This Neptune dryer has a start button, and pushing it makes a really noisy buzzing, which it always does, but recently, it won’t start all the time, and I’ve smelled ‘hot electrical’ smells that I am pretty sure are hot motor or relay windings, having been a bit of a handyman all my life.
My question is whether the Neptune MDE3000 series has a built in starting circuit/relay/capacitor in the motor, or is that a separate relay/capacitor part? I can’t tell from all the online parts stores.
I think 130 bucks or so is ok for a new motor, but I’d hate to spend that and find out it was a dead or dying relay…
My question is whether the Neptune MDE3000 series has a built in starting circuit/relay/capacitor in the motor, or is that a separate relay/capacitor part?
It does not have a start relay or a capacitor but does have a start switch.
The motor has two centrifugal switches on it, they are activated once the motor gets close to operating speed.
One is for the heater to make sure the element does not come on till there is air flow.
The other is for the start winding, it disconnects the start winding as leaving it in circuit while running would cause the motor to overheat.
First try to rotate the drum in the correction by hand, it should turn fairly easily. Could be you have a mechanical problem with the drum putting too much drag on the motor. Perhaps try this on a couple other units to get a feel for it.
If OK
Open it up and check/clean the motor.
Odds are the motor is toast.