3 wire DC Motor

Thread Starter

PhxWilsonsKen

Joined Mar 17, 2021
3
I hope this question isn't too far afield, but I am out of my depth and desperate. In this particular sad story, my refrigerator broke in Oct 2020 and the necessary part was backordered, until last week (4 and a half months!), when the order was canceled due to the part being discontinued! The part needed is a small refrigerator fan motor and, due to COVID, an OEM replacement can't be sourced. The motor is:
part number 60159-013600-00
2.4-W 12V-DC
2,100-RPM picture attached.

I found a motor that may work, but because it isn't OEM, I'd like to know the answer to this question: Why does the motor have a 3 wire lead? Knowing 2 wires would be for the positive and negative leads to power the motor - what is the third wire for?

Any and all help will be very much appreciated.

Here is a link to a motor that I hope will work.

https://www.amazon.com/LG-4681JB1027C-Evaporator-Fan-Motor/dp/B00LGUF0G2/ref=sr_1_7_sspa?crid=1UNGA2VZTA5FY&dchild=1&keywords=refrigerator+fan+motor+kenmore&qid=1615993969&sprefix=refrigerator+fan+motor,aps,234&sr=8-7-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFENTZWUEtYNElISEsmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAzNzA3MDUxV1pQUEpISzNKMzY1JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAzNDcxMTgzTUMwMVRGSjVNTFJUJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfbXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
 

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Computer 12V fan motors have either 3 or 4 wires.
3rd wire is the tachometer signal - determines if the fan is running when it's supposed to.
4th wire is a PWM signal input which can be unconnected to run at full speed.

So, likely it's a tach.
 

LowQCab

Joined Nov 6, 2012
4,029
What is the Voltage of your Refrigerator ?
If you buy a 12V Motor for a 120V Refrigerator, you will have to get a separate
Power-Supply just to run the Fan.

What you probably need is called a "Shaded-Pole" Motor,
with a Voltage that matches your Mains Voltage.
They run slow and very quiet.
.
.
.
 

MaxHeadRoom

Joined Jul 18, 2013
28,619
The shaded pole motor is usually 2 pole so they run at just under 3500rpm on 1ph 60hz.
The most inefficient induction motor, so they run very hot.
 

Thread Starter

PhxWilsonsKen

Joined Mar 17, 2021
3
I'm guessing that motor is a BLDC, test the resistance of the 3 leads and see if they are all identical between any two.
I can do that, but I don’t know what that data would indicate. Like I said, I am out of my depth and I am looking for help to identify a substitute motor because I cannot get an OEM motor.
 

Thread Starter

PhxWilsonsKen

Joined Mar 17, 2021
3
What is the Voltage of your Refrigerator ?
If you buy a 12V Motor for a 120V Refrigerator, you will have to get a separate
Power-Supply just to run the Fan.

What you probably need is called a "Shaded-Pole" Motor,
with a Voltage that matches your Mains Voltage.
They run slow and very quiet.
.
.
.
My original post detailed to motor as being a 12VDC motor that runs at 2,100RPM. The motor is already being controlled by the refrigerator’s main circuit board.
What is the Voltage of your Refrigerator ?
If you buy a 12V Motor for a 120V Refrigerator, you will have to get a separate
Power-Supply just to run the Fan.

What you probably need is called a "Shaded-Pole" Motor,
with a Voltage that matches your Mains Voltage.
They run slow and very quiet.
.
.
.
The refrigerator is normal house current - 120VAC. The OEM motor that failed is 12VDC being controlled by the refrigerator’s main circuit board and runs at 2,100 RPM.
 
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