Does a CAPACITOR Control Electrical Current to the Motor? Installing Wrong Size MFD to Test!

In this HVAC Training Video, I Show if a Capacitor Really Does Control the Electrical Current to the Fan and Compressor Motors! I Measure the Electrical Current, Voltage, and Capacitance in MFD with a Multimeter After Installing Various Sized Capacitors! Supervision is needed by a licensed HVACR Tech while performing tasks as Experience and Apprenticeship garners Wisdom and Safety.

Our Tools!

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Our Related Videos

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Our HVACR Educational Books, E-Books, Workbooks, Cards, Posters, and PowerPoints:

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Our HVACR Online Resources!

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Tools Used in Our Videos!

Support the Channel by purchasing tools through TruTech Tools!
Save 8% at checkout using code "acservicetech"
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Follow Us On Our Social Media & Podcasting Channels!

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
⚠️ Disclaimer:
Information in this video is intended for educational purposes only. Any work related to the topics in this video should be performed by licensed technicians or by apprentices under the supervision of licensed technicians. AC Service Tech LLC is not responsible for any possible damages or injuries caused by the use or misuse of any information provided.
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
#hvacr #hvacr #hvactrainingvideos #hvactraining #hvactraining101 #acservice #acservicetech #capacitor #compressor #voltage #capacitors #current #fan #multimeter #testing #V #capacitance #MFD #installation
▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬
Shop through Amazon! Your Purchases through Amazon provide a means for channels such as mine to earn advertising fees from all purchases after clicking through. Prices are the same as normal.

[alfonsobenitez]

The size of the capacitor to the fan motor have to be the exact capacitor as written in the fan motor, if not your motor will overheat and will eventually will overheat and burn. Great explanation, i am a licensed retired 68 yo HVAC, still working to pay my bills. I love this young man way of explaining his videos. It doesn't matter how long i been in this trade, we never stop learning.

[ChrisHVACguy]

No one I work with cares about details like this, I love this stuff, and this channel, keep it up!

[Dan-ger]

Wish I had seen this before when I was younger. I changed a Copeland compressor with a Bristol compressor for a friend of mine since the Bristol compressor was cheaper and he didn't have much money. I think they have since gone out of business. I installed compressor and had correct capacitor for it but I kept getting a higher start winding current than the run winding. Capacitor checked out ok. I ohmmed windings and start winding had higher resistance. It just didn't make sense that run winding was pulling lower amperage. I called Bristol tech support and they asked if amperage was within specifications on compressor. I told them all the readings I had and that I triple checked everything. Even changed capacitors a couple times. I checked charge also to make sure nothing off there. Voltage was within range and guy on tech support said they don't really check the start winding amperage at the factory and everything seemed fine to him. I told my buddy I didn't feel good about it but he had a year warranty. It lasted 10 months and burnt up. Changed it for a Copeland because I didn't trust the Bristol compressor (supply house just charged me difference between Copeland and Bristol cost) and it ran fine and within normal amperage for both run and start. Copeland compressor was still running years later. It was oddest thing I had come across.

[bill]

Great video. I've had coworkers tell me that you can put in a different size capacitor for the compressor or fan and I've always said that I go back with what's supposed to be there. They'd laugh at me an call me a "by the book" guy but I wear that label with pride. What happens when someone puts in the wrong size and another guy comes in and changes it. If each guy bumps up the mfd by 5 then we aren't anywhere close to what was originally there. Is the second guy going to look at the rating on the compressor and the fan motor? I wouldn't bet a penny on it! If you do it "by the book" then you don't have to worry about burning up motors or compressors.

[bodegadiescast]

Excellent video! I wish schools teach new techs this way.

[DavidHernandez-gtbo]

Another fantastic video ! Great theory / demonstration of everyday field conditions .

HVAC Knowledge is off the charts !

[jericosha]

Thanks for the comparison graphic at the end. Great video to refer to when coworkers want to act like it's okay to install the wrong size lol

[larryseibold]

Another fantastic video. It is all about the percentage of being correct with the capacitors. They need to be within 10% of nameplate (using a 55 in place of a 50 is at the limit of that, and acceptable but using 7.5 in place of a 5 is way off (50%) and not at all).

[duramusmosley]

Great video, Craig. My company has a tendency of going a size larger in a pinch but I won't do that anymore. I'll just stay on top of my inventory and make sure to have a 440V capacitor to be safe.

[jkbrown]

The run capacitor on a PSC motor is selected to give the best power factor at the design load for the motor. Increase or lower the capacitance, at the same design load, the motor is less efficient and the difference ends up as heat that will eventually burn the windings.

It is possible to use a meter with power factor to swap in caps till you find the best power factor value. But easier to read the label or contact the mfr.

I believe there is a way to calculate a new capacitance value if you were to say use a PSC motor for an application with a different operating load, but it gets down into the motor design black magic.

[TheTruth.K.J.V.]

Excellent display of the issue. Thank you for the practical education.

[Farm_fab]

A friend of mine is a motor rebuilder, and accidentally plugged a 220v motor in to 110v, and couldn't get it to come up to speed. He asked me what I thought might be wrong. I wasn't sure, but He was using a higher mfd capacitor than the motor needed to get it to run faster. I began by reading the label and then realized he had it under powered. The motor was dutch made, so I was aware that in all likelihood, they didn't have any 110v motors. After changing the capacitor, and plugging it into 220, he was able to get it up to speed.

[drewshubeck]

This video is 100% correct. I have made the mistake of not double checking the existing capacitor and burned up a new motor in under 15 minutes! I will never make that mistake again.

[mitchellbarnow]

Thanks for this explanation because I didn’t know about capacitors before this video. The only thing that I knew was that they can store a fatal amount of current. I guess that is true?

[Eddy]

Nice demo and explanation ... Thx for posting ...

[MrTomncalif]

Go to Amrad and get the right capacitor Made in USA and the quality is second to none, Just get one and lift it.. its 2 times heavier and the construction /oil is superior

[dan]

Very good explanation. Makes sense for both higher and lower capacitor

[mikeflerchinger]

Thank you, Sir! You learn people a lot. Listening to you! Fixed my problem. Thank you for your Info

[officerkrupke]

Needed a separate video on the effect of having a run capacitor fail on a outside unit that had a hard start installed.

[John-dpln]

Very interesting and valuable! Thanks.