After a short 15 minute search looking for a replacement 12 Vdc motor for my furnace with no luck. Maybe one of you has been down this road before and could point me in the correct directionThe situation - Suburban SF-30 furnace with #232682 / 3" 12Vdc electric motor with 6.5 to 7amp current draw. My desire is to reduce the current consumption, by upgrading the motor, without reducing the air flow (much if at all). PS - I do not want to change out the heater or add a Cat heater - simply looking for an upgraded electric motor The existing stock motor is a simple cheaply built brush type, low efficient high current draw with bushings as compared to proper bearings. Looking for - A drop in replacement electric motor - with proper bearings and brush-less with <1/2 the current draw.

Guess it's road less traveledKind of like most of my projects, a bit unique Might have found a place (fingers crossed) that makes proper electric motors Waiting on their reply Easily worth the $300 or so for a motor that draws <1/2 the current and has proper bearings

KJINTF wrote:Easily worth the $300 or so for a motor that draws <1/2 the current and has proper bearingsIf by proper bearings you mean ball or roller, consider this.None of the electrical motors in your house or MH have ball or roller bearings. They are all bushings. IE furnace, blender, microwave blower, attic fan, etc. They make too much noise for an environment occupied by people.I made that mistake many years ago on a furnace blower motor. Richard

Thanks for the tip I agree most cheaply built electric motors but not all have bushings However have to disagree regarding increased noise with proper high quality bearings when properly lubed as they should always be Replaced the drop in sealed ball bearings in the house furnace motor just a few years back after 20 years or so of service - no complaints there. The RV's 12 Volt air compressor electric motor has replaceable drop in ball bearings as well as several other electric motors around this place. The furnace makes a bit of noise when moving air anyway. My desire is to replace a cheaply built electric motor (that is currently working great) with a high quality motor which draws less current.

I really don't think you will save that much current- the motor should draw ~6 amps, and it is moving 300 cfm room air plus combustion air- that's a lot of work.

I agree with Chris, the efficiency of the installed motor is probably fairly high and while you may be able to gain some % increase, it won't be enough to drop the current very much.Good luck and I hope you prove us wrong.

Suburban SF-30 Furnace - Current draw | Good Sam Community

15 Replies

ken_white
Explorer
Sep 17, 2014
I agree with Chris, the efficiency of the installed motor is probably fairly high and while you may be able to gain some % increase, it won't be enough to drop the current very much.

Good luck and I hope you prove us wrong.
Chris_Bryant
Explorer II
Sep 17, 2014
I really don't think you will save that much current- the motor should draw ~6 amps, and it is moving 300 cfm room air plus combustion air- that's a lot of work.
KJINTF
Explorer
Sep 17, 2014
Thanks for the tip

I agree most cheaply built electric motors but not all have bushings
However have to disagree regarding increased noise with proper high quality bearings when properly lubed as they should always be

Replaced the drop in sealed ball bearings in the house furnace motor just a few years back after 20 years or so of service - no complaints there. The RV's 12 Volt air compressor electric motor has replaceable drop in ball bearings as well as several other electric motors around this place.

The furnace makes a bit of noise when moving air anyway. My desire is to replace a cheaply built electric motor (that is currently working great) with a high quality motor which draws less current.
RLS7201
Explorer II
Sep 17, 2014
KJINTF wrote:
Easily worth the $300 or so for a motor that draws <1/2 the current and has proper bearings

If by proper bearings you mean ball or roller, consider this.
None of the electrical motors in your house or MH have ball or roller bearings. They are all bushings. IE furnace, blender, microwave blower, attic fan, etc. They make too much noise for an environment occupied by people.
I made that mistake many years ago on a furnace blower motor.

Richard
KJINTF
Explorer
Sep 17, 2014
Guess it's road less traveled
Kind of like most of my projects, a bit unique

Might have found a place (fingers crossed) that makes proper electric motors
Waiting on their reply
Easily worth the $300 or so for a motor that draws <1/2 the current and has proper bearings

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Suburban SF-30 Furnace - Current draw

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