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I’ve replaced a PSC condenser fan motor with an ECM in a condenser. How do I connect the capacitor?
Electronically Commutated Motors (ECMs or EC Motors) are becoming more and more prevalent. Consumers are looking for ways of saving on their utility bills. The ECM is one way of saving on energy costs. One of the characteristics of the ECM is that they do not require adding an external run or start capacitor. But a run capacitor may still be needed for the compressor. From the compressor the Start (S) and Run (R) leads are connected to the capacitor. The power, or line, leads are then applied. One line is connected to the Run (R) lead using the terminal on the capacitor. The second line is connected to the Common (C) lead of the compressor. See the diagram below.
DO NOT APPLY POWER DIRECTLY TO THE START LEAD OF THE COMPRESSOR, WHICH WILL CAUSE A WINDING FAILURE.
Connecting A Run Capacitor To A Compressor
With many condensing units the PSC condenser fan motor and the compressor share a dual rated run capacitor. When this is the case, if the hermetic section of the capacitor is still good, the dual rated capacitor can still be used to operate the compressor. It will be connected as it was when using a PSC motor in the system except that their will be no connections from the fan motor to the Common or Fan (F) terminals on the capacitor. The Run (R) lead from the compressor is connected to the Common (C) terminal on the capacitor The Start (S) lead from the compressor is then connected to the Hermetic (H) terminal on the compressor. Power leads are applied directly to the Run (R) lead of the compressor utilizing the Common (C) terminal on the capacitor. The second power lead is applied to the Common (C) compressor lead.
If a PSC motor is being replaced by an ECM in a blower application, no run capacitor is required. That’s easy!
Changing a PSC to an ECM is a great way to save energy. In addition, now you don’t have to connect a capacitor!
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