Help Understanding motors

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jameselectric

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I was looking at a schematic and a new motor i had to hook up. I understand about the 'single phase' 480 hook up, but the fan (squirel cage) itself had 2 wires comming from it that suppose to hook up to a pair.

All the wires for the connections are there, but i just couldnt figure out what the wires from the fan itself was for?? is it monitoring?

Hope i explain this enuff.
 
buckofdurham said:
It may be a variable speed motor.

Well it is a 'high low speed ' motor, and it looks like the 3 leads going to the motor itself is what controls this, but for the life of me i cannot see what the 2 wires from the fan are for. its not even on the schematic. There are wires to hook it up too, but what purpose they serve is beyond me.
 
Should show these on the peckerhead cover could be thermal overload contacts for your starter. If the motor over heats the motor starter shuts down. Or could be a brake ,clutch or speed switch.
 
ronaldrc said:
Should show these on the peckerhead cover could be thermal overload contacts for your starter. If the motor over heats the motor starter shuts down. Or could be a brake ,clutch or speed switch.

maybe im not explaining it right, this is NOT comming from the pecker head, or the motor itself, its comming from the squirel cage.
 
jameselectric said:
Well it is a 'high low speed ' motor, and it looks like the 3 leads going to the motor itself is what controls this, but for the life of me i cannot see what the 2 wires from the fan are for. its not even on the schematic. There are wires to hook it up too, but what purpose they serve is beyond me.
Blower to cool the motor? That is not uncommon in variable speed applications as the TEFC air flow is low at lower speeds.
 
Totaly Enclosed Fan Cooled

Here is a common one.

TEFCpic.jpg


There are no openings from the outside into the windings so they can put up with dusty conditions and some water.
 
I am not sure what it is that you are calling the squirrel cage.

If you can not turn the motor, it is probably a brake, although they usually have the brake incorporated into the windings in the j box.

It could be an encoder, but I doubt it.

It's probably a thermal switch of some kind. Although that usually also is in the jbox
 
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By squirrel-cage, I think the OP is referring to the actual driven machinery = the fan. In other words, the motor is driving a fan, and the OP, with "squirrel-cage," is talking about the fan, not the motor.

So there are two wires coming from the fan unit, not the motor.

OP, is that correct?
 
A picture may be helpful. If I'm understanding this correct these two wires in question are seperate from the motor and are located on the squirrel cage some of the formentioned ideas would pop into my head first but this could also be a vibration switch. Did you try reading continuity between the two wires?
 
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