Pool pump makes a loud buzzing sound but doesn’t start

[tclproductions]

Hi,

I am trying to troubleshoot a pool pump that stopped working yesterday. When I turn it on it makes a loud steady pitch buzzing sound but doesn’t start up. We had a heatwave here yesterday of 111.
Any suggestions how I can go about fixing this? Thanks in advance.
Also, while I am working on this, any tips on how to avoid the pool turning green without a pump. We are in it daily for at least an hour.

 

[ajw22]

Check the pump capacitor.

Pump Capacitors - Further Reading

www.troublefreepool.com

Pour 5 ppm of liquid chlorine into the pool daily and stir the water with your pool brush until you get your pump running.

 

[tclproductions]

Btw - here is the sound - New Recording 25.m4a

 

[JamesW]

That motor is from 2001. So, it's 19 years old. Try a new capacitor. Make sure that the shaft is not seized. Check the voltage going to the motor.

You have a 1.65 total hp Whisperflo. If you need a new pump, I would go with an Intelliflo as it will match up with your existing plumbing arrangement (requires 240 volts).

Do you have 120 or 240 going to the pump?

 

[tclproductions]

Thank you - can’t figure out if 240 or 120 are going to it

 

[JamesW]

What does the breaker look like?

 

[tclproductions]

Here it is ...

 

[JamesW]

That's 240. Try a new capacitor. Make sure that the shaft is not seized. Check the voltage going to the motor.

 

[tclproductions]

Ok, thank you for your help!
Do pool stores carry those?

 

[JamesW]

Do pool stores carry those?

They should. Call first to confirm.

 

[tclproductions]

Is this the capacitor?

 

[ajw22]

Is this the capacitor?

Yup.

 

[rphpool]

Be sure to de-energize the cap before working on it. Hold a screw driver across the contacts. They can still hold a lot of power even if they look dead. Kind of like a possum

 

[tclproductions]

Thank you for your help. I threw a towel over it and de-energized it. I can't seem to find any indication to + or - on the 2 connectors. Before I pull it off I want to make sure I know which wire goes to which terminal. Or does it not matter?

 

[ajw22]

Polarity does not matter on a capacitor.

 

[tclproductions]

Alright! I am back up and running - you guys rock!!

 

[JamesW]

Be sure to de-energize the cap before working on it. Hold a screw driver across the contacts. They can still hold a lot of power even if they look dead. Kind of like a possum

Note that "most" of the time the capacitor will not be charged because it discharges through the windings when the pump is off.

If a capacitor is charged when you check, the motor windings have probably opened while the motor was on. So, a charged capacitor usually means a dead motor.

In any case, it's safest to discharge the capacitor before handling.

Use a 10k ohm 2 watt resistor to discharge the capacitor and not a screwdriver for best results.

 

[tclproductions]

Interesting - it didn’t seem like there was any charge in the capacitor