How Do You Test An Electric Motor Capacitor

You can do this test with a multimeter if you have a capacitance meter or you have a multimeter with a feature to test the capacitance.

How do you test an electric motor capacitor. Use needle nose pliers with an insulated handle to remove wires. 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. 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. A bad motor capacitor may cause starting problems or could shut off the motor while running.

Retest the capacitor with the meter. Replace the capacitor if it fails the test again. To this test rotate the multimeter knob to the capacitance mode. Check the start or run capacitor used for starting or running some motors if equipped.

It should give you a digital reading ideally within 6 percent of the manufacturer specifications for the capacitor. Beyond just issues with the capacitor s multimeter readings it s possible to observe problems with the unit visually. This article series gives electric motor start run capacitor and hard. The cover must be removed to access the capacitor for inspection and testing.

Most capacitors are protected from damage by a metal cover on the exterior of the motor. Also this method is good to test the tiny capacitors as well. How to test an electric motor capacitor. Many household appliances have an electric motor start capacitor and when this wears out the motor doesn t have enough energy to cycle on.

Do not touch an electric motor capacitor nor any other. Use a screwdriver to open your machine and locate the capacitor. As a general rule of thumb electric motor start capacitors can be replaced with a micro farad or µf or mfd rating equal to or up to 20 higher µf than the original capacitor serving the motor on the replacement capacitor the voltage rating must be equal to or greater than the original. The higher the capacitance of the capacitor the more energy it can store.

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. Notes to the tables above. Motor capacitors store electrical energy for the motor to use.