Hello - I took apart my old Westinghouse window fan to paint it and had to disconnect the capacitor, which was mounted to the frame. I could've sworn the capacitor leads were connected to (1) a green wire coming from the fan motor and (2) a terminal labeled S2 on the control switch. However, when I reassembled the fan I found one of the 120V supply wires disconnected and don't know where it goes. I tried connecting it with the green motor/capacitor junction but when I try the fan it just hums.

This fan motor has 6 leads: Green, white, blue, black, red, yellow.

The control switch has 6 positions plus "off" in the middle. When you turn it one way, the fan starts in high speed, then medium, then low. When you go back to off, then go the other way, the fan reverses direction in high, then medium, then low. The switch has 8 terminals, 4 on each side of a square-shaped housing, and the leads are plugged into it similar to how wires can be plugged into modern outlets (as opposed to screw terms):

S1 - White to motor
S2 - capacitor (which I disconnected here at the switch to remove the capacitor)
A - Black to motor
B - Blue to motor (and also to terminal #3 on other side of switch)

L1 - 120V power wire
1 - Red to motor
2 - Yellow to motor
3 - Blue to motor (and also to terminal B on other side of switch)

I was pretty sure the green lead from the motor went to the capacitor. It's funny, the green lead is tinned so I thought maybe it belongs plugged into the switch, but again could've sworn it was connected to the capacitor. Can anyone help me figure out where the other 120V (L2) lead should connect? As I said, already tried connecting it with the green/cap lead without success. I don't want to try something that will burn up my motor... Also, I thought maybe the cap was bad so I went to my local motor store and they checked capacitance, it was 3 mfd (can't read the number on the case). I bought a new one 7.5 mfd (looked physically the same size) and the motor barely starts... Also tried putting a large (53mfd) cap there, the motor will start and reverse but the medium and low speeds are way slower than they should be, so something still isn't right.

Thanks in advance for any help!

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3 spd rev fan 001.pdf (284.4 KB, 452 views)

I can't help you directly, but I can help indirectly.

Your fan probably is a variation of circuit #3 here.

Gary's Website

Go to the pages link and Ceiling fand [sic] wiring diagrams

This has separate direction and speed switches where yours is combined.

First of all, you need to identify the windings by resistance readings.

Secondly, you need to figure out how the switch operates.

The speed is selected by selecting a tap on the windings, so you will have 4 wires with increasing resistance relative to an end.

The direction switch, just reverses the polarity to the independent winding.

I would expect smaller caps to increase the speed. Capacitors in series follow the formula 1/ct = 1/c1+1/c2 or two 7.5 uf caps in series is equlivelent to a 3.25 uf cap.

Find the HP or current rating of the fan and pick a light bulb of the proper size. You can place this or a fuse in the circuit to limit the current to the light bulb wattage.

You have a few things that you know and a few that you don't. Fill in the missing pieces.

How does the switch behave.
Identify high through low on the motor
Identify the start winding.

See if what your SURE of makes sense.

Power up with an appropriate protection device - fuse or light bulb.

You basicallu have it, I think;

L1 gets connected to pin 1, 2 or 3 depending on speed and probably S1 to A and S2 to B in one direction and S2 to A and S1 to B in the other.

The cap need to go to the common side of the AC line and one end of the motor winding.

Thanks, KeepIt! Your lead to Gary's Website was particularly helpful as I was able to match his W/D with mine and make the right connections. Thanks again, especially for your prompt reply.

Congratulations and thank you!