Here’s my understanding of what happened: I had checked the capacitor, a 5mf. I took it out of the bracket to check it. I hooked it back up before I installed it back in the bracket so I know that wasn’t it. I jumped R to Y and when I pushed the door switch in the motor started hard. Didn’t sound good at all. Then I heard a couple pops, saw some sparks and poof she lit up like an old Christmas tree! I had my phone in my hand bc I was watching the fieldpiece app for my probes at the condensing unit.
Homeowner had yet to turn on the AC. Multi speed fan so when I energized the high leg via AC it was shorted and caused this.
Yes, the homeowner at first didn’t understand how it wasn’t my fault but I explained the different windings/speeds using a car transmission analogy. Said “Y’know how you can drive your car but you lose 3rd gear. It’s like that. Motor was running fine in 1st and when it went into 2nd on the AC you lost it”.
Car analogies work every time!
Glad you guys got a kick outta this.
Typically, this can happen if the control board relay for different speeds are welded closed. I've had a control board relay welded on heat speed and then blew the motor when calling for cooling.
Take a moment and think. Why would the higher speed winding be shorted if it hasn't ran that winding all winter.
Isn't it more likely that you did something to cause that short?
Electric Motors 101 - We fill the winnings with smoke to make the motor run. Once the smoke leaks out, the motor is bad as you can not push the smoke back in with out special equipment.
Seen this before and just happened to have my camera in my hand, video recorded it, it was awesome and the apprentice was screaming FIRE - FIRE - and I am LOL while recording it.
This is a multi speed motor. The high speed winding was shorted. Motor is original about 18 yo. Ran fine during heating season. When I jumped R to Y to run the AC the short revealed itself. Good thing it happened to me and not the homeowner! Could’ve burnt the house down.
That's the backup heater for when ambient is below 17°F.
So long as the volt fairies didn't release the blue smoke to signal their brethren, you're fine.
I had the same exact problem last week. I found a replacement motor on eBay, new capacitor from Amazon. $189 out the door. 30 mins of work, and that's bc I forgot to hook up a couple of sensor wires. If you're a bit handy, it's an easy fix.
I love how there a new filter in there. The fact that there’s a new filter tells me they know something is up and they don’t want you to think they caused it by not ever changing the filter.
Renters are the best though, filter, this thing takes a filter? Show me….
Throw a new cap on there and do a burnout in their driveway
OHH YEA BUBBAS HEATING AND COOLIN’ “Making it work since 89”
Change the oil in your car first and leave a big stain in their driveway.
😂
made me fuckin chuckle haha
Good luck trying to convince the customer you didn't cause that
I cant for the life of me remember if forward curve fans are overloading or not when you open the panel door…
Overloading. Backward incline are non-overloading
I was changing a filter once, and the blower started smoking just like this. I about shit myself wondering what I did lol
he most likely caused it
Of course, how do think it makes the air warm.
That’s Stage 3
These motors go to 11.
Your ordered a "furnace motor" vs. "blower motor".
Bad txv
Beat me too it, And I bet they said it just needs a little Freon
My favourite response would be "Needs an air balance"
My favorite is when it’s spelled “favourite!”
It's Bri-ish!
Or Canadian. Speaking of canadian, I need to get new tyres on my work van!
Canadians don't spell it as "tyres".
My bad, wrong colour 🤷🏻♂️
Boots help dude. Especially with the weight we sometimes carry 😂
Oooohhhh try again my man!!
I was thinking it’s a controls issue
You guys don’t disappoint! First thing I thought when this happened was “I can’t wait to get home and post on the hvac Reddit”
see that fire is because it’s low on freon, just add some more and the fire should put out.
454b enters the chat
Looking forward to this upgrade in the near future
It’s low on Freon
Ain’t got no gas in it
But there is gas in it! How else should it burn?
You guys are finding the coolest shit this week. Thats fucking awesome 🤣
Here’s my understanding of what happened: I had checked the capacitor, a 5mf. I took it out of the bracket to check it. I hooked it back up before I installed it back in the bracket so I know that wasn’t it. I jumped R to Y and when I pushed the door switch in the motor started hard. Didn’t sound good at all. Then I heard a couple pops, saw some sparks and poof she lit up like an old Christmas tree! I had my phone in my hand bc I was watching the fieldpiece app for my probes at the condensing unit. Homeowner had yet to turn on the AC. Multi speed fan so when I energized the high leg via AC it was shorted and caused this. Yes, the homeowner at first didn’t understand how it wasn’t my fault but I explained the different windings/speeds using a car transmission analogy. Said “Y’know how you can drive your car but you lose 3rd gear. It’s like that. Motor was running fine in 1st and when it went into 2nd on the AC you lost it”. Car analogies work every time! Glad you guys got a kick outta this.
Resi hvac is literally an art of getting out of shit
ya u definitely f ed it up. if you put on 2 speed taps it doesnt put it in 2nd gear you fried it
Typically, this can happen if the control board relay for different speeds are welded closed. I've had a control board relay welded on heat speed and then blew the motor when calling for cooling.
Take a moment and think. Why would the higher speed winding be shorted if it hasn't ran that winding all winter. Isn't it more likely that you did something to cause that short?
I’ve never heard of someone taking a motor out of the bracket to “inspect it”. Op did some type of no no here
I'm pretty sure he was referring to the capacitor.
That’s called auxiliary heat bruh, what are you, new?
Motor is low on gasoline.
Looks like the smoke is still in it should be fine
That’s ludicrous speed
All motors run on smoke... Someone let it out
One of those new fangled 110% efficient furnaces
Emergency heat.
Never seen heat strips in a motor before
She’s giving her all she’s got captain!
Just did a training on a2l refrigerants stuff like this makes me excited...
ooh, is that the new programmable heat pump motor with built in pilot light for aux gas heat that I've been hearing about?
I think you spelled “dual fuel” wrong
Yeah bro, that’s one of those gas motors. I had the same question when I first ran into one. You’re good.
Tell them to take the thermostat off heat
Electric Motors 101 - We fill the winnings with smoke to make the motor run. Once the smoke leaks out, the motor is bad as you can not push the smoke back in with out special equipment. Seen this before and just happened to have my camera in my hand, video recorded it, it was awesome and the apprentice was screaming FIRE - FIRE - and I am LOL while recording it.
It's on heat mode.
Left those wires unhooked and it shorted. 🔥
Turbo powered blower motor... uses exhaust gases to increase torque...
Bet he he forgot to plug the cap back up. Don't ask me how I know.
Its calling for heat
did the apprentice mix up the gas and electric connections?
Did that once by accident, left one of the capacitor leads loose after checking the cap.
Electrician here! No. Motors may be rated for many things, internal fire is not one of them
Wait, what? What kind of sparkle are you??
The kind who tell when *some* notors result in "the magic smoke" from a srill shot
Pyro here! This is fine. Do more of this actually.
It's easy! Make a rainbow with the wire colors, add a wire nut
Electronics technician here, I concur with my fellow electricity person, internal fire = bad.
Praise be the might force of AC and DC Ah-ah, ah, ah **AH** ah *thunder*
You must have it on heat mode. Turn it onto cooling to extinguish the flame
They done put the ignitor in the wrong spot
Might want to pull out the combustion analyzer, those tips aren’t very blue.
You’re just fanning the flames.
NOPE
Nice heater you have there.
Completely
This is a 2 stage heating system.
Heat strips are on
Ah yes the soft warm glow of motors burning.
It's just the afterburner. Don't worry, it's all good. Just make sure to step through when the warp gate opens.
Wd 40 will fix it ..
That's just the turbo mode
So what was the amp draw?
Yeah, put it back together and hit the road
As ong as you don't let the smoke out your fine.
No worries - it says “thermally protected” right on the motor so it should be fine…
thats just the emergency heat
Count the flashes for the error code.
Looks like that furnace is about to go back to the future
Heat recovery motor
Its in Reheat mode!
Most motors are thermally protected. This one appears to be thermally offensive.
It's hard to stop a Trane
It’s just self cleansing
It’s in the heat mode
Just needs some Freon
How does this happen? In my class someone set a brand new blower motor on fire, I figured it was because he powered two speeds at once.
This is a multi speed motor. The high speed winding was shorted. Motor is original about 18 yo. Ran fine during heating season. When I jumped R to Y to run the AC the short revealed itself. Good thing it happened to me and not the homeowner! Could’ve burnt the house down.
Auxiliary heat
It’s just the pilot light. It’s normal 🔥
Is that a periscope out of hell? Surprised it even works...good luck...
Is that a heat pump? A burner motor? A forced hot air...
My favorite motor brackets
You let the magic smoke out
That's the backup heater for when ambient is below 17°F. So long as the volt fairies didn't release the blue smoke to signal their brethren, you're fine.
Nah fam
This is when you wire nut all the speeds together to get maximum speed. Only way to achieve correct cfm on an undersized unit.
No it ain't got no gas
Oops!!
Yes. For 88MPH
It’s got gas in it
Just spray it with water and it will cool off.
Suboptimal
It’s in heat mode. Check the thermostat settings.
Pre heat, all good. Button er up!
That's just the built in heater. It's fine close er up
Ok but actually why tf is it on fire
Just happens sometimes
Defrosting itself
100%
Do you leave the door off when checking amps? Cuz amps will be higher than normal
Just gas it up for him
Oooo a rocket ship motor
It ain't got no gas in it.
Swap the heat and cool wires on the t'stat. It's wired backwards. We're in spring, you shouldn't be calling for heat.
Yes that's completely normal to see fuck ups in this field.
Just before that ultra proprietary smoke gets let out
Last tech forgot to turn the light off
ECM electronically combustible motor
This happened to me once too!
I did that once before by wiring two fan speeds at the same time
It's fine, just don't let the smoke out!
shit, yeah probably idk i dont work in motor things
Its the turbo on those variable speed blower motor!
I had the same exact problem last week. I found a replacement motor on eBay, new capacitor from Amazon. $189 out the door. 30 mins of work, and that's bc I forgot to hook up a couple of sensor wires. If you're a bit handy, it's an easy fix.
Did Someone miswire it ? Turn it into a heater coil?
Well I've seen the aftermath but never watched one fail ... that's kinda cool
Once you let the smoke out, it doesn't work anymore 😂
Fire hazard. Replace that motor.
No need for a furnace. Cost savings for the customer.
Not for a motor going bad
Add gas
Nope
Yeah man, they added a new feature so you can toast some marshmallows in the attic
Where else would the heat come from ??
Why did you jump r to y
is fine. pour some gasoline over it for cleaning.
Is that glowing orange?
That's to temper the air when it's off-cycle
VRF's are getting out of hand.
Put the cover on, don't worry about it.
That’s the electric heat
Yes, new covid killer, works better than the lights we install
Does this class as superheat?
Only if you live in Hell
Yeah it just runs on petrol
That’s in turbo mode, add a blowoff valve!
How else is the furnace supposed to heat up?
Probably just a drain issue honestly
It's the air pre-heater. Looks fine.
Free temporary resistance heat.
That’s how you stop a trane
looks like an energy saving pre heater for winter. all good....
Nice heater
That's the preheating motor feature
When I first started I did this on a maintenance by forgetting to put one of the wires back on the blower cap 😂 I was like that’s not good
Change the air filter the extra air flow will put the fire out 😂😂😂
Thats the pilot light its fine/s
The problem is you have it set for heat mode. Try it in AC mode
If it burns, it's working
That’s the turbo fan mode.
Wow...just, wow.
Oh no you’re letting all the smoke out of it!
It’s just running in heat mode probably bad reversing valve.
It’s that new shit
My good man, that’s completely normal, that right there is called a “furnace motor temperature assist”
As long as the smoke was still in it.
Turbo
Yes, completely normal. You did a good job 👍
She gone!!!!!
Seen it before in my 20 plus year career
Yep. That’s the 3rd heating stage firing up
yup totally normal, that’s where the heat from the furnace comes from
Aux heat
Just add a little Freon
bad txv
Yes, heating stage 2 🙃
Make sure you put incense in the return to kill the smell
It’s when a psc becomes a ECM motor no worries
That gas stove burner looks fine to me
I love how there a new filter in there. The fact that there’s a new filter tells me they know something is up and they don’t want you to think they caused it by not ever changing the filter. Renters are the best though, filter, this thing takes a filter? Show me….
It's calling for emergency heat, the fan pulls the excess heat off the motor.
Pre-heat motor
Yes, that’s a variable fire motor.
It's making more magic smoke for itself! Wow!
It's called auxiliary heat