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#164490 06/04/07 06:51 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 71
S
Member
A friend of mine called me, asking me why his customer's pool pump capacitor keeps going bad every 3 to 6 months. I told him that it was possibly a surge or a loose return path. I haven't come across this myself.

Any ideas?

Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 806
N
Member
Check the centrifugal switch for binding or welded contacts.

If the cap doesn't get switched out of the circuit once the motor is up to speed, it will burn up quickly.

Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 9,794
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G
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Also check the centrifugal actuator for the switch, If that binds up it won't open the switch.


Greg Fretwell
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 866
Likes: 4
R
Member
And check the voltage rating of the capacitor too. To be on the safe side it should be about 1.5 times the nominal mains voltage.
For 230 Volts a 400 V cap.
For 120 Volts a 200 or 250 V cap.


The product of rotation, excitation and flux produces electricty.
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 55
W
Member
Is this a PSC motor? The capacitor would remain in the circuit. Could low voltage cause excessive current draw and wear out the capacitor sooner?


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