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How do you tell a 6 volt vs a 12 volt motor on heater? Mine has single wire going from motor thru firewall. Can one modify the new swithces being made by corvette spec. of Mary. to allow more power to the low fan speed to turn the motor at the correct speed? That is if the motor is 6 volt like maybe cutting some of the wire out of the exposed wire that is insulated and connecting back together, both speeds work fine thru battery charger but not when hooked to switch, come on who's the magician out their? Poof. Don' want to have to take heater out if I don't have to. Thanks Brad Where's Santa??
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Re: 54 heater motor
I can see a couple of reasons for why a fan motor would run slower in the car vs. on the bench...
(1) Brushes inside the motor are worn and/or brush dust has 'gummed' up the motor's shaft bearing(s). Fix: disassemble and rebuild the motor.
(2) If in-car test is being done without the motor running/generator charging the battery, it's quite likely the supply voltage isn't the same on the bench vs. in-car. Fix: simply fire the engine and rev it until the generator starts to supply charging current to the battery and see if the problem 'evaporates'... -
Re: 54 heater motor
Brad, I rebuilt the heater motor in my 54. I cleaned the commutator and replaced the brushes. The difference in appearance between 6 & 12 volt is that the 6V windings on the armature are much larger than in the 12 V one. As far as the operational differences, if you power up a 6v motor with 12 volts, it'll run fast as hell. My 54 ran the 6v motor on 12 volts for several years before I converted her back to 6V, and it was the best heater ever! I then had to add a resistor to the slow speed side, by attaching a 1/2 ohm 25 watt metal resistor to the switch's slow speed terminal. That effectively takes the 6 volts down to about 4 and slows the motor by about half speed. It passed NCRS judging.
Let me know if you need further info.
Joe 24865Comment
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Re: 54 heater motor
Brad, one more thing. I would recommend using an automotive 6 v battery as your power source during testing. The batt. charger has a very rippled dc output, and may not assimilate "real world" operation of the motor. Also use a 10 gauge or bigger lead wire. Anything smaller will drop too much voltage and slow down the fan motor.
JoeComment
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Re: 54 heater motor
Hi Joe, I tried my 58 switch on the 6 volt heater and it worked the same as the new switch. HIgh speed is fine and low speed turns very slowly. My question is should I try the same thing You did to the low side before tackling heater demo and rebuilding the motor, trying to do the easiest stuff first, also the 58 switch looks the same as the new 54 switch but has the shorter cable to lever. Thanks and where can this part be purchased? Again thank you BradComment
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Re: 54 heater motor
Brad, I would rebuild the motor. Chances are it needs it anyway, and if yours is anything like mine it may just need to be cleaned, lubed, and new brushes. Ask John Pirkle of Pirkle Restorations. He may have a kit or NOS motor, or know where to find one. I'm pretty sure this is motor is the same as passenger.
JoeComment
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Re: 54 heater motor
Hi. Joe, Also on the side of the heater there is a capacitor or whatever the name connected to the wire that goes to the motor, should I have this checked first to see if this is working and is this what you were talking about that you did on yours or is this piece supposed to be on the heater any way and then you put the other piece right at the switch? Thanks Again Brad.Comment
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Re: 54 heater motor
Brad, that device is a resistor, sometimes called a ballast resistor. This is required to slow the fan motor in the slow speed setting on the switch. It is located on the switch itself.
If your fan is slow but still can be heard and felt, then it should be OK.Comment
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Re: 54 heater motor
HI Joe again, on that last note of fan at least working in low (SLOWLY) am I still taking motor out and cleaning up or changing wiring or something to motor? Once again this is a new switch from Corvette Spec. of Maryland Thanks Brad Merry Xmas to all.Comment
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Re: 54 heater motor
You're having your problems with that heater and it's so simple that I don't get it. The motor will run high and low you said (Tested) but not using the switch right when you go to low?? So why remove the motor? Just because the switch is new are you sure it's OK How fast does it go in high speed SO SO?? Is it's grounded good? Give more detail.Comment
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Re: 54 heater motor
Hi Roy thanks again for coming on, Yeah me to, the motor seems to spin fine in both speeds and sounds smooth hooked to charger but maybe this gives too much power to the loww speed therefore running it easily, but when I hook it up this way Low is probably half the speed oif High which seems right. Hooking up to car battery the low speed turns and you can hear it but does not come up to speed, and High is fine, my heater has the round capacitor? screwed to the left side of the heater which ties into the switch wiring which then plugs into the terminal for the motor. You're right it seems it should work fine but something is keeping the low from maybe getting enough juice to power it to full speed. Should one send the new switch back and have them test or is that a waste of time? Hope this helps some thanks again Brad Merry Xmas to All.Comment
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Re: 54 heater motor
I know nothing about your repro switch ( don't like repro's) but when you turn it to high speed you say it works OK ( that is direct 6V voltage ) What reduces the voltage is that little white coil resister, when your turn the switch to low. Now the amount of voltage that resister puts out depends on the number of coils ( to many -low voltage -to little - high voltage) "Even the thickness of the coil wire makes a deference " that's how IT works ,again I don't know how the repro is set. But that's how the switch works!!! Simple !! It's the only part between your 6V battery and motor. Period !!!!!!!!!!
So I would say the little coil may be the problem ????????????
Nothing like the real deal original part in my book.
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Re: 54 heater motor
Roy, one of the questions I asked was can one cut some of the coils out 1 piece at a time till it works? seems like a easy fix and solder back together, but then what is the ceramic you would smear back on the coils I guess for insulation? I think were getting closer Unless I can get an original switch? Hint, thanks for everyone's patience and expert advice on the questions and I will keep on learning so as to help others. Brad again.Comment
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Re: 54 heater motor
Now I don't know about cutting it. Can you find a wire near the size ( now think about this) make a shorter coiling then connect a 6V hot wire to one end , and a wire on the other end then connect it to the motor wire and see if it slows the motor at a speed you wont . Now I don't know if it will work but?????
Must be people smarter then me out there!!Comment
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Re: 54 heater motor
Makes sense but help me thru this, is this eliminating the switch and just wiring the fused terminal wire that goes to the switch now directly to the coil then on other end of coil a wire of same size as fused side, then to motor to check and what is a 6v hot wire and size? Also on my wire that goes to the fuse block about 8 inches out wiring looks about 18 gauge goes into a double connector to pick up condensor? at bottom of fuse block and then to back of fuse holder all being approx. 18 gauge, is this right of how does that swtch wire run into the fuse block as well as the condensor and size of wire, this is tiring. Brad.Comment
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