
- Connect the test leads of the capacitance meter to the capacitor terminals. Ensure that the positive (red) lead connects to the capacitor anode lead and the negative (black) lead connects to the capacitor cathode lead.
- Allow the test leads to remain connected for a few seconds to enable the capacitance meter to automatically select the proper range.
- Observe the measurement displayed on the capacitance meter. If the capacitance value is within the measurement range, the meter will display the capacitor's value.
- Compare the displayed value with the value given on the capacitor case. Some fluctuation from the actual value is acceptable (typically within a tolerance band of 10-20%). However, if the displayed value is significantly different from the actual value, the capacitor may be faulty and needs to be replaced.
If you do not have a capacitance meter, you can use the ohms setting on a multimeter to check the capacitor.
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Test the windings for continuity
If your electric fan is not spinning, you can test the windings for continuity to diagnose the problem. This process will help you determine if the fan motor is faulty and needs to be replaced.
Step 1: Check the Power Supply
Before you begin, ensure that the fan is plugged into a working power outlet. Check the circuit breaker to make sure no switches have been flipped. If the power supply is intact, proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Prepare for the Continuity Test
Set the thermostat to cool, and keep the temperature setting as low as possible. If you have an AC fan, set the thermostat to the lowest temperature setting. This will ensure the fan is prompted to turn on during the continuity test.
Step 3: Understand the Fan Motor's Wiring
The fan motor's wiring typically consists of multiple coloured wires. For example, a 120-volt fan motor has four wires: two brown wires, one black wire, and one white wire. Each coloured wire represents a different fan speed, with higher resistance translating to lower fan speed.
Step 4: Test the Windings
Use an ohm meter or a multimeter to test the resistance between the white wire and each of the coloured wires. You should read a certain resistance, which will depend on the manufacturer and type of motor. The windings to the housing should not have continuity. However, between the windings, you should read a specific resistance. If you find that the windings have continuity, it indicates a short circuit, and the fan motor will need to be replaced.
Step 5: Check for an Open or Damaged Winding
If the fan still doesn't work, check the motor windings for an open or damaged winding. This could be due to moisture or physical damage. If you find an open or damaged winding, the motor will need to be replaced.
Step 6: Check the Capacitor
If you've checked the power supply, windings, and continuity, and everything seems fine, the capacitor could be the problem. The capacitor delivers torque to the motor, and a faulty one can cause the fan to stop working. Check the microfarad reading using a capacitor tester, and if it's not within 10% of the capacitor's rated capacitance, consider replacing it.
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Re-attach the fan blade and guards
Once you have identified the problem and performed the necessary repairs, it is time to reassemble your fan. Before you start, plug your fan in and turn it on to see if the pin spins. If it does, you can proceed to reassemble the fan. If it doesn't, you may need to clean the motor.
To re-attach the fan blade and guards, first, re-attach the rear fan guard with the finger nut, ensuring you do not over-tighten. Next, attach the fan blade with the backward hand nut. Finally, carefully re-install the front guard.
When re-attaching the fan blade, ensure you work in the reverse order of how you disassembled the fan. Tighten the bolts on the pin with a wrench and put any washers back before sliding the blade guard back over the pin. Slide the blades on top so that the back blade guard separates the blades from the motor.
Once everything is together, the fan assembly can be mounted on the pedestal.
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Frequently asked questions
There could be several reasons why your electric fan is not spinning. It could be due to poor lubrication, blocked vents, a faulty motor, or a burnt-out start winding.
To fix an electric fan that is not spinning due to poor lubrication, you can disassemble the fan, lubricate the central pin and bearings, and then reassemble the fan. You can also slide the bolts off and oil them separately.
First, unplug the fan and disassemble it. Then, use a clean microfiber cloth to carefully wipe away any dust or grime from the interior of the case, the motor, and the area surrounding it. Ensure that you do not use water as it could cause an electrical short or damage the fan.
If your fan is completely silent when turned on and the blades do not move at all, even after cleaning and oiling the central pin, it is likely that the motor is faulty and may need to be replaced.
A burnt-out start winding occurs when a fan is left powered on for an extended period without being used. If this is the case, you may need to replace the start winding or the entire motor.
