How to install an aftermarket condenser fan motor

AmericanHVACParts.com does not encourage or recommend that any uncertified or unqualified persons attempt these repairs. This information is for informational purposes only and AmericanHVACParts.com will not be held liable for any damages or injuries by attempting to make these repairs. 

The first thing to do to get this process going is to identify which motor you need. To do this, the best way to start is by going to the condensing unit or heat pump that the motor is coming out of and getting the model and serial numbers. There should be a label affixed to the outside of the unit, usually towards the back of the unit which will most likely be the side closest to the house or building. Sometimes, the unit has been installed so close, you will have to use a mirror and try to decipher the model number backwards in the reflection, but nonetheless, it can be done. In the event that the label is illegible or has been bleached away from years of sun exposure or other elements, there is still a way to make the identification on what you will need.

Ok, so the model number just isn’t there. What’s next? Now the unit will have to be opened up to get the information from the motor itself. If you are not familiar with what you are doing, we highly recommend that you retain the services of a professional to assist you. Now that the unit is opened up, your attention should be directed to the condenser motor. There will be a label on the side of the motor that will have lots of information on it. The first thing you will want to look for is any part or model numbers. Typically if the motor has never been replaced, there will be 2 identification numbers there. The important thing is to get as much information as possible. Get all part numbers, model numbers, just any numbers at all. Because if for any reason the numbers are not able to be located, we can assist you in finding it by the specifications. The key information besides part numbers in locating a motor are as follows:

-RPM’s

-Horsepower

-Voltage

-Phase

-Frame or Diameter size

-Shaft size

-Rotation (Not so important as most aftermarket motors are reversible)

With this information, a replacement can be matched up fairly easy. Now that a replacement has been found, it’s time to get that beauty purchased and on its way to you and don’t forget the capacitor. You’re more than half way there. Now that you have the motor, again we recommend retaining the services of a professional, but even they might have some confusion as to how to install it, so these are instructions for their convenience as well as for your knowledge. AND ALWAYS DISCONNECT POWER TO THE UNIT BEFORE ATTEMPTING ANY KIND OF REPAIRS.

Most OEM condenser motors have only 3 wires… a power wire, a common wire and a capacitor wire. The old motor would be connected to a dual capacitor (described in earlier posts) which the new motor will NOT be using. So the old motor will be disconnected from the dual capacitor and removed, leaving the dual capacitor in the unit as it will continue to run your compressor. The new motor will come with 5 wires in almost all cases when replacing an OEM motor with an aftermarket motor. The wires will be black, purple, green, brown and brown with a white stripe. There will also be 2 wires that come out from the back of the motor and go back into the motor. These are connected in the middle with a white plastic plug, but we’ll come back to that later. The black and purple wires will connect to the contactor on the opposite side of the contactor from where the live power wires that come from the house are connected. The brown and brown with white will go to the new capacitor, one wire to each of the 2 terminals. It doesn’t matter which each brown wire goes to as you cannot reverse the polarity of a single run capacitor. Next affix the green wire to the actual unit casing to establish a ground. After everything is wired in and the unit put back together, everything should fire up fine. In the event that the blade is spinning in the wrong direction, disconnect power once again, gain access to the motor and locate the 2 wires on the back of the motor that connect with the plastic white plug. To reverse the rotation, just pull that plug apart, flip one side over and plug it back together. And there you have it.

AmericanHVACParts.com does not encourage or recommend that any uncertified or unqualified persons attempt these repairs. This information is for informational purposes only and AmericanHVACParts.com will not be held liable for any damages or injuries by attempting to make these repairs.