Motor & capacitor wiring advice

[Jam es]

I've had a lot of help with this previously and I just want to thank the entire community for your willingness to help educate me.

I'm hoping this will be my final post asking for assistance with wiring a 230V single phase motor and adding the required capacitor to the circuit.

I've uploaded a photo of the motor wiring diagram; one photo of the wires coming from the motor housing; and two photos of the capacitor that I purchased for this.

Can someone please advise me on whether it matters which pole on the capacitor should be connected to the power source and which side should connect to the motor?

Additionally please tell me if the following assumption is correct. I'm thinking that the source wires (US 220 single phase) should connect this way >>> Green source to Green/Yellow motor, White source to Blue motor, Black source to (which?) pole on capacitor and continuing to Black motor, and (other) pole on the capacitor to Brown motor. (Or is it Black source and continuing to Brown motor with (other) pole to Black motor? Or am I totally off the mark?)

Once again, thanks in advance for any assistance.

 

[waross]

It is common practice to avoid switching the neutral conductor. Many applications are a code requirement.
The wiring diagram shows a Klixon, type thermal overload switch in the blue wire.
While thie application may not be a code issue, I would run the hot wire (Black wire) to the Klixon (Blue wire).
Run the neutral (White Wire) to the Brown Wire.
Polarity is unimportant for an AC capacitor.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[Jam es]

Thanks Bill.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but given that this is a 230V circuit there is no neutral. Both black and white are hot. And am I correct in assuming that the hot lead that connects to the capacitor is a jumper that continues to the motor, with the brown from the motor connecting to the opposite pole on the capacitor?

Also, I determined previously that I need to add the capacitor to the circuit. Based on the wiring diagram, do I also need to add the overload switch into the circuit?

And probably most important of all, what happens if I wire it incorrectly and give it juice? Would I fry the motor?

Thanks again!

 

[Compositepro]

You are correct that in the US both wires of a 240 vac circuit are hot, but then there should be no white wire. White is for neutral and black and red is for the hot wires. If you are using a white wire, the ends should be color coded with black tape.
If you wire incorrectly you well may burn out your motor or capacitor or trip the breaker.

 

[waross]

Compositepro is correct.
I was distracted be "The white wire".
Tape the white wire black and then the wires are interchangeable.
The switch is internal to the motor.
No need to worry about it.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[Jam es]

Thanks to both of you. I'm confused though Bill. The motor is clearly labeled as 60Hz. Why do you say that it is 50Hz? And when you say "it will probably burn out if used as is", what exactly do you mean by "as is"?

 

[Jam es]

Also, there is no "reset" button anywhere, as is typical of an overload switch. Can we be certain that the overload switch is internal to this motor?

 

[Compositepro]

The motor probably has a self resetting thermal protection switch inside of the motor. This is a Chinese made motor designed for the World market and relabeled as needed for each country. You haven't mentioned it, but this is a fan motor. If air flow though the fan is blocked the motor will overheat.

 

[crshears]

You know that that is a European motor meant for 50 Hz? On US power, 60 Hz it will run at about 1750 RPM.

Sorry Bill, but that looks like a 6 to me; where are you getting the 50 Hz?

CR

"As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." [Proverbs 27:17, NIV]

 

[Jam es]

This is in fact a fan motor. In the photo of the wires the motor is visible and the lower fan shroud as well. I'll be using it to exhaust a spray operation. The air will be filtered and filters changed often. Plus, the air passes over the motor, so I'm not too concerned about overheating.

So please advise again - since the hot leads are interchangable tell me if this sounds like the correct wiring. >>>>> Either hot lead can go to the capacitor and continue to the black wire on the motor. The other hot lead would then go to the blue. Ground to the green/yellow on the motor. And the opposite pole on the capacitor connects to brown from the motor. Correct? Or No?

And regarding the overload switch - would there be any harm adding a second overload switch to the circuit?

Also, how is it that only one pole is switched by the overload? Wouldn't there still be power to the other pole in the event of overheating?

 

[waross]

I stand corrected. I will correct my previous post.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[waross]

Also, how is it that only one pole is switched by the overload? Wouldn't there still be power to the other pole in the event of overheating?

Yes

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[Jam es]

Bill, care to elaborate?

 

[waross]

Once you open the circuit, the current stops flowing and the motor stops turning.
No need to open it twice.
This is internal to the motor to protect the motor and is not to be confused with a disconnect switch that opens both legs of the supply.
You must open both legs to make the motor safe to work on.
Many codes and safety protocols would require thus motor to be marked with a warning.
CAUTION THIS MOTOR MAY START UNEXPECTEDLY
If the motor stops because the thermal protection has operated, and you handle the motor without disconnecting it somewhere else, you may hear the faint click of the thermal device resetting as the fan chops your fingers off.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[itsmoked]

click followed by the pitter-patter of your fingers hitting the floor.

Keith Cress
kcress -

http://www.flaminsystems.com

 

[waross]

I'm sorry for the tough love but it's been a long day and I ran out of tack and diplomacy a couple of hours ago.
If you feel that I have been unkind,- Anytime that you feel that I have been unkind,
Count your fingers.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter

 

[Jam es]

Thanks once again Bill. And for the record, I don't need tact, I need answers. Also, I'm a woodworker of nearly 40 years and still have all of my fingers. If I were to lose any fingers at this point it probably would be to a freakin' fan blade and not a saw blade! Go figure. So thanks for the warning.

And once and for all, can you, or anyone, confirm if the following sounds like the correct wiring >>>

Since the hot leads are interchangable > either hot lead to either pole on the capacitor and continuing to black on the motor. The other hot lead to blue on the motor. Ground to green/yellow on the motor. And the opposite pole on the capacitor to brown on the motor.

Correct? Or or will I fry the motor/capacitor or lose my fingers (and pride) this way?

 

[waross]

Yes
Don't relax
Grandad was a carpenter for longer than that and had been retired for a few years when he lost two fingers.
The jig saw started unexpectedly while he was changing blades.
It was quick.

Bill
--------------------
"Why not the best?"
Jimmy Carter