Rewiring Motor

[Edward Weingarden]

I have access to a medical grade laminar flow hood. My plan is to use it when I apply spray finish to my woodturnings. Upon reading about the unit I learned that the airflow is opposite to what I need; the squirrel cage fan draws in air from the room thru filters at the top, and blows it out the front of the hood. Thus, the over-spray would land on me. Does anyone know if the motor can be rewired to spin in the opposite direction so that the airflow is in thru the front and out the top after passing thru the filters. Thanks.

[Frank Pratt]

That really depends on the kind of motor. Most single phase induction motors can be reversed by switching the polarity of the start winding. But that won't help at all here. Reversing the rotation of a squirrel cage blower will not reverse the flow, just reduce greatly. You'd have to re-engineer the entire airflow to make it work.

[Edward Weingarden]

Well that's good to know, but disappointing nonetheless. Thanks Frank.