Dribbling Bits

Last Updated: 10:24 PM GMT on October 17, 2009 — Last Comment: 1:38 AM GMT on October 26, 2009

	Of fan surgury and chicks

Posted by: aSigiam, 10:11 PM GMT on October 17, 2009

My parent’s built a new room onto their house recently. My mom bought a new ceiling fan off of the web. She really liked it and it was somewhat expensive. The problem is it did not work. She called the people that sold it to her and they did send another bottom piece that attaches to the base plate. They were thinking it was the electronics that had gone bad. This did not work either. The power to the ceiling wires was good, so I took the fan to Oklahoma to see if I could fix it.

I never did get it working in Oklahoma. I had concluded that the motor itself was bad. So while recuperating from knew surgery on at my parent’s house the decision was made to do a motor transplant. This was the type of project I used to do but have shied away from recently.

Off to the local Habitat for Humanity Restore. They have used ceiling fans for $15. I found one that had the same electrical connector at its base. Paid $10 for it and took it back home. First step was connecting the lower base plate of the original fan to the new one and applying power – in worked! Taking it apart was easy enough, however it was then the first problem reared up. The upper shaft on the motor was shorter than the original and the bottom shaft was longer than the original. This was going to be a problem because the way the original fan’s housing is made. It is tall and if mounted as is, the fan motor would end up well inside the housing making it impossible for the fan blades to be installed. The solution was shims. Off to the hardware store (trip #1). There, I found some 1” nylon spacers and had already found screws that would work.

The next challenge was that the original base plate had to be installed on the new motor. It was not too bad and required cutting the original wires since I did not have the proper tool for removing the pins from the connector socket. Got that traded out and wires re-soldered without a trip to the hardware store. Connected it to power and it worked! And there was much rejoicing – yea....

Now to put this thing together. I mounted the motor housing on the top collar and immediately noticed that there is still not enough clearance at the bottom for the fan blades :-( Then the downrod would not fit the existing collar. The replacement used a ½” smooth rod, the original a ¾” threaded rod – sigh! Off the hardware store again (trip #2). I found some ¼ inch nylon spacers to help with the blade clearance issue. However, the only downrods they had were ¾ inch threaded. Back to the house I went.

I knew what had to be done but was avoiding it. The original fan motor had to be retrieved from the trash and both motors were taken to the large vise. With the shaft of the motor in the vise and a large wrench the top collar was loosened and removed. The other top collar came off even easier. Took the original top collar and put it on the new motor. Put the motor housing on the original top collar with 1 and ¼ inch spacers. Next, the fan blades. Well I still needed a little more clearance so I used some flat washers. Finally we have clearance for the blade from the motor housing.

All that is left to do is hang and connect the fan. Done. Now too turn on the fan at the switch - Nothing. Defeat is looming! Looking over the wiring I notice a second set of wires for another switch. Ah, just hook them up and nothing :-( Time to take a break and re-evaluate.

I finally put a meter to both sets of wires, not voltage! Back to the switch. It was not connected. This is one of those “Ah-ha” moments. I then found out that the switch was disconnected when an electrician installed a GFI plug in the three-gang wall box. Two switches and an outlet. To end this story, I reconnected the switch, connected the right wires and my mom has her fan. Whew!

On another front, I was able to attract at least one chick last weekend. Just not the type I expected. Photo soon.

well, hello

still hanging in there

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Updated: 10:24 PM GMT on October 17, 2009

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	relationship and habanero update

Posted by: aSigiam, 9:40 PM GMT on August 29, 2009

A couple of weeks ago I went back to Wylie and could barely sleep due to the dogs barking. In the morning we found out what they were barking at. They had cornered a good sized armadillo up against the house. The armadillo had a somewhat bloody tail, but seemed ok. The kids of course loved it and wanted to keep it as a pet. I had never picked up a live armadillo before, but I had to since this one would not move.The chickens are doing well, although we are dow...

Updated: 4:08 AM GMT on September 14, 2009

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	It's hot here in more ways that one

Posted by: aSigiam, 4:46 PM GMT on June 27, 2009

Drama, drama, drama. I would rather deal with the identity theft issue than the aftershocks of a divorce. May not have much to show at my house in Wylie soon. I may rent a U-haul to rescue the potted plants and trees before they dry out.Thinking of trying this internet dating thing. Maybe WU should start a site, lol.OK, Summer weather is here. Temps getting up into the 100’s. That is bad enough, but the real problem is there is little cool down with low...

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Updated: 3:48 AM GMT on July 04, 2009

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	Mid-Spring update

Posted by: aSigiam, 3:08 AM GMT on May 19, 2009

Finally got my insurance info and scheduled a physical and dental appointment for last Friday. March used to be personal maintenance month but it has now moved to May. The doctor doesn’t think there is any damage to my shoulder and in fact wants me to work it out more.Smokey, my daughters cat that live with my parents, got into an accident. The door was shut on his tail. It probably would not have been too bad if he had not pulled his tail out while the door ...

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	The Black Knight kicks me

Posted by: aSigiam, 1:17 AM GMT on April 22, 2009

I was recruited to go to a customer’s site to help troubleshoot some of our equipment on Wednesday. The plane left Dallas on Thursday, we arrived in Nashville and took a rental car to Columbia. We had the problem diagnosed within a few minutes, made repairs and left declaring victory. Remember the “Black Knight scene” in Monty Python and the Holy Grail? I think of this scene often when troubleshooting. King Arthur assumes he has defeated the Black Kni...