Portable fan

[Daz_O]

Hi all

Brought a portable fan from car boot but it’s not working

Could anyone take a look at this wiring and switch

And advise best way to get this working?

I put a 13a fuse in it

When I unplugged after realising didn’t work touched fuse to remove and got a little shock

 

[Wayners]

3amp fuse would be better. It's not an oven or toaster! Don't put a 13amp fuse in as could catch fire long before fuse blows.

First check there is power.
I'd be testing before I plugged in with multimeter that there are no breaks in cable. From motor to mains plug pin.
Simple to do but I can't explain here.

Called continuity test with a multimeter.

 

[Murdochcat]

Chuck it in the bin and buy a new one ?

 

[morqthana]

Brought a portable fan from car boot but it’s not working

What's the likeliest reason someone would be selling one at a CBS?

When I unplugged after realising didn’t work touched fuse to remove and got a little shock

So the capacitor isn't completely dead....

 

[Scally-Ho]

In my experience, the first thing to cause problems in table top fans is usually the bearings drying out and stiffening up with dust etc. Strip it down and look at the bearings. If not grumbling, lubricate and check shaft rotation to see if it now spins freely. If it does, carefullyclean out the copper windings with a small brush and blowing before reassembling and then see if it works after reassembling.
If none of that works, then at least you've seen inside a fan motor and gained experience from your efforts. Don't be tempted to play around with the electrical side if you are not competent to do so because mains voltage can and does kill.

 

[Jurassicspark]

So the capacitor isn't completely dead....

Poor design which let's the current flow backwards when unplugged.

 

[Fred Blogs]

I think this bloke is highly likely to kill himself if you lot carry on telling him how to get it working which he probably wont be able to do anyway. The best advice he has had is to throw it in the bin and buy a new one.

 

[opps]

Did someone retrofit a variable speed controller? I don't recall seeing a fan where the flex is cable tied behind the blades.

If it continues to spin once you start it spinning, it probably needs a new capacitor.

Personally, I would bin it.

 

[SUNRAY]

What's the likeliest reason someone would be selling one at a CBS?

Because it's knackered? looks like someone has already been in there and done something to it.

Chuck it in the bin and buy a new one ?

I think this bloke is highly likely to kill himself if you lot carry on telling him how to get it working which he probably wont be able to do anyway. The best advice he has had is to throw it in the bin and buy a new one.

Personally, I would bin it.

There seems to be a subtle bias in the messages towards one solution.


Over the years I've looked at a number of pedestal fans, after the initial tests for something simple like a broken wire I usually:


Advise the owner to:

throw it in the bin

Or

bin it.

Or

Chuck it in the bin

as they are usually very cheap and cheerful and happily use Flameports favourite words "Pile of junk".






And that comes from someone who will keep kit running at all costs.

 

[morqthana]

I would initially try connecting a known good flex & plug to the stub of cable coming out of the motor to see if it turns. Looks like it has 2 speeds, so try each live in turn.

If it works, investigate the switch, and the cable to it, more closely.

If it doesn't work, bin it. Maybe consider keeping one of the guards to repurpose as a hanging basket.