Electric Motor Start Capacitor Test

A start capacitor is only used in the motor circuit for a second or two when it first starts to turn.

Electric motor start capacitor test.

The higher the capacitance of the capacitor the more energy it can store. One often used method is the split phase motors. 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.

Many household appliances have an electric motor start capacitor and when this wears out the motor doesn t have enough energy to cycle on. This one covers testing of the start capacitor. 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. 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.

If it stays shorted or does not rise there is probably an issue with the capacitor and may need to be replaced. Use needle nose pliers with an insulated handle to remove wires. A start capacitor is used to give a motor an extra electrical push to start it turning. A bad motor capacitor may cause starting problems or could shut off the motor while running.

Motor capacitors store electrical energy for the motor to use. The single phase induction motor can be made to be self starting in numerous ways. 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. Once the motor is up to speed the start capacitor disconnects and is not used again until the next time the motor starts.

This article series gives electric motor start run capacitor and hard. A damaged or burnt out capacitor may hold only a fraction of the energy needed for the motor if its capacitance is low. How to test an electric motor capacitor. Capacitors are metal tubes that store an electric charge usually found near a motor in the appliance.

Locate the capacitor inside your appliance. Retest the capacitor with the meter. Use a screwdriver to open your machine and locate the capacitor. Replace the capacitor if it fails the test again.