Electric Motor Start Capacitor Test

One often used method is the split phase motors.

Electric motor start capacitor test.

How to test an electric motor capacitor. 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. Replace the capacitor if it fails the test again.

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. Capacitors are metal tubes that store an electric charge usually found near a motor in the appliance. 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.

Retest the capacitor with the meter. A start capacitor is only used in the motor circuit for a second or two when it first starts to turn. 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. Use needle nose pliers with an insulated handle to remove wires.

Many household appliances have an electric motor start capacitor and when this wears out the motor doesn t have enough energy to cycle on. If it stays shorted or does not rise there is probably an issue with the capacitor and may need to be replaced. 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. Locate the capacitor inside your appliance.

A bad motor capacitor may cause starting problems or could shut off the motor while running. Once the motor is up to speed the start capacitor disconnects and is not used again until the next time the motor starts. 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. 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.

Use a screwdriver to open your machine and locate the capacitor. This one covers testing of the start capacitor. Motor capacitors store electrical energy for the motor to use. Another method is the capacitor start induction run motors.