Bryan is back with basics of Common, Start and Run as it relates to Single Phase PSC motors.
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Hey thanks for watching in this video, i want to do a quick introduction of common start and run and what that means for folks who may be newer to the trade or maybe struggle to understand it. First off, when we talk about common start and run we're talking about single-phase motors, which specifically means that we're not using three-phase power we're not talking about ecm motors that stands for electronically commutated motors, we're specifically talking about single phase, something called a psc motor or a Permanent split capacitor motor and the reason why we're talking about that is because it's such a common motor in our trade when we say common, start and run we're talking about three terminals or connection points, whether they be wires or terminals to a motor. We see these on compressors and condenser fans most commonly and we see them in older blower motors. Nowadays, more blower motors are going to that ecm style design and again.

This is residential and light. Commercial is where you're primarily going to see this. When you see a diagram like this, those little squiggly lines are representing windings that are in the stator of the motor. Keep in mind that that a motor is essentially a gigantic rotating electromagnet.

That stator on the outside generates this rotating electromagnetic field that spins the motor around your main winding is your runwinding. Your runwinding is the winding that does the majority of the work for most of the operational time, but then you have this auxiliary winding that we call a start winding which helps get the motor started, but then it also assists with motor efficiency and directional force. So that's what that start winding is for, but on a psc, it's kind of a misnomer, because it's not just in while it's starting, it's always in the circuit and especially if we're not using a start capacitor or a hard start kit. Really your run capacitor is helping with starting and running and there's really nothing else going on there.

It's just it's operating in the same way when it starts and when it runs, there's no relays there's nothing taking it out of the circuit. It's just in there all the time your run winding is connected to one side of power. Your common terminal is connected to another side of power and your start winding is connected in series with your run. Capacitor and again, this is on a psc single phase motor that we're talking about here specifically, so you go outside to your regular old compressor on your house.

That's generally going to be a single phase, psc motor, with a run capacitor in place. There are three terminals, but there are only two windings there's only the start winding and the run winding. There's the common terminal. The common terminal also has an internal overload, that's connected in behind it, so that that way, if the motor overheats it shuts the unit off and so that breaks that circuit, i'm going to quick, throw up a illustration that shows you kind of the way we represent.
This so you can see the three terminals on a compressor, but then back behind that you see you have the two windings and then you also have that internal overload that breaks the connection in between those two good information to know just good general knowledge is that Your highest resistance measurement between any terminals are going to be between your start and run. Your lowest is going to be between run and common and then start in common will be the middle one. You're not going to know exactly what those resistance numbers will be. Unless you have specific data from that manufacturer, which you can get from something like the koplan mobile app to tell you what it should be, not generally a super useful test to do in the field.

But we do know that all of these terminals and all of these windings should be connected to one another and they should not be connected to ground. And so that's one thing that we do check for regularly is whether or not the windings are grounded or whether they have a path to ground using an ohm meter measuring that resistance on your standard pse motor, keep in mind the run winding. Does the majority of the work the start winding? Is there to kind of get it running in the right direction and to help with that and it's in series with your run capacitor, also just a quick tip to keep in mind when you connect your start winding to a dual capacitor you're, going to connect that To the herm terminal, with the c terminal on a dual run, capacitor the typical run capacitors we see on a lot of units that does not connect to the c terminal on the compressor. It connects to the same side of power that run connects to, because remember, common and run are the two that are connected to power, and so a lot of people will think.

Well, it says c on it that should be c on the compressor and the capacitor, and that is not true. Those are actually opposite legs of incoming power that those connect to so that's just a quick tip for the field, something to watch out for so keep in mind. Highest resistance is going to be between start and run, lowest, resistance between run and common and then start in common one left. That's the one! That's in the middle on this image that we show here.

Those are just examples: they're not always going to be that those numbers you have to know what the specific measurements will be for your specific motor that you're working on, and if you find that there is a path measuring with an ohmmeter. If you take an ohmmeter and you measure between start and run, and you find that you have a good path and then you measure from common to start and common to run, and you have none, that's an indication that that thermal overload is open. As you can see there, if that thermal overload is open, you're not going to have a measurement as far as the path goes to that c terminal, that's some basics, common start and run we're going to talk about hard start kits. We're going to talk about three-phase motors in some upcoming videos, that's the basics of common start and run or cs and r, as it relates to single phase psc motors thanks for watching we'll catch you in the next video thanks for watching our video.
If you enjoyed it and got something out of it, if you wouldn't mind hitting the thumbs up button to like the video subscribe to the channel and click, the notifications bell to be notified when new videos come out, hvac school is far more than a youtube channel. You can find out more by going to hvacrschool.com, which is our website and hub for all of our content, including tech tips, videos, podcasts and so much more. You can also subscribe to the podcast on any podcast app of your choosing. You can also join our facebook group if you want to weigh in on the conversation yourself thanks again for watching.


30 thoughts on “What is common, start and run?”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars ZANNAS WORLD says:

    Start winding resistance is high, eventhough starting current is also high, Why? even resistance is high should be current low……dont understand

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Robert TX says:

    If this is single phase we need a neutral. Where is that connected? Service area Kanata??

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars godfrey martins says:

    Why is it called run capacitor if it is in series with start winding
    Pls clear this doubt

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars j smitty says:

    Nice demo

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars chilltraveller says:

    Can i use only 2wire connecting to 220volts from motor…and which of the 3terminal can i use..to..??

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Michael Costello says:

    Does the motor name plate give the normal current for the start and run windings or just one current value for both of them ? Thanks for nice video

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars yusudong says:

    Thank you Sir.

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Rg Sharma says:

    How can we trace common run and start for inverter compressor…plzzzzzz give me idea

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Azuz Kharef says:

    Good

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars 1446habib@gmail.com razani says:

    perfect Video. Service area Nepean??

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Aire condicionado para tecnicos says:

    HI BRYANT IS LUIS VERAS YOU TRAINING ME BACK IN 2004 AT DEL-AIR

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars JK Brown says:

    This video for clicked with me to create what I suppose is the "story", which is how I remember things. I'm terrible with remembering random things not tied to their reason. So the story goes like this:

    The run and start/aux windings on a motor must be connected to the same leg of power as they must be in phase with each other. The start/aux winding is then shifted in phase compared to the run winding by connecting the start and/or run capacitor in series with the start/aux winding to create a residual force between the windings' magnetic fields that gets the motor turning, and for the run capacitor after start up to also "tune" the motor for the most efficiency at the design load.

    Common (C) on any component is almost always localized to that component and has no relation to (C) on any other component. For instance, power from the same leg as the run winding is pigtailed to the (C) terminal on a dual capacitor where it is forked to both the compressor motor via (HERM) and the fan motor via (FAN) terminals. Whereas the (C) terminal on a motor is where the run and start/aux windings are tied (commoned) together to connect to the opposite leg of power to create a complete circuit with the line power. Going back to the first "rule", when using a dual capacitor both motors (compressor and fan) run windings are connected to the same leg of power since their start/aux windings are also connected to that leg of power via the dual capacitor (C) terminal. Service area Barrhaven??

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars J C says:

    Not too long ago I would have understood 15% of what you said……

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars HvacGuitartist says:

    Nice video. I knew all of this, but it took me a lot of brain racking to figure it out on my own. This is one of those things that some guys work around for years and years and never understand it. Awesome crash course for clarification/learning and very applicable.

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Matthew Forestieri says:

    thank you

  16. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ted E. Bear says:

    Great

  17. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars CDavis @Ultrakc says:

    Regarding resistance values in 'Condenser FAN motors' resistance across the run winding will typically be higher than across the start winding. Check it out – its real

  18. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Terry Tugwood says:

    Great video Bryan👍👍

  19. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars christian torres says:

    Great explanation, very helpful, thank you very much. Are you in Ottawa ?

  20. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Hittite King says:

    What would happen if capacitor C is connected to same leg as compressor C. Less torque at start right because it still comes with phase shift from capacitor. Thanks for sharing

  21. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars MyAC Doctor says:

    Another good basic knowledge presentation. If you can add start capacitor in your demonstration that will be great 👍 Are you in Orleans ?

  22. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars VoiD1x says:

    Why does Brian work domestic he should be doing heavy commercial $$

  23. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Dujon Jones says:

    Thanks again

  24. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Douche Canoe says:

    Can you do a video to tell a difference in between a compressor on overload lock out and one with open windings.

  25. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Toyin Orodare says:

    Thank You for the Update.
    Your Student from Nigeria

  26. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Richard Domasig says:

    That was a quick review…Thanks

  27. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Natanael Matos says:

    Estou no Brasil e acompanho seus vídeos , excelentes…

  28. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Boy George says:

    sir how to adjust the txv in the cpf decrease superheat.increase superheat

  29. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Colt 45 says:

    Can't wait for the 3 phase video

  30. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Randy Lazz says:

    Nice Demonstration 😎✌️

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