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Electric Motor Capacitor

Joined
11 Feb 2010
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Location
Dorset
Country
United Kingdom
Can anyone tell me what function the capacitor connected to an electric motor performs? I have an ALKO garden shredder which runs forward or backward - apparently randomly on switch on and I am guessing the problem could be with the capacitor. It is single phase, 1100watts. Cheers
 
The are several different types of single phase motor. If yours only has one capacitor then it is likely to be a PSC type (Permanent split capacitor). This has two separate windings spaced 90 degrees apart with a run capacitor connected in series with the start winding. If there is a break in the start winding (or the capacitor is defective) the motor will not start loaded. However it may start unloaded. But then it will tend to start randomly in either direction (these are typical symptoms of this type of fault). These motors are easily reversed via a simple switch.
Read more http://neilorme.com/psc_motor.shtml
 
Thanks very much Zipper. I think you may have the answer I need. I was not totally honest. I got this shredder as a dump and realised from what little info I had that there should have been a capacitor in circuit but did not why. I think I can move forward now. Thanks again.
 

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