How To Test An Electric Motor Starter Capacitor

Use a screwdriver to open your machine and locate the capacitor.

How to test an electric motor starter capacitor.

This one covers testing of the start capacitor. 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. We know about the activity of a capacitor in a pure a c. How to test an electric motor capacitor.

One often used method is the split phase motors. Another method is the capacitor start induction run motors. Use needle nose pliers with an insulated handle to remove wires. A damaged or burnt out capacitor may hold only a fraction of the energy needed for the motor if its capacitance is low.

Capacitors are metal tubes that store an electric charge usually found near a motor in the appliance. This video is part of the heating and cooling series of training videos made to accompany my websites. A start capacitor is only used in the motor circuit for a second or two when it first starts to turn. A bad motor capacitor may cause starting problems or could shut off the motor while running.

Replace the capacitor if it fails the test again. 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. Motor capacitors store electrical energy for the motor to use.

Retest the capacitor with the meter. 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. The single phase induction motor can be made to be self starting in numerous ways. A start capacitor is used to give a motor an extra electrical push to start it turning.