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Motor won't start

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chrissteman:
Hi,

When I push the pump motor button, I hear a click from the control panel, but the pump motor won't start. I removed the motor and the shaft seems to spin freely. Both startup capacitors seem okay. Is this a control panels switch issue?

Thanks,

Chris

clover:
Sounds more like a start capacitor problem, of which there is only one start capacitor, which is the smaller of the two.  Have you taken any voltage readings going to the pump?  And, there is only one way to test a capacitor, and that would be with a capacitor tester.

But, let's try this, with the motor reinstalled electrically, press the jets button, you will hear the relay click in, you should be getting electric to the motor, do you hear any hum from the motor.  Before trying this, have a short piece of rope to thread inside and around the shaft going into the wet end of the pump.  This will allow you to pull the rope and begin the impeller rotation to see if it starts up.  This is the job of the start capacitor, which I believe to be bad.  If this does start the motor, replace the start capacitor which could be acquired from a motor shop.  Only a tester would give you the indication of good or bad. 

Once you have started it manually the motor, it will continue until the next shut down, but it won't start automatically again.

It's not the control panel, because you hear the click, which is the message the control panel is sending to the board relay, and the click indicates it should be sending electric to the motor.

Dr. Spa™ Ret.:
Wouldn't the first step be to test for proper voltage at the pump?   ;-)

chrissteman:
I replaced a start capacitor 8 years ago...wonder if that one is bad again? It looks okay on the outside--not blown to smithereens like the old one. There are two capacitors on the topside of the pump. The shaft on the pump turns freely and there's no hum coming from it when it's switched on from the control panel. I just hear that click. What's the best way to test the voltage to the pump?

clover:
Not to be a smarta$$, but the ONLY WAY to test for voltage is with a voltage meter.  ;)

If you are NOT getting a hum, it is unlikely your getting voltage to the windings, or the windings are open (bad), and don't know the voltage is there. So now I question the motor itself, if you changed the capacitor 8 years ago, that means it has been in service for a very long time.

Cut to the chase, you need a new motor.  But, I would test for voltage going to the motor, and the resistance of the windings, before I jump to that conclusion.  IF you open the tail of the motor, you will see the wires are connected to slide terminals where you can check resistance to the windings. Resistance should be measured from L low motor speed to N neutral, and from the H high speed connector to N neutral.

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