[JSolCanby]

Hi. This is my first time using this forum.

I had salvaged two indoor Rheem air handler units with heating coils when we had our 20 year old dual zone heat pump systems replaced with complete new systems. I thought that I might be able to use the blower component from one of them to build an air filtration system for my woodworking shop. I also thought that I might be able to adapt the other one to actually use as a furnace to heat my shop. I don't have any documentation on the air handlers and I don’t really understand capacitor/multiple speed motor wiring at all. I am hoping someone can help me along on this.

The blower project: I want to use the squirrel cage blower from the larger handler. I can’t find any plate on the motor except General Electric stamped on the bearing end. The blower motor is looks like it is multiple speed. The wires going to the capacitor on the motor are ORANGE and BLACK. The ORANGE wire originates from a fuse block and the BLACK from some sort of relay or something. The wires going from the capacitor to the motor are BROWN, RED, BLACK and two (2) ORANGE. The question is how do I hook this us with a simple on/off switch and have it run at its lowest speed?

The heater project: The smaller handler was on an 80 amp circuit in my house. I am limited to 60 amp existing service going to my shop. Is there a way to modify the unit to draw fewer amps? I was thinking that I need to remove one of the two heating elements but I'm not quite sure how to reconfigure the wiring if I did that. I don't plan on running any other major power tools while the furnace is on. I only want to run this early in the morning before I actually start doing any woodworking on the coldest of mornings. Is this something that can be done easily or am I wasting my time?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

Joe.

[T-Top]

The orange and the black are your power wires for the blower motor. The black wire is going to the blower relay. If you unhook one set of strips this will drop the amps, 20 amps.

[JSolCanby]

Thanks for the quick response.

1. Are you saying that this is a 220 amp motor? If so, if I put a double pole 20 amp switch on the orange and black will that work for an on/off switch?

2. When you say "unhhok a set of strips" I'm assuming you mean one of the two heating elements. Correct?

Thanks again for the quick response

[T-Top]

Yes it is a 230 volt system. But by just supplying power to the blower will not give you heat. Each bank of heat strips will pull 20 amps at least, not including the blower 2 or 3 amps.