USG Pool Motor Humming

[BabsMazz]

My dilemma. Opened the pool early this year - I'm currently slamming it. 2.5 year old US Motors 1.0 HP pump working fine until a storm rolled in two days ago. Emptied the skimmer basket which was full of pollen and tree gunk - forgot to check the basket at the motor until the morning. Shut off the pump, emptied the basket that was almost clogged.. motor won't kick on. Clicks, with a humm and then shuts off. Removed it - shaft moves freely. Can't get it to turn up. Am I doomed to replacing with another motor? I called the store that installed it and they told me some motors only last 1.5 years. No way. Is it the capacitor, exactly what is a capacitor? Pix of the motor & shiny inside attached! Help??
Doreen

 

[Rossterman]

Most likely a bad starting capacitor. If the motor doesnt trip out immediatley, that will likely be the problem. The silver round can like thing shown in your picture is the capacitor. Worth a relativley small investment to see. Most can be bought online for 10-12 dollars.

 

[gwegan]

1 discharge the capacitor before you touch it -- or you will remember this too much -- look at several you tube videos on changing capacitors.

 

[JamesW]

The capacitor will discharge through the windings unless the windings open while running. If the capacitor is charged, the motor is probably bad.

Also, you have black and red power wires. That's usually 230 volts, but it looks like your selector switch is set to 115 volts.

You should measure supply voltage and make sure that the selector is set correctly.

 

[BabsMazz]

The capacitor was bad - replaced it and checked the voltage to be sure. We're back in business! Thank you all for the advice. I suppose I may have to add electrician along with chemist to my resume since I got this pool! Saved a couple hundred dollars.

 

[Richard320]

The capacitor was bad - replaced it and checked the voltage to be sure. We're back in business! Thank you all for the advice. I suppose I may have to add electrician along with chemist to my resume since I got this pool! Saved a couple hundred dollars.

Saved that much!? Wow.

Well, there's always

 

[JamesW]

What is the supply voltage?

What is the selector set to?

 

[Rossterman]

The selector switch does look like its set on 115 vts but wiring looks like it's 220.

 

[JamesW]

If you're measuring 230 volts line to line, the selector should be set to 230.

Do you have a volt meter?

 

[BabsMazz]

Voltage is 115 - If the wiring was 220 and the dip switch was set to 115 would it even start up?