9th June 2010

Can you help?

I NEED TO PURCHASE A REPLACEMENT MOTOR FOR:

4 BLADE CEILING FAN

MODEL kB42TB-LC1

FAN: 46 Watt

FAN: 3 SPEED

LIGHTS: 3 X 60W

TOTAL RATING: 226W 1.12A MAX

SUPPLY: 230 V

MADE IN CHINA FOR READERS (ISLE OF WHITE) LIMITED JAN 1 1998

IF YOU CAN HELP PLEASE EMAIL [email protected]

In the US where I come from, I would say that if you can't find a brand name and a supplier for the same, just replace the whole thing. You will get a whole new fan and a warranty to boot. I hate the waste though.

Thank you EPMiller for your reply.

I purchased a whole new ceiling fan November 2009 to replace the one that I took down and replaced two days ago June 7th 2010 as the climate was getting warmer. Apart from the new one has 5 blades, different shades and the surface finish differs, it is identical in size and appearance to the one that I took down.

My intention was to rebuild this one as a standby, hopefully saving me some money but at the same time re-cycling.

We are aware here in the UK that the US is a throwaway society and we also are rapidly becoming one ourselves which our Government is trying hard to discourage. I have always tried to make things last forever and I like to do my bit to prevent global warming by recycling. I kept a car for 27 years and sold it with a brand new "Ministry of Transport" Certificate (M.O.T.)

As the design and spec. etc. of this new fan was so alike I wanted to know if the new fan motor would work and fit into it if the identical one was not available. I never wanted to strip the new fan to find out because of the warranty. It would be quite easy to change the motor and that was my intention.

If you think the US is made up of only people who throw things away, just don't look at my basement. I am an inveterate fixer-upper. As to your fan, around here I can recycle most of the parts from a fan, you should do that with the dead motor. As to switching the new motor into your old fan, if the blades will mount correctly (4 on 5 would NOT work unless the motor is dual drilled) and the hanger mates up correctly, then you are OK. The wiring is all internal on most of these things. Really the motor IS the fan. The rest is just trim. If it doesn't go together easily and just like the old one, it shouldn't be done. Safety FIRST.

Nice to hear I am not alone in this world of waste and that there is another hoarder like me.

What you are saying (asking me) is exactly what I do need to know before venturing into purchasing (if at all possible) a new motor, cost would also be a deciding factor.

I went to the "Micromark" company web page that I purchased my new fan from for help and advice and to find out about the information you mentioned, I somehow ended up joining their “Ask Me Help Desk" forum. You were the response.

I thought a company representative on customer help desk would have responded with advice/cost or to point me in the right direction.

It now looks as though I will be binning it because as you said the motor is the fan.

My next and maybe only alternative is to find a company that winds armatures locally, in the hope that I find one, they are able to fix it and will not charge an arm and a leg.

This particular type of fan, to buy as new is inexpensive anyway, so here's hoping.

Rewinding will not be anywhere close to cost effective. Recycle it, at least you can do that much.

Send me a picture of the old fan. I might be able to match it, or the motor.

For that matter it is probably not the motor that has failed but some other part: see:

General ceiling fan troubleshooting and help FAQ- Ceiling Fans N More (http://www.ceiling-fans-n-more.com/ceiling-fan-general-troubleshooting-and-FAQ.php)

Send me a picture of the old fan. I might be able to match it, or the motor.

Thank you for your follow up and all the useful links, I will take a picture of it and hopefully send it to you.

The motor runs slow and has a sickly smell of electricle burning so I am sure it is a case of new motor.

I had to put up my new fan quick because of the hot weather. I would however still like to repair this one for a standbye as I have 2 others fitted in my home and would like this as a spare.

Stand bye for photo (hopefully)

Sounds more like a bad capacitor.

Ceiling Fan Capactors - Troubleshooting and Resources - Ceiling Fans 'N More (http://www.ceiling-fans-n-more.com/ceiling-fan-capacitors.php)

Sounds more like a bad capacitor.

Ceiling Fan Capactors - Troubleshooting and Resources - Ceiling Fans 'N More (http://www.ceiling-fans-n-more.com/ceiling-fan-capacitors.php)

Were you to be here in England you would get the job to service it, you obviously know what you are talking about and like me won't accept defeat.

By the time I pay postage both ways and the repair fee to send it to you in America it would end up costing me an arm and a leg, I just wish someone local could do the job or sell me the parts required.

I don't want you to send it to me. Open it up, see if you can find a small square black box with wires. I bet it's melted. That's the capacitor. Order a replacement.