How to Check Motor Start and Motor Run Capacitors

[@PlanoPatTX]

I've watched several videos on how to check the capacitor. I just want to let you know this made the most sense to me and I wanted to tell you good job.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Glad to help out! Thanks for Watching!!!

[@texascommtech]

Brother, I am a lifelong electronics tech, (46+ years), and I feel you did an outstanding job of explaining the basics of testing capacitors. Clear, simple, easy to understand; even the math. Great job. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Subbed, liked and highly recommended!

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Appreciate that very much! Also appreciate the subscribe, most of my videos are on small engine repair but I do some electrical videos every now and then (need to make some more haha) Thanks again, and thanks for watching!!!

[@Jmarty34]

texascommtech Q

[@503dcccccccccccc]

So nice to hear someone compliment instead of slam someone’s human traits. It’s refreshing

[@mcglonejoe4876]

@@503dcccccccccccc Yes nice to see some appreciation once in awhile findcomponents.net/

[@jollyscaria1922]

Effective capcity when connectedin parellel..=c1+c2=6+3=9mfd... efectived capacitey when connected in series =c1×c2/c1×c2=6x3/6+3=18/9=2mfd...

[@ideaguyinks]

It's about time that someone who knows what they are talking about made a video on this subject. You didn't use language that was only known to people in the trade, and you didn't make a 20 minute video with 5 minutes of information. There is so much bad info or incomplete info on the web. I just wanted to say thank you for making this video, it helped me fix my air compressor.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Appreciate that! Glad to help out, Thanks for Watching!!!

[@barsoom43]

Very clear and understandable explanation... You helped me a lot.. Thanks.

[@wjeffholley1]

Awesome! Thank you for a clear and simple explanation/tutorial. You saved me several hundred bucks on a motor I was gonna replace. A new $10 buck capacitor was all it needed. I'm not an electrician but I have a good respect for dangers of electricity and good common sense. All the other videos I watched on this subject were confusing and too complicated for a non electrician. They had lots of diagrams and technical symbols, frustrating as heck. Thanks again, this was extremely helpful.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome, its always the first thing to try. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@1899lpv]

Its nice to know what to do and what not to do. By my experiences, most of the time, I ended-up on the "what not to do " side. I, either got zapped or, the damn thing made a hell of a light and smoke show. After seeing this video, I feel more confident to try it again. Thanks for the useful tips. Thumbs up.

[@AlchemistLair]

Good info!! I've learned a lot about capacitors since two years ago when I dismantled a furnace motor and didn't have a clue about it. Thanks for sharing!!

[@twominds177]

Thank you for your video. It was helpful and allow me to diagnose my furnace blower problem and determine that the issue was a run capacitor and how to replace it. Appreciate you taking the time to educate the masses.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome! Glad to hear it helped with your problem. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@matthewkiefer6744]

You da man, I have a washing machine that the motor wont start unless I assist it and then it runs fine but gets a bit hot so I'm pulling the cap and checking it. Thank you so much for the time you took to help people I looked for days to find answers.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

haha i hear ya! Sounds like probably is the problem. Your welcome, thanks for watching!

[@matthewkiefer6744]

Turned out to be the timmer, it was all burnt up inside and contacts weren't making contact to the cap in spin but it worked in agatate. A video on how to test the timer would be real good.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Matthew Kiefer I hear ya, good that you got it working again, i would but I'm no expert on these, i've never actually worked on a timer on one. if i ever run into one i'll do a video-attempt haha

[@jeffstephan9958]

Thank you for the simple and informative capacitor testing vid.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome, Thanks for Watching!!!

[@davebubar1903]

Thanks for this information a very professional class done in laymen's terms so just about anybody listening and watching would understand and yes mine was the capacitor last week this guy who works on AC units told me it was the motor after replacing it it done the same thing called them up and they sent a different technician I explained in detail what he did he looked at me replaced the capacitor then left an hour later the first guy showed up handed me my money back for the motor the boss of the company made him do this which i personally thought was a good deal all the way around because it made him embarrassed to do a better job after that I looked up how to test them and thanks to you I can thanks again

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome! Thanks for Watching!!!

[@mbjohnmsshm]

Excellent video, straight to the point and informative.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Thanks, I try to keep videos simple as possible. Thanks for watching!!!

[@louisjanowski5200]

Nine times out of Ten your capacitor is puffed out and is bad. I replaced mine for $14.11 because it was more than 20 years old. AC works as NEW. I also replaced two 240 volt fuses that run the outside AC unit. These videos saved me time and money. AS a Reward I Paid MYSELF $ 500.00 For taking a moment to learn these basic techniques for repair. Thank You Louis. 6/30/2019.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Yep most common problem! Thanks for Watching!!!

[@kencalder9788]

THANKS FOR MAKING THIS VIDEO. LEARNED ALOT

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

KEN CALDER Your welcome, Thanks for Watching!!!

[@romeoison]

well! its a very good information for those motor technician who really don't about it.just keep it up& thanks a lot!

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome! I hope to do alot more videos this summer. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@brt-jn7kg]

Thank you for taking the time to make this. You made this where electrical idiots like me can understand this.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome! haha i hear ya, i try to keep things as simple but detailed as possible. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@brt-jn7kg]

fnaguitarplayer9 I figured out what was wrong. I bought a 42 inch shop fan for $30 that was not working. After watching video I checked the capacitor and it was bad but so was the cord leading to the motor. I think it grounded out destroyed the capacitor all in one shot. The reason that I'm an electrical idiot is because my father was electrocuted with 169000 Volts for 18 seconds on December 18th and 1973. Blew off both of his heels and burned in 95% as body third and fourth degree burns. he died 5 times in Parkland Hospital in Dallas but he made it. He worked for the company Texas Power and Light for another 32 years.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

I hear ya! That was a good buy even having to do that to it. I hear ya, daggone, he was extremely lucky! That is alot of power and live from it!

[@ralphmartini2863]

Tha Thanks 4 sharing your experience and knowledge. Appreciate it.

[@yachtwork]

Thanks for taking the time to pass along your knowlage.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome, thanks for watching!!!

[@propulsar]

Good, informative, and to the point.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

+propulsar Thanks for Watching!!!

[@13bravoredleg18]

I remember my dad handed me a capacitor off a old Ford Pickup and it shocked the piss out of me! Dad got a big laugh out of that! I learned something new that day!⚡️🔋💥😝

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

lol I hear ya! Thanks for Watching!

[@philliphall5198]

I did that at a cafe, she poured a pitcher of water on me two days later 😊

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

No, if you check a capacitor on ohm settings your only checking if it has a short inside which is very uncommon, you have to a meter that measures capacitance (uf, which is microfarads). You might be able to take it to a place that sales capacitors or a AC / HVAC repair shop and have them check it, but i'd be sure that you can see their meter, so you know they are trying to pull one over on you (saying its bad when its really good, just so you have to buy one haha) thanks for watching!

[@andrewnkwinika1604]

U really helped me brother,keep it up

[@mrsiamhue]

Thanks for you video to the point great job. Got a reel to reel motor running hot enough to cook eggs I'll check the cap. Thanks again. All the best Mick

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your Welcome! Heard that, yeah that would be the first thing to check. Thanks for Watching!

[@KAYNAT1]

Excellent job! I really needed this information and you delivered. Thanks for taking the time!!!

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Appreciate that! I hear ya, glad to help out! Thanks for Watching!!!

[@MrLarryQ]

Great video, helped diagnose my start capacitor issues. Thanks!

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

+MrLarryQ Appreciate that! Glad to help out! Thanks for Watching!!!

[@chriswest470]

outstanding video, clear and informative.Thank you so much for helping us out, God bless!

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

+Chris West Thanks, really appreciate that! I put alot of work into these videos, your welcome always glad to help out! Thanks for Watching!!!

[@charlesmasey6815]

thanks.... great video to learn by.. need more like this. no bla-bla-bla's. just to the point

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome! Appreciate that, I try to stay focused on the topic, sometimes i might get sidetracked haha Thanks for Watching!!!

[@scottbaker4887]

Awesome video, very helpful and informative, Thanks much!

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

+scott baker Appreciate that! Your welcome, glad to help out, Thanks for Watching!!!

[@MrGameengineer]

Thanks for the info! Our 20 year old furnace blower finally stopped running. I figured the hum and motor requiring a hand kick start to spin up that the cap was bad. Ours uses a GE 97F9003 12.5uf 370 +-6%. Found a replacement for about $10 but its going to be hot in the next few days so by executive order (wife) I paid extra for expediting.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome! Probably is the capacitor, if it still does it with the new capacitor then its the starting windings, but its usually the capacitor. I hear ya! Thats not a bad price. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@MrGameengineer]

fnaguitarplayer9 As a backup I called a local Air and heating Co. who quoted me ... wait for it.... $98 for the part and $86 to put it in. How can they sleep knowing they are jacking customers.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

It doesn't surprise me, they charge crazy prices because they know people have to have it. I don't either!

[@MrGameengineer]

Reporting back after receiving the new cap. It worked perfectly! I was a little apprehensive that the motor windings might have fried but the blower seems to be spinning at a normal speed. Thanks again!

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Good to hear! Thanks for letting me know! Sometimes they do sometimes they don't, its always the best thing to try first, your welcome!

[@zainshahee]

3:07 check my multimeters to see if they are able to give capacitor readings

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

True, not all will do it. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@jajaid6]

great instruction in this video,like all your videos,i really enjoyed it.thanks for the info!!

[@axxxxman]

This video helped me troubleshoot a bad capacitor similar to the blower unit in the video, I got a brand new replacement for 5 dollars on amazon. unfortunatly after about 45min the blower stopped kicking on while the outdoor unit was running. I guess I have a bad motor.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

I hear ya! Thats a good price. What probably happened is after a long time of using a weak capacitor (which usually shows no signs) it damaged the motor. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@axxxxman]

Actually, I found the relay board to be the culperit. 28 bucks on amazon and it is running fine the last few days.

[@RobertSmith-fe3fc]

very helpful. thank you!!

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

your welcome, thanks for watching!

[@JasonSmith-qx3zh]

Lord took care of u that day truly. 😇 Thanks for a great video. Never heard the Plus or minus explain thanks again.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

yep! Your welcome, glad to help out! The + / - is often overlooked, buts its really important. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@patronsindycar]

Great video. Very well done thank you

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Appreciate that! Your welcome, Thanks for Watching!!!

[@nikitahutchinson4814]

awesome video great info well presented thanks for your work

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Nikita Hutchinson Appreciate that, your welcome, thanks for watching!!!

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Thanks! heard that! Thats the best way to learn to stuff, learn by doing. thanks for watching!

[@leawood1]

Thanks man! Great video. Helped me out a lot

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome! Thanks for Watching!!!

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

yepp, your right there! haha i know what you mean, seems like make more mistakes than i do things right, but like that old saying, you learn by your mistakes. Just make sure your power is off, and short the capacitor to make sure there's no charge on it. your welcome, appreciate the like! thanks for watching!!!

[@robviolin1]

Fantastic , thanks

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

+robviolin1 Your welcome, thanks for watching!!!

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

thanks, glad you like them! thanks for watching!

[@Jim-ie6uf]

Very well done and great info

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome, Thanks for Watching!!!

[@lorigrubbs7324]

Yes, great video. Even the frogs were impressed!

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

+Lori Grubbs Thanks, appreciate that! haha oh yeah, the good ole frogs! Thanks for Watching!!!

[@brianminkc]

dude your problem is you have a BULLFROG in your furnace.

[@johnmathias9137]

He's got a whole pond full of them outside.

[@pamelachapman5362]

Explained thoroughly!

[@alanw64]

Great info -- thank you for sharing!

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome, Thanks for Watching!!!

[@brettmullins751]

Great video.

[@lerch122]

thanks for the info,paul

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

your welcome, Thanks for Watching!!!

[@eugeneprevo7943]

nicely done, thank you

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome, Thanks for Watching!!!

[@old64goat]

Good info, I never thought of a motor starting capacitor reading a little high could be bad, reading low I can understand, but I am no expert on motor capacitors. BTW, What is that sound in the background? It sounds like someone is sharping a blade on a stone.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Yeah to high is just as bad as to low. I agree, you would think that just to low would be what you need to worry about. haha its actually a bunch of frogs outside haha every summer they carry on like that haha thanks for watching!

[@persian_warrior1]

Thank you 👍🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👍🏼

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome, Thanks for Watching!!!

[@chriscraft77022]

ok, you earned a sub.. i have 1 question.. can the start windings burn up? they dont have any resistance.. motor hums.. i give it a spin by hand and it runs fine.. capacitor just checked out OK.....

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Appreciate the sub! yes, that is very possible thats wahts wrong, some motor will have a centrifugal switch to turn the starting windings off, that may be bad to. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@Xxxcappie23]

How can you tell the terminals apart. Do they have polarity or not ?

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

No, they do not have capacitors only electric motors do, now on older engines they have points and condensor, which is a capacitor, but it don't make one run hot. what it could be is, first check the cooling fins under the flywheel cover, alot of times they will clog up with grass and prevent the motor from cooling, it may be running to lean, it is probably one of those things wrong. thanks for watching!

[@MrUbiquitousTech]

Good info, thanks!

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

ShysterLawyer Your welcome! Thanks for Watching!!!

[@FreshtexBlackman]

Good video but i must ask are those capacitors hard drives? cause i'm sure i heard you say "Get your information off it" @ 5:14 lol...

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Thanks! hahaha Thanks for Watching!!!

[@paulsoniac]

Thanks for sharing this wonderful presentation. I'm impressed with your knowledge and simplicity to teach. This leads me to ask you a question concerning the following problem. I bought one of those el-cheapo China grinders, and it takes forever to reach the top speed; besides making a humming sound like if it was going to burn up before it can get to working speed. Now, is it possible to add, like a start capacitor to this bench grinder motor? I just happen to own another grinder with 3/4 hp motor that looks identical to the new one, but with the difference that it starts much faster and also makes some clicking sound at the starting and the cut-off time (?) I'm assuming is because my old one has a starting capacitor, and this is the reason for my question. I have the feeling it can be done. Although I'm not including parameters, because I don't want to give you the impression of taking advantage of you but certainly hoping you could help me. Thank you for any information.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

I don't think you can add one to one thats not designed to have it, sounds like the starting windings are weak. That clicking sound is a centrifugal switch that engages and disengages the starting windings at a certain rpm. It might just be a weak or bad motor on the new grinder, its hard to say for sure. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@gerardobermudo5950]

thanks..very usefully to know about capacitor is good or bad..

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome, thanks for watching!!!

[@steelar]

Good basics. Thx

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

steelar Your welcome, thanks for watching!

[@michaeltrek520]

Hello. Thank you for the great video. My interest today is I have motor that is making a "buzzing" sound. At the electric motor repair place, the motor (actually from my furnace, the 'flow inducer motor' that has a fan assemble too) was fine running on the work bench, it did not make noise or heat up. Back at home, reinstalled, after ten minutes it started making the noise and getting hot (but nothing melting). Could a bad run capacitor cause the motor to make this noise? (motor: 115V 0.75A 3450 RPM Thermally Protected)

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

+Michael M Your welcome! yes, it is possible for the capacitor to cause that, usually it just causes them to heat up but a sound is possible, it would be the first thing to try, but it could be the motor is bad to, the windings going out, but i'd check the capacitor first. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@hosseinebrahimi3451]

i always wondered do capacitors read different capacities when tested with different voltages. like if a capacitor is gonna work under 220v ac it's capacity must be tested with 220 volts to show correct value?

[@timothynichols9307]

Great video!

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Timothy Nichols Thanks for Watching!!!

[@matthewkiefer6744]

may add something to this. A safer way to discharge a cap is with a light bulb. I have seen them explode shorting them out. Thanks again.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

good advice, thanks for watching!

[@JDT738126]

Matthew Kiefer hey serious question, what if the volts are very high like the capacitor on this video? do you think the high voltage would blow a 60v incandescent bulb? I am asking since I am studying controls

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Yeah if its a 120 volt bulb you wouldn't want much more than on it, a resistor might be best for higher voltage capacitors, value would depend on voltage to keep from burning it up. to big and it will take forever to drain. to small and it will heat up quick. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@Juststuff103]

Oh hell yeah !!!! very safe

[@JDT738126]

great video

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Thanks for Watching!!!

[@HeyHeyDarlaMaye]

If it is a 3-pronged capacitor, which two prongs do you use to test the microfares or does it matter?

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Da1 Gooch That sounds like its a dual capacitor, meaning 2 capacitors inside the can, with a shared lug, which should be the middle, if it is, check between outer lug and middle, and the other out lug and the middle. But both might read different if it had different ratings for each side. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@nastaranazimi6587]

thanks very nice!

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome, Thanks for Watching!!!

[@robviolin1]

Can you check a capacitor using an muti tester only has ohms, ac, dc, and a continuity reader. My tester does not have a UF option on it?

[@jimcavv]

Good job, thank you. Starting to think an incorrect cap. was used before me and ruined motor.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome! That is possible! Thanks for Watching!!!

[@jameswest3890]

Hi just wondering if you can't match the voltage of the old capacitor how close do you need to be...is higher better? And do the 50hz or 60hz matter? ......Thanks

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Hi. Yeah you would want to go with a higher voltage rating, general rule of thumb with motor capacitors (not always true) is it should be 3 X voltage of motor. But it just depends on the applications. Start capacitors can be different. But higher voltage rating is always better. And the 50/60HZ is important as well, but some will work with either, i've seen alot rated for both. your welcome, thanks for watching!!!

[@jameswest3890]

fnaguitarplayer9 Thank you.....trying to fix a 12in disk sander motor not running up to speed, no burnt smell so I hope it's just the capacitor.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

James West your welcome! I hear ya, hopefully that is all it is.

[@bignycatx]

Thanks, blower was humming (and not running) for about 15 minutes before I realized there was a problem, that and the heat building up in the house. Of course all the parts stores are closed but I was able to get it running by giving the squirrel cage a hand start. I'll get another cap tomorrow when they open. Even though the blower is now running (with my hand start method) I can still hear a hum that I'm sure was not there before. I'll keep an eye on the motor cause it might be next thing to go. Thanks again...

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Hopefully it didn't damage the windings sitting there that long, sometimes they will make noise with a bad cap when running, but yeah i'd say get a new cap and see what happens. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@bignycatx]

Got new cap ($10.22), works fine now and quiet as usual. The old cap had no reading and had started bulging out at the top. Thanks for affirming my initial conclusion of a bad cap. Wonder how much it would have cost for a company to out and fix it.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Thats not a bad price at all. oh wow, good thing it didn't blow. Its hard to say, probably at least 100-200 dollars. Glad it fixed it!

[@503dcccccccccccc]

Thank you! I hope that is it

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome, pretty common problem. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@MAKAWELI187]

Thx for info

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome, Thanks for Watching!!!

[@gerardolasvegasable]

For one side you recomended to replace the bad capacitors and your blower motor has a bad capactor and still using it . It this is an incongruence or not?

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Yes it is, but this blower is used as a fan in the garage and is not used very much at all, so it wasn't a big concern to me, if its was on a furnace that was used it would be different, it wasn't to much out of spec. for what its going to be used for. Thanks for Watching!

[@SDsailor7]

Hi there fnaguitarplayer, i have a 1.5 uf +10%-5% 250 v motor run capacitor and it went bad could i buy a 2.0 uf 25v or 370 capacitor and use it? or will it damage the motor? Thank you, very informative video Rob

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Rob Hernandez I think thats to much of a difference to be honest with you, I'd be afraid it might damage the motor, that would be a 25% difference compared to the original one. Probably be better off finding the exact replacement for it. your welcome! thanks for watching!!!

[@SDsailor7]

fnaguitarplayer9 Thank you for the response, i did find the right one.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

your welcome!

[@Bowtie41]

Do you have a video for,or could you send me,a diagram(including motor wire colors) of how you have the switch wired to the motor to get different speeds?I had a similar blower given to me that was wired up for 1 speed and no switch.Thank You

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

I don't have a video on it, but most motors have a seperate wire for each speed, like a 4 speed one will have 4 "hot" wires and 1 neutral wire, connect the neutral to white, then connect the hot to one of the 4 speed wires, if your using a switch like i did, pick out which 2 speeds you want ( i sued Hight and medium low) tape off the unused wires, connect power to the middle lug on the switch, then each speed wire connects to the top and bottom screws/lugs, this gives you middle off, then high up and low down. hope this makes sense! Thanks for Watching!!!

[@zedac0sta]

So the only way to bleed/short the voltage before touching a capacitor is to connect a conductor to both terminals? Thanks.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

zedac0sta yes, it does have to be a screw driver, some people will use a little test cable (miniature jumper cable) to short it out, some capacitors will have a resistor across the terminals so every time power is shut off it will automatically discharge, but that is rare, usually find that on high voltage applications like the capacitors in microwaves. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@jrperrotta]

I have a three wire motor with no name plate on it. I know it needs a capacitor to start.It just hums when energized. Is there an easy way to find out if it needs a Run or Start capacitor and of coarse how would I be able to determine the capacitance size?

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Thats going to be very hard to figure out, I don't really know of anyway right off hand to figure it out, if you put the wrong capacitor on it, it can burn it up, or damage the windings, you might have to take it to a motor shop and see if they at least figure what model/make it is and go from there, sorry i couldn't help out more! Thanks for Watching!!!

[@hallaabin5637]

Terima kasih banyak .....

[@julesblacha5750]

good job thanks

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Thanks for Watching!!!

[@anthonymarino4260]

thanks it help a lot

[@alchemy1]

You better believe it. Capacitors are pretty powerful. It can be like lightening with a piercing sound that you won't be able to ignore, assuming you survived that one.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Yes they are! Thanks for Watching!!!

[@efrensaclolo7021]

My A C blower capacitor 10 uf 370 volts stop working but I put 50 uf 370/440 come to my surprise it is working so the higher uf will run the motor but if I put lower uf will probably not work right?

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

If the capacitance isn't right it can make it draw more amperage or heat up, may work in a pinch but can cause damage over time. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@tonyrodeo426]

hi my old motor has red,black,and blue wire. the new one has red,black,blue and white how would I put the white one...

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

+tonyrodeo426 I'd try to find a diagram of it, it might just be a neutral or ground, hard to say right off hand though. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@artinabraham7659]

Thank you

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome, Thanks for Watching!!!

[@Buttscum]

my furnace recently quit. the gas still lights up but the motor isn't blowing anymore. i noticed before it stopped, i could smell something in-between burnt plastic and cardboard in the air vents so i'm not sure if it's the motor or perhaps the capacitor.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

that sounds like the motor overheated, it has a very distinct smell, almost smells like burnt cloth, but it could be that, a capacitor may have blown or heated up or even a circuit board burnt out, hard to say. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@Buttscum]

well, it turned out it was a circuit board and not a capacitor or motor after all. though i wish it had been a capacitor- that woulda been cheaper.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

filthy sanchez I kind of thought it was by how you described the smell. oh yeah, those circuit boards are really expensive.

[@corrman2]

My AC fan wouldn't run and I pushed the fan to get it going, then hit the switch and it start running fine. That tells me the start capacitor must be bad. I pulled what it appeared to be the starting capacitor but on the can it says "running capacitor" 10µF 370V. Which is in line with the capacitor you were talking on the video, except it says Running capacitor rather than Starting Capacitor. Did someone use the wrong part? (I had a problem a couple of years ago and a tech came out to fix it).

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Its what i call a start/run capacitor meaning it does both things, it helps it start up and acts a run capacitor after it comes up to speed. I have another video showing what it does unhooked called, interesting fact about capacitor start induction motors. I would suggest running the model number of it and make sure its what its supposed to have in it, if so that almost has to be the problem with it. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@greggrimes1954]

My furnace blower starts up when it should but sometimes shuts off while burner is still on. It will either come back on within a minute or two, or if not the high limit trips and shuts everything down. I replaced the control board but that didn't fix it. Any ideas to help me troubleshoot? My meter doesn't have MFD, so I'll have to get a new one to check the blower motor capacitor, but is that even a potential cause of this issue?

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

That sounds like the motor may be overheating, some motors will have a thermal shutdown in case it overheats, and the capacitor could be the cause for it overheating, the blower in the video did that, i was running it for a while and started smelling something hot, a hot motor has a very distinct smell, and i touched the capacitor and it was hot and swelling, about ready to blow haha Its probably the capacitor, i'd check that first, its the cheapest thing to replace and it will cause a motor to overheat. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@greggrimes1954]

fnaguitarplayer9 Well I replaced the capacitor because, as you said, it was a cheap item, but unfortunately that was not the culprit. If you have any other suggestions, let me know!

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

I would check the thermostat that would detect if the motor is heating up, it could be bad, or it may be the motor itself, a old motor can overheat and shut down. I thought for sure it was the capacitor. It might be best to have someone look at it (HVAC company) to rule out a bad motor, because that will be expensive if thats what it is.

[@athanasiosdaoutis4673]

IS IT NORMAL WHEN A SINGLE PHASE MOTOR RUNNING THE CAPACITORS TO BE HOT OR THEY HAVE TO BE COLD NORMAL

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

They should not get hot, warm is normal but not hot. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@levelupbeauties3632]

My husband cannot find the capacitor on our fan blower motor. It's not strapped to the outside. Where could it be???

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Some don't even have it, trace all the wires from the motor, the wires feeding the capacitor are usually brown, but not always, they may have it where the sequencers (if its electric furnace) or where the circuit board is at in gas furnaces, and as i said don't even have them, and if thats the case the only option is to replace the motor if its not working or not starting. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@littlesweets3390]

I am testing the run capacitor on my washing machine..the weird thing is,one or 2 times I get a reading..then I will try a couple of times and get nothing at all...I am using a fluke "auto reader" meter..I haven't had any issues testing other things with it

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

I'm not sure what would cause that, unless like Nici said it could be if the leads were swapped around it may be trying to discharge the cap from where it was tested before or something. thanks for watching!!!

[@serrilu6250]

some old capacitors have PCBs in them; so when u say throw away keep that in mind.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

+Serri lu Yeah, its hard to say which ones do or don't. Just treat them all the same! Thanks for Watching!!!

[@pyotyrprepka6422]

That higher value is not a serious issue. In the old days they could be +/- 20% new from the factory and would work just fine. The capacitance usually will go lower with age not higher. The reading may be higher due to high resistance. The capacitor is used to create a phase difference between the windings to cause it to rotate. This is a good basic check. Typically these days, new out of the box is usually very close to exactly what the value on the box is and the USA made ones are almost spot on. The capacitors are best tested with the current and voltage method in circuit but is not safe for novices as the capacitor voltages are higher than the input line and can be very deadly.

[@markhenry7862]

Good information - Helped my understanding greatly thank you. Off subject, I'm very surprised you have a conductive strip along the front edge of your work bench. I would be extra cautious with that in place as one slip up and it could go live when working with electrical projects. Kind regards.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Your welcome! That is true, your the first person to mention that, truth is, i rarely work on anything electrical on the bench, I mainly work on small engines and mechanical stuff, but yes you are correct it isn't safe at all for working with the electricity. Same goes for the vice mounted (off camera) on the bench, that could be dangerous too. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@jamiebuckley1769]

hey fnag wonder if you could shed some light here. i have a problem with my 1 year old 14x40 metal lathe. i was running the lathe at 1100 rpm on a 3hp single phace 220 volt motor and accidentley moved the rotation lever too far and changed motor direction at 1100 rpm and saw a flash or spark comming from the motor. motor does not work lathe still has all good 220 power to it. did i blow the capacitors you think. just looking 4 some ideas b4 i take the motor out tommorrow. thanks any help would be appreciated.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Hey. It may have been a capacitor or it could have been the winding itself burnt in to. Hopefully it was just the capacitor, then you can change it for way less then a new motor. You would think it would have a interlock so that can't happen. Another thing i just thought of, some motors and transformers too have a inline fuse link in the winding, that may have been it. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@jamesrockford5145]

nice

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Thanks for Watching!!!

[@jamesrockford5145]

I may have to watch a couple more times before it will sink in, :-)

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

I hear ya! It will be here! Thanks for Watching!!!

[@dansparks29]

I'm hoping capacitor replacement does the job for me. Going to replace tomorrow. Will let you all know what happens.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Heard that, sounds good! Thanks for Watching!!!

[@efrensaclolo7021]

Also motor will not burn out if it has thermal protection like my pool pump,it stop itself during a capacitor failure.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Some older motors may not have that though, it should but they may not. Thanks for Watching!!!

[@andreaschristodoulou4274]

Hey you just throw away capacitors that they were stll working even with 9.08uF reading.In theory it maybe right....but in practice it WILL still more to run.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

+Andreas Christodoulou I didn't throw it away, i put it up as a spare, just trying to prolong the life of the motor, I did throw the one away that came off the blower i showed in the video, it almost blew up!! Thanks for Watching!!!

[@kylenorman1354]

Cap's are CHEAP! Buy new with cash at a local A/C supply. Online used is always a rip.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Kyle Norman Yep, much better off buying a brand new one, and it really isn't that much more. But still it was better than what i had before haha Thanks for Watching!!!

[@kylenorman1354]

fnaguitarplayer9 All interested should Google Amrad Engineering. Their Turbos are a quick test/fix/go until OEM parts are gotten.

[@fnaguitarplayer9]

Kyle Norman Will keep that in mind!