Anybody know anything about cheap box fans?

[vacuumman206]

I'm not into collecting fans or anything, I just like to trash pick them whenever I see one, because they're great for the garage or when I'm on small jobs. it's one of those cheap 19 or 20" lasko boxes. usually they have a busted blade, which I have a way of re-securing. But I got one today that doesn't turn on. A friend told me there is a fuse hidden in the motor windings that blows. I've also known them to make a fuse in the cord plug, but usually there's an indicator for that. I would think the easiest thing to test first is bypass the switch just in case it is bad. I don't have a multi-meter, so my only option with that is to bypass.
I know they're like $20 new but I don't like to put things at the curb if they have a slight chance of being fixed for free.
Any knowledge on this stuff?

 

[ncovert]

There should be a fuse...

...in either the plug (if the plug has a slider and is bigger than usual) or in the motor (take it apart and look for the fuse.)


Try bypassing the switch as well. Find one of the motor windings and wire-nut it to the load wire of the cord.

 

[dustin]

If there is a fuse in the plug, the plug will be blue. I don't see a problem with replacing the plug. There is also a thermal fuse in the windings, but for your safety, please don't bypass that one. That protects the motor (and then plastic components, and your house), from catching fire if the motor overheats because of something jamming it, the cooling vents being blocked with dust, or the most common, the cheap chinese windings shorting across each other, and generating lots of heat, which in turn causes more shorts, because of the insulation breaking down, eventually blowing the thermal fuse, or, without the thermal fuse, eventually catching fire. I don't own a fan newer than 1990 ish, and have no problem leaving the house with my 1925 Western Electric brass blader running, and it has all original wiring. The key in that is, no, the older fans don't have thermal fuses, but also don't have anything flammable on them either. I also sleep with a 1954 Westinghouse fan on sometimes, and have never had a problem. As far as new fans go, I have had one of the Aerospeed box fans, and it seemed like pretty decent quality, but I can't say the same for the Lasko's.

 

[tolivac]

Avoid the "cheap" fans altogether-go ahead and spend the money on a better quality "commercial" one-all metal parts-cap start-run motor-guards easy to take apart for cleaning-and a motor you can oil.I have several commercial type fans I bought years ago-still going strong.I don't like things like fans and such running while not home.-no matter the quality-hate to have my place burn down just becuase I left a fan on.exception is the HVAC system and the attic blower-that is thermostat controled in the attic-only runs when hot enough to call for it.The cheap plastic fans should be avoided-they may only last one season and the internal fuse goes-then you have to get another fan-don't need this every year-Laskos USED to be nice fans-now CHEAP!!!And another issue with these-they don't move as much air as older fans-the cheap motors and lo pitch propellers just won't move air without the cheap motor burning out.

 

[cocoaboo48]

fans

The newer plastic fans do not put out a strong breeze. The old Hunter window fans were powerful and can be oiled.