Electric Motor Start Capacitor Test

This article series gives electric motor start run capacitor and hard.

Electric motor start capacitor test. An electric motor capacitor is a device that first stores then releases an electrical charge to help start an electrical motor starting capacitor or to keep it spinning run capacitor the electrical charge or potential energy stored in the capacitor is used to give a power boost to the motor to help it overcome inertia to start rotating. Another method is the capacitor start induction run motors. If it stays shorted or does not rise there is probably an issue with the capacitor and may need to be replaced. The single phase induction motor can be made to be self starting in numerous ways.

One often used method is the split phase motors. This video is part of the heating and cooling series of training videos made to accompany my websites. Placing the test probes on the capacitor terminals the resistance should start low and gradually increase as the small voltage supplied by the meter s battery gradually charges the capacitor. We know about the activity of a capacitor in a pure a c.

Motor capacitors store electrical energy for the motor to use. How to test an electric motor capacitor. A start capacitor is only used in the motor circuit for a second or two when it first starts to turn. Once the motor is up to speed the start capacitor disconnects and is not used again until the next time the motor starts.

Use needle nose pliers with an insulated handle to remove wires. This one covers testing of the start capacitor. Locate the capacitor inside your appliance. A bad motor capacitor may cause starting problems or could shut off the motor while running.

Many household appliances have an electric motor start capacitor and when this wears out the motor doesn t have enough energy to cycle on. You can check to see whether a capacitor is good or bad using an ohm meter but first you have to remove the capacitor from the circuit and discharge it. This article gives a description of electric motor capacitor test procedures to determine if a capcitor is damaged or working normally test procedures to measure the capactor s capacitance or microfarads mfd or uf to determine if it is working within its rated capacitance range. If the capacitor does not test as described above short out the capacitor leads one more time in case residual voltage is in the capacitor.

Replace the capacitor if it fails the test again. A start capacitor is used to give a motor an extra electrical push to start it turning. The higher the capacitance of the capacitor the more energy it can store. A damaged or burnt out capacitor may hold only a fraction of the energy needed for the motor if its capacitance is low.