How do you balance the squirrel-cage blower in a swamp cooler
#1
05-18-07, 11:15 AM
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How do you balance the squirrel-cage blower in a swamp cooler
I just installed a 7000 cfm evap. cooler on the ground, ducted into the house
ac ducting. Upon starting, It has a very noticable vibration, indicating that the
blower wheel is out of balance. Does anyone have info on how to balance the
thing? I complained to the mfg. and got a new one, but would like to check it
out before going to the work of re-installing, and then maybe have to take this
one out. It is 16x20 inches, driven by a 1 hp motor, and motor does NOT vibrate.
Lost River Bob
ac ducting. Upon starting, It has a very noticable vibration, indicating that the
blower wheel is out of balance. Does anyone have info on how to balance the
thing? I complained to the mfg. and got a new one, but would like to check it
out before going to the work of re-installing, and then maybe have to take this
one out. It is 16x20 inches, driven by a 1 hp motor, and motor does NOT vibrate.
Lost River Bob
#2
05-22-07, 05:16 AM
Balance The Blower
Use a level to ensure that the frame that you've built, that you're mounting the evap cooler on, is level- Especially in the same direction, or horizontally to, the "shaft" running through the middle of the blower or squirrel cage.
It would be OK, and to your advantage, to have a slght pitch, like 1/4 or less, of a bubble off level, lower, toward the drain, i.e., from back to front of the unit. But try to get it absolutely level from side to side.
I'd start off with an absolutely level framework to mount it on, and then shim up slightly, underneath the back of the unit, for complete drainage at the end of the season. You may have to adjust your ductwork, sidedraft I assume, for this leveling process to "meet up" with your duct?
AND KEEP IN MIND, that because the motor is "pulling" on the side (not the middle) of the blower, you MUST secure the unit to the frame, and the frame must have all four "feet" on the ground! The weight of the motor, and the torque it presents when it starts up, is all on one side of the unit. You should fasten the unit down to the frame to offset that.
It would be OK, and to your advantage, to have a slght pitch, like 1/4 or less, of a bubble off level, lower, toward the drain, i.e., from back to front of the unit. But try to get it absolutely level from side to side.
I'd start off with an absolutely level framework to mount it on, and then shim up slightly, underneath the back of the unit, for complete drainage at the end of the season. You may have to adjust your ductwork, sidedraft I assume, for this leveling process to "meet up" with your duct?
AND KEEP IN MIND, that because the motor is "pulling" on the side (not the middle) of the blower, you MUST secure the unit to the frame, and the frame must have all four "feet" on the ground! The weight of the motor, and the torque it presents when it starts up, is all on one side of the unit. You should fasten the unit down to the frame to offset that.
#3
05-22-07, 05:51 AM
Well, it logged me off before I could edit with the following...
AND KEEP IN MIND, that because the motor is "pulling" on the side (not the middle) of the blower, you should secure the unit to the frame, and the frame must have all four "feet" on the ground. The weight of the motor, and the torque it presents when it starts up, is all on one side of the unit. You may need to fasten the unit down to the frame to offset that.
Also check the belt for proper tension, and make sure that both pulleys, motor and blower, line up to each other.
AND KEEP IN MIND, that because the motor is "pulling" on the side (not the middle) of the blower, you should secure the unit to the frame, and the frame must have all four "feet" on the ground. The weight of the motor, and the torque it presents when it starts up, is all on one side of the unit. You may need to fasten the unit down to the frame to offset that.
Also check the belt for proper tension, and make sure that both pulleys, motor and blower, line up to each other.
