How do I tryout the capacitor of my A/C condenser supporter?
While an ohm-meter will tell you that at hand is 'some' capacitance, I assume you want to actually device the value of the capacitor and compare that near the rating to see if it is going bad. Easily done.
I use a 24vac transformer (a doorbell transformer will work), the actual voltage is not critical, a short time ago has to be AC and competent to stand a few amps (depending on the value of the cap).
Connect from transfomer through an AC Ammeter, through the capacitor and stern to the transformer. When power is applied, it will tell you how tons amps are flowing in the circuit. Connect an AC Voltmeter across the capacitor and you will see the voltage across the capacitor. If you hold only one meter, manoeuvre the amperage, turn off the power, reset the meter to read voltage and connect the capacitor and meter to the transformer contained by parallel.
Now you know the amperage that will flow thru the capacitor and the voltage. The AC line frequency is 60Hz.
The impedance of a capacitor is determined by: Z=1/(2piFC) and if I can verbs that without screw up (sleep deprived, I should be in bed)...
C=I/2piFE (where C is capacitance surrounded by Farads, I is current in amps, pi=3.14159, F=60Hz and E is the voltage reading).
Simplified to C=I/377E
Divide the amperage by 377xVolts and you will get hold of Farads. Expect to get a really small number (since the capacitor is microfarads or millionths of farads). Multiply by result by 1,000,000 to get hold of microfarads. The result should be within 20% or so of the rating of the capacitor if the capacitor is ok.
Disclaimer: I could enjoy botched this, working without hint materials. If the answer comes out to be right for the capacitor, it's probably OK, If it doesn't come close, either the sou`wester is bad or I screwed up the formula.
What you need is an ohm meter. Remove the capacitor from the circuit, set your meter to read ohms. Put one organize on each terminal of the capacitor. It should read infinate ohms, and them bleed sour gradually to 0 ohms. Reverse the lead on the capacitor and it should do the same item.
This means your capacitor is charging and discharging the opening it should.
If it just read shorted, replace it.
In other words, with an analog meter, the syringe should run all the road over to the right, and then run rear legs to the left any way you read it. If it travels adjectives the way to the right and stays within, the capacitor is shorted and should be replaced.
They sell capacitor checkers and they regenerate so do not lick it.
Take it to a PRO! Do NOT do this yourself.
Capacitors hold a LARGE amount of power, even when the part is turned off. You WILL bring a jolt (?mortal?) if you touch the connectors.
Answers: You can use an older volt/ohm analog meter next to the needle.
Otherwise you will entail a special meter that can read microfarad's.
Set the meter to the ohms scale and touch the two tryout leads together - the syringe should zero.
Short the two terminal of the capacitor with a screwdriver to discharge any voltage surrounded by the capacitor.
Next put one of each organize to each terminal of the capacitor and the meter should start rising as its charging and next fall rear legs. This would be considered a good capacitor.
If the hypodermic rises but doesn't fall subsidise its shorted and if it doesn't charge at all it is plain and also faulty.
You can check it over again as long as you short the sou`wester terminals to dissipate the charge.
Of coarse we use a meter that will show the actual micro farads. But the prehistoric meter method always seem to be adequate.
If contained by doubt replace as these are relatively cheap ($10-15)