Tumble Dryer Capacitor - 2 or 4 terminals?

[krazykev]

Hi all,

I am replacing a tumble dryer capacitor. The capacitor is definitely at fault.

I have removed the original and it has 2 terminals. There were actually four wires to be removed, 2 pairs, each pair connected to 1 terminal (presumable a cheap way of mass producing the various models with 90% of the parts in common).

Can I replace the original 2 terminal capacitor with a 4 terminal capacitor (matching the pairs of wires and pairs of terminals corectly), or is a 4 terminal capacitor completely different? What is the difference?

Hope someone can help - haven't found much on these while searching away.

 

[rocks1]

Yes you can replace it with a 4 way one.

 

[krazykev]

Excellent - thank you. Do you know the difference. Would an 8uF capacitor with 4 terminals be 2 4uF capcacitors in parallel?

 

[rocks1]

No 8 uf is 8 not half. Most dryers work on 7. 8 just gives it a better kick. All caps do is store the power to kick start the motor.

 

[krazykev]

Hi,

yes I know 8uf is 8uf. Thats why I'm wondering if a 4 terminal capacitor is internally two 4uF capacitor, 4uF + 4uF being 8uF. I'm trying to work out why some capacitors have four terminals and others 2. Must be something to do with the internals. That or 4 terminal caps are used when you need a higher frequency discharge i.e. a drum that changes direction?

 

[rocks1]

IT depends on the motor windings. Some Use 2 , some have a step motor , I don't know of a dryer that goes one way only. Both ways means anti crease.

 

[krazykev]

More to these tumble dryers than I thought - I just remember my really old dryer going only way. I guess all the modern ways change direction now. I was reminiscing back in the day of reading Horrowitz and Hill the Art of Electronics.

Thanks for your help - will whack a 4 terminal capacitor in as these seem more readily available as universal spares than 2 terminal capacitors.