My organ blower doesn't work properly HELP

[abcomatic]

Hi everyone, I have an 18 rank pipe organ here at home as some of you know. I turned the blower on and the regulators won't inflate. I checked to see if I had a broken windline but no. The blower has a 2 stage 220 volt motor on it. It runs but doesn't seem to go to the next, higher stage. Can any of you tell me what might be wrong and what to do to fix it. Thanks in advance. Gary

 

[veg-o-matic]

My apologies in advance, but how could I resist?

Divorce.

veg

 

[retroguy]

veg, maybe it's regional humor....

I was going to suggest he fire him....=)

I also apologize!

 

[panthera]

Gary,

Until folks who know the subject better than I do log in, a few general suggestions:
220v lines not only have a duplex circuit breaker (should, anyway) but sometimes have two separate fuses. There are also two separate fuses internally in most good units.
So check that you are getting 220 at the socket and to the motor.
Perhaps a capacitor has blown? I do know that these motors have to deal with some major pressure, so have starting help. Oh, right - something stuck open or closed or blocked in the air flow path?
If that isn't the case, then you need to see what steps the motor goes through in ramping up. Is there some sort of centrifugal switch which has to be satisfied before the second stage comes up? Or an electronic sensor to check speed/load? It could just be a loose cable or sensor out of alignment.
Or maybe there is an out of range problem with the blowers, preventing the motor from speeding up - when it tries to, a sensor "sees" that something is blocked or loose or out of balance and won't let it get up there.
These are really just common sense, general problems - I don't know enough about your specific set-up to suggest more. But at least these will get you going. Oh, one thing which you should be careful of. If a mouse has chewed through a wire or one has come loose, there could be dangerous voltage levels exposed. A danger to you and the equipment.

 

[tolivac]

If I could remember correctly on reading some books on organ blower and regulator design-You may have a stuck regulator.Its a device that prevents the resevior bellows from being inflated to rapidly-causing damage to them.Or since the resevior won't inflate could a vental be stuck open?Ventals are devices-an air valve type device that allows the resevior to slowly deflate when the blower has been turned off.In the first the regulator may be stuck in a "low" position preventing the blower from going to a higher speed and fully inflating the bellows.also these devices are required from preventing the blower motor from being overloaded by running it without a load.If you try to run the blower disconnected from the rest of the air system be sure to "load" it by partially blocking the air intake-other wise you will overload the motor.Regulators work something like a window shade-when the blower is off and the resevior bellows empty-the air intake to the blower is cutoff by the window shade like regulator.As the blower is started and air pressure buiilds up-a small bellows is inflated to "raise" the regulator-thus allowing air into the blower.This device will also open and close partially as the organ is played providing constant air pressure.Just like the regulator on a regular shop air compressor.When you look at your organ air system see if you can spot the regulator-you should see a lever like device connected to a small bellows connected to the blower.You will need to see if the device moves freely and the regulator bellows is getting air from the blower.Hope this helps.Also the regulator can be connected to a switch that shifts the blower motor to a higher speed as the resevior bellows inflates.As one poster indicates be careful of the 220V in the blower system.Oh-is the motor single or three phase?It sounds like the motor isn't overloaded since no overload devices are tripping-like fuses blowing or circuit breakers being tripped.At least this is a good sign.In some systems the regulator may control the air going into the resevior bellows instead of the blower air intake.Oh-another thing-does your blower system have air filters on it something like on a furnace or air conditioner system-these may have to be replaced-they could be clogged cutting off the airflow to the system.If it has filters this would be the first thing to check.

 

[abcomatic]

Thanks Veg and Retro. He is being served papers tomorrow for a divorce and has been fired.lol Oh, you boys! I love it.
Panthera and Tolivac, Maybe I should call in an electrician? Tol, the system to which you refer about a chain and weight attatched to the regulator and then to the valve in the blower isn't used on this particular system.
The OrgoBlo (oh here we go Veg and Retro)was made by the Spencer Turbine company and was one of the first electric blowers used to blow organs using that idea. lol No, really, I'm not kidding.
My blower is a Miedinger made in Switzerland. I have checked the filter on the blower box and it is ok as is the air intake. I'm afraid if I start messing with this myself, I could be in for a real large charge! Thanks for you help. Gary

 

[tolivac]

Maybe you should contact a qualified pipe organ technician to check out your system.It would be worth the cost if you don't want to work on it yourself.Most cities have at least one or a few pipe organ techs that work on organs that are in the area-mostly churches.-then of course concert and music halls.They are often listed in the phone book.If you do elect to work on the system-be sure to cut the 220V power going to the blower system.Your breaker or fuse box should have the appropriate breaker or fuses marked so you can disconnect the power before working on the system.Good Luck!-a pipe organ in your home is a wonderful thing!Your own "DIY" organ concerts-the ultimate Hi-fi system.At one of the radio stations I worked at the owner had a pipe organ in his home-did a little work on it-thats how a learned a little how organs work.Oh yes-Spencer Turbine "Orgoblos"the most popular organ blower-too bad Spencer Turbine no longer makes them!They could still do good business-lots of pipe organs around!

 

[retroguy]

OrgoBlo? LOL

I'm sorry, but who NAMED that!? Is it any wonder I'm never more than a few steps from the gutter? =P

 

[abcomatic]

Hi Retro, lol, lol Isn't that the truth? Some of the names etc. that go with the organ are unreal. Stop names (fagatto), the parts of a pipe (toe, boot, lips, mouth)mmm? and the list goes on. I play on an organ regularly that has an Orgoblo from the 20's and I would swear each time I turn it on it sounds like a jet plane is coming out of the organ, and the list goes on. lol You guys are great,swell ( bad organ joke) Gary

 

[abcomatic]

HI everyone, All of the switching seems to be ok. I just had a new capacitor put in yesterday and still the same problem. I'll guess I will have to call the big guns in and get the guy from the shop to come down and see what is going on. I just wanted to report back as to the progress. Have fun, Gary

 

[toggleswitch]

Lights, Action, Camera!

Chronically underemployed?
Can he collect unemployment?
Vitamin "V" [The little blue pill.] Killing the market for fluffers.

 

[abcomatic]

Toggle, You are a riot! After church today, one of the the guys mentioned to me that it could be the brushes? What brushes? Painting, make-up, beats me! lol I'll keep you informed, all that wish to be anyway. Bye for now. Gary