Bryan does an onsite demonstration of Diagnosing and Replacing a Run Capacitor.
Read all the tech tips, take the quizzes
and find our handy calculators at https://www.hvacrschool.com/

Okay, so we've got the well-known sound of a fan running window compressor running inside this burning light is no fooling experienced technician, they're, equal first uh-oh doing the thing. I always tell everybody not to do when using my impact. That's what I had handy. We don't have the obvious bloated, capacitor contactors a little pitted.

Nothing super serious here, always look for anything abnormal poor connections and where I jumped any conclusions down inside should we don't have anything weird. I don't like that. Zipped I broke in there because that ex is kind of a standoff on that discharge line. If those wires start rubbing across that discharge, I don't even see them they're below a hole on it quickly and that's something.

I'm definitely gon na mention to the customer. These low voltage wires are also well known for rubbing out. You can see there on the side of the metal there, so those are all things I'm cleaning up on here is a resistor, but let's be realistic. What do we do in the field? Just kind of go like that to make sure that we don't have anything to discharge, because as long as it's connected to the compressor, windings you're, not gon na be holding a charge in this anyway, it's a pretty rare circumstance, you're gon na shut the power off Confirm that it's off, which I've already done and have potential still on your capacitor, but it's just a good idea to just make sure pretty quick, the worst that will happen.

Is you get a little arc? If you don't know your system pretty? Well, you want to take a picture of where your wires are connected beforehand, just to be safe. There were 45 by 5 plus or minus 6 %, that's from the factory, so it's not like. I'm gon na tell somebody that their capacitors bad, if it's at 6 %, I usually use plus or minus 10 - its 440 volt, which means I mean I can't use a 370 volt capacitor to replace it can replace a 370 with a 440. It's good and get a reading and see what we got.

I got this a little, an expensive multimeter which isn't the best in the world, but it's I took my knifes for one and I realized that the batteries are dead on it. So I figured well, let's give this one a try. Anyway, I've been wanting to try this out and now we're gon na put it on the combined scale. Here it does ohms.

It also does a diode test and capacitance, so we're gon na set it into the capacitance scale. There we go and it will should auto range 2 micro farad. So you can see another kind of neat thing. If you have a hard time, seeing often you'll find that the common terminal is the one with for the herm, for the compressor we'll have 3 is goes to the start winding on the compressor and the fan will have one terminal, but we're gon na measure.

On the compressor first, because that's what wasn't running sure enough, you can see we're not measuring anything on the fan. Now does the fan common to fan and we have 2.83. So that's also low the depressor professors completely failed. The famous masters just low, often you'll, find what a fan capacitors fail times.
The fan will still run it'll just run slow or in the wrong direction, because it's very low torque, whereas the compressor won't run at all it will. Just you hear it go in and out a thermal overload. So it's a couple things I want to do on this one, but this is the main thing we had a call to customer and photo, and I'm actually gon na, replace this with an AM red, because that's what I got a little truck right now. It's really good replacement, professor okay, so this is an in rad American radionics five year pastures.

What I had on the truck itself, a lot of different capacitors and they get a really good quality capacitor, it's saying to connect between the highest rating. So that's also nice because it comes with a marker, so you can birth the date that it was installed. That's an extra zip ties, the connecting wires all nice to have so since this is a 45 5 we're gon na take the 25 20. I'm gon na connect those together with one of these jumper wires here and then we're going to connect our where the normal is gon na turn.

The city start winding or start terminal on the compressor really connected here and then we're just gon na use. This five here terminal now it's always a good practice before you install a new capacitor to just check it real quick, so we're gon na check our condensing fan motor capacitor measuring 5. A second five point: five super-good: there we're going to check our 25 and there 20, which cumulative lead will give us 45. That's been wiring them in parallel and I'll show you that measurement here in a second one thing: it's really big.

Whenever you're connecting a terminal make sure it's on really really snug the Spade so now, if we measure from or 25 you can see 46, then I ran in spec. So we're gon na be connecting urn here common here and here sometimes the factory straps. They don't fit right and so using a little bit of plumbers, trap cut to length, works, great holds it nice and steady. So we're using you ever gon na drill.

A new hole, though make sure that you don't have coil behind where you're gon na drill. Just to be on the safe side, in this case we're safe, we've got our wire. They lose to our start winding here. So we're gon na connect that to our higher measurement, which is our 25.

We have our common here. Then we have our fan. It's going to go to our 5. Whatever put these on, I just always make sure they're really snug, when in doubt you can just put a little crimp on all the needle nose just back right there.

So we definitely want to tighten that down a little bit once you get all said and done, we will check the amperage and just test out the entire piece of equipment, but that's not what this is about. This is about wiring up a capacitor and that's how you do it. So you diagnose and wire up a capacitor thanks for watching.

41 thoughts on “Diagnosing and replacing a run capacitor”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Proclaimor says:

    I sometimes miss RadioShack, and their product Lubegel.
    Lubegel was just a big tube of silicone lightbulb grease for about $5 that auto parts stores now want to sell a tiny packet of for several dollars.
    There are about a hundred places to buy it on Amazon now but getting a switch or capacitor shouldn’t mean submitting all my personal data and purchase history to AWS for indefinite targeted advertising, and waiting for shipping.
    Peace

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars mike13899 says:

    Always take before pictures of belt routing etc also, good advice 👍

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Freecheese says:

    Btw you were incorrect. You actually were measuring something but it was out of range.

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mike Bazil says:

    Did you say in parallel? I think you mean series

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Carmelo M says:

    This looks like one of those Turbo Capacitors. which I have on may Goodman Unit. (Part No. 12300). These Turbo Capacitors don't appear to have been the norm back in 2000 when my house was constructed. Are these turbo capacitors still manufactured and sold? I see capacitors on Amazon that sell for about $13.00. My local HVAC tech who came out today to diagnose my unit is quoting me $345 to replace the old/original turbo capacitor.

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ted Lahm says:

    Is that both a start and run capacitor? Or do you only need the start? Thank you

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars StratmanDarrell says:

    I'm getting sea sick watching this. The camera man needs a lot of training. Wish you would follow where each wire is coming from. It would be a lot less confusing. On the learning pyramid " Demonstratiion" is just above reading followed by lecture. Are you in Kanata ?

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Robert Stonebreaker says:

    Good info that is a very fancy capacitor

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars twentysixmiles says:

    How do I find MFD specs for an old, old residential package unit in a old mobile home park when specs are no longer legible on compressor, run cap, rating plate, and cap MFD cannot be measured at all with a meter?

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars John Lupo says:

    WE KNOW IT'S "HERE"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars John Lupo says:

    YOU HAVE EXCEED YOUR "SO" QUOTA FOR TODAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Service area Ottawa??

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Rapid Rabbit says:

    Dude, background noise is covering your voice.

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Anthony D. says:

    My a/c unit is 10 years old, never had a problem with it until this year. The top fan didn't run when we started it up this spring. I replaced the original run capacitor with the exact same one. Still nothing happening, checked all the fuses, they are all good? What is the next step before calling a HVAC specialist? Any ideas would be appreciated! Could it be the thermostat if the heat still works? I know I had to change the batteries in the thermostat a few weeks ago?

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Dan Skinner says:

    When the capacitor is not marked on top with a single how do you know which wire goes where?

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars djjoshua007 says:

    "C" is common? why is the 'C" wire hooked up to the RUN side of the compressor and not the Common side of the surface contractor.. ????????

  16. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Henry Esp says:

    Lmao is that a dead dried up frog on top? Service area Kanata??

  17. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars jimjim4z says:

    Hello thanks for all jour vidéos.
    But the 1rst thing you must show, IS to not touche the capacitor this way it coud bé dangerous

  18. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Casual_Kenny says:

    Really helpful thank you 👍🏾👊🏾

  19. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars DESHI GUY says:

    Hi. My window unit compressor was leaking. I decided to take out the fan for use as fan.I forgot the wire configuration and didn’t take any pictures. Could you please help me to connect the wires? It has 25/10+=60% capacitor just like one on your video has 4,3,and 2 prongs and a hi, low, medium switch.

  20. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Goldman says:

    hello ….you have looked at the head of the wire, so are there signs for each wire other than the colors (I mean in the head of the wire) so that you can determine its type regardless of the colors on the wire?
    thanks

  21. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Charlie Tuna says:

    Great Scott, what is that cap, and how in the world do you short that puppy out for zap free insurance?
    That thing is pretty cool and definitely reduces inventory!

  22. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars joseph santos says:

    Start HVAC school in August! Your videos are so helpful.

  23. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Al Bizzle says:

    No in my world, the unit is 2 inches away from the house and the mechanical compartment is facing the house. I have to do this awkward lean over to see everything. It's rare to see an install with service in mind.

  24. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mr Green says:

    I like to test capacitors while the unit is running Are you in Orleans ?

  25. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars greg blackford says:

    Can you use a 35/5 capacitor in replace of a 35/3?

  26. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Mynhauzen Neyman says:

    🤔 ничего не понял ,но понял что даже кондёр уже другой ,при этом выполняет тот же функцию ! Автору лайк 👍👍

  27. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars RJ_Make says:

    I bet it feels good to get out in the field.

  28. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Stephen B says:

    Great tip about counting the number of terminals on the cap to know which one is which👍 Are you in Nepean ?

  29. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars adam toole says:

    Thank for these videos im in school for hvac/r and u guys are helping me alot

  30. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars AGON 17 says:

    So many customers are gonna watch this

  31. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Alberto Ramirez says:

    Yesterday I had to replace the same cap on a new carrier

  32. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Sergio Mansilla says:

    Excelente capacitors ,buen trabajo y buen video saludos !!!

  33. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars [Sp] SkItZo240 says:

    Simple but awesome thanks for the troubleshoot! 👍🏼

  34. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars J R says:

    Love your channel. Thank you.

  35. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Paul Garas says:

    It’s a “rare circumstance” but it actually really hurts…

  36. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Gordonseries385 says:

    can you buy a good zip tie they seem to break through time under no stress?
    called them condensers back than lol

  37. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars t lech says:

    Even though I use the turbo 200 series capacitors for my customers because they are poly thin metal foil design. For $80-$180 to our customers for a capacitor that only has a five year guarantee roughly the same life of a cheap Chinese capacitor is kind of pathetic. Even though you and I know on average they will last longer than this. Compared to the PCB Oil fill capacitors our grandfather and father installed that were on $2.75 and lasted 15 or 20 years. Makes you think how good marketing works

  38. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ness Nesu says:

    Best thing about that capacitor is it is Made In The USA, Palm Coast, Florida.

  39. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ness Nesu says:

    Best thing about that capacitor is it is Made In USA, Palm Coast, Florida.

  40. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Sterling Archer says:

    Too late Bryan , the YT HVAC popo caught you red handed using an impact ! Service area Barrhaven??

  41. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars HVAC Knowledge Channel says:

    Great troubshooting lk ur contnt my frnd

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.