Pool Motor Capacitor Test

A capacitor consists of two metal parallel plates encased within a plastic exterior.

Pool motor capacitor test. Capacitors are labeled with what microfarad value abbreviated mfd or uf that they should be. Symptoms of a bad capacitor. A failed capacitor will prevent the motor from turning over. The unit of capacitance is microfarad.

53 0 55 oz 297 69 297 69. Most multimeters don t have this function though but you can still test a capacitor using the voltmeter or ohm meter setting. Is your pool pump motor humming but not turning on. Set the meter for capacitance and touch the leads to the terminals.

Testing a pool pump s capacitor if your pool pump is not starting but instead gives a hum or a nnngh type of sound you may have a capacitor problem. You can test your capacitor using a high quality electrical meter. This sound will usually continue until the circuit breaker trips. Most pool motors require extra torque to get the motor up to speed.

The start capacitor is switched into the the motor s winding circuits on start up to help the motor turn over and come up to speed. If the numbers are off by more than 10 points the capacitor is bad. Check the digital display to see if the number comes close to the rating shown on the capacitor. A start capacitor and a run capacitor.

Either lead will work on either terminal. Capacitors can be tested for capacitance or available starting power by using a multimeter set to the highest level for ohms. Turn off the power to the motor then disconnect it from the power source. Capacitor types a pool pump can have two types of capacitors.

Some multimeters measure capacitance directly by supplying a voltage across a capacitor and measuring the discharge current. Replace your pool pump capacitor with an exact match to the mfd number on the capacitor. Test any capacitor with a digital multimeter that has a capacitance setting. Capacitance is measured in microfarads.

If you suspect the capacitor is dead conducting an ohm meter test is the easiest way to find out. If unreadable multiply motor label hp x sf x 75 to approximate.