Run Capacitor - A.O. Smith PHPT-60 Service Handbook

If the compressor is not operating or is not operating
correctly, the run capacitor may be the cause and
should be checked.
A bad capacitor will typically be either shorted or open.
Visually inspect the body of the capacitor; look for any
sign of the housing bulging, splitting or leaking fl uid.
Replace the capacitor if there is any sign of physical
damage. Use a capacitance meter to measure the
capacitance of the capacitor. If it measures 25uF
±5%, it is good. If the value is outside this tolerance,
the capacitor is bad and should be replaced. If a
capacitance meter is not available, use an Ohm
meter to check the condition of the capacitor. Place
one meter lead on each of the capacitor terminals. If
the resistance value is increasing or decreasing, this
indicates it is charging or discharging and that the
capacitor is probably good. If the resistance is infi nite,
it shows the capacitor is open or the resistance is
steady, that the capacitor is partly shorted. In either
case, the run capacitor should be replaced with a unit
with the same specifi cations and dimensions.
Figure 17
COMPR.
MOTOR
S
Checking the Run Capacitor
THERMAL PROTECTOR
C
AUX. MAIN
R
Figure 16

RUN CAPACITOR

26
Capacitor
Terminals