Window Fan question

These fans are all pretty much of a sameness. There's a run capacitor, a three-speed switch, a relatively low-torque induction motor with journal/sleeve bearings and that's it.

Here's where I'd look:

1) The power cord will go straight to the switch. There will be four connections (rarely, five, with one side of the power cord also having a connection which runs straight through to a thinner wire going to the motor. Make sure all those wires are pushed into their connections tightly, none are touching any others or the frame.

2) The capacitor usually sits out in the open on the back side of the motor - most frequently, there are three wires going to it. If any have shorted to the frame or one has pulled out and it hitting another wire or the frame, there's your problem.

3) A wire or internal run capacitor (I've seen them, some companies do this) has been jarred loose.

Also possible - you accidentally pinched a wire when you cleaned it or drove a screw through one or more.

While inexpensive, unless you've blown a thermal overload, there's little to go wrong in these that can't be fixed. Good luck - let us know, I've got nine or so of these to clean and lube at the end of summer myself.


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Post# 948559 7/17/2017 at 07:04 (2,468 days old) by Jmm63 (Denville, NJ)
Checkrate/Likes I have a small Duracraft window fan that I bought in 1999. It's nothing fantastic, all plastic, but electrically reversible and fits in my kitchen window perfectly. I decided to clean it yesterday and spent quite some time making it look almost new. I thought I was really careful with the cleaners and water. I put it back in the window and it worked for a while. I came back in the room later and it was off. I unplugged it and let it sit a few more hours and plugged it back in and the motor went pop and sparks flew. Do you all think it's toast now? View Full Size

Post# 948568 , Reply# 1 7/17/2017 at 08:36 (2,468 days old) by panthera (Rocky Mountains)
Checkrate/Likes 1 *Probably not dead - but* These fans are all pretty much of a sameness. There's a run capacitor, a three-speed switch, a relatively low-torque induction motor with journal/sleeve bearings and that's it. Here's where I'd look: 1) The power cord will go straight to the switch. There will be four connections (rarely, five, with one side of the power cord also having a connection which runs straight through to a thinner wire going to the motor. Make sure all those wires are pushed into their connections tightly, none are touching any others or the frame. 2) The capacitor usually sits out in the open on the back side of the motor - most frequently, there are three wires going to it. If any have shorted to the frame or one has pulled out and it hitting another wire or the frame, there's your problem. 3) A wire or internal run capacitor (I've seen them, some companies do this) has been jarred loose. Also possible - you accidentally pinched a wire when you cleaned it or drove a screw through one or more. While inexpensive, unless you've blown a thermal overload, there's little to go wrong in these that can't be fixed. Good luck - let us know, I've got nine or so of these to clean and lube at the end of summer myself.

Post# 948584 , Reply# 2 7/17/2017 at 10:51 (2,468 days old) by powerfin64 (Yakima, Washington)
Checkrate/Likes *I have 3* window fans I use every evening. 1st is a Holmes twin fan I bought at a yard sale 6+ years ago for $5.00, works great. 2 speed only, manually reversible I use in the office. 2nd is another Holmes twin fan with Thermostat(same design as the first one), 2 speed, manually reversible, bought this one at a hardware store for $20.00, use it in the living room and have it set to cut off at about 60 degree's. 3rd is a Sunbeam twin fan(same design as the first Holmes fan) branded sunbeam. I was given this one, 2 speed, manually reversible, missing the side curtain, I use in the bedroom. I have cleaned the sunbeam and the first Holmes fans with no problems. When the sun starts to go down, I turn off the central A/C, and put all the window fans in for the night. Really cools down the house nicely with these going. and they fit my vertical slider windows . I will say, I wish I could use a bigger Lakewood or air king 16" window fan but I was told they would not work in my vertical slide windows.(those would cool down things in a hurry!)Wish they made a smaller version of these, like a 10" or 12" I'd get one. I'm very pleased with mine and would get them again.