Run Capacitor

A run capacitor is used to continuously adjust current or phase shift to a motor's windings in an effort to optimise the
motor's torque and efficiency performance. Because it is designed for continuous duty, it has a much lower failure rate than
a start capacitor.

Start Vs Run Capacitor

Start capacitors give a large capacitance value necessary for motor starting for a very short (seconds long) period of time.
They are only intermittent duty and will fail catastrophically if energized too long. Run capacitors are used for continuous
voltage and current control to a motor's windings and are therefore continuous duty. They are generally of a much lower
capacitance value.

When is it time to replace a run capacitor?

When a run capacitor begins to perform outside the allowable range,it is usually indicated by a dropping of the rated
capacitance value. For most standard motors, a run capacitor will have a "tolerance" specified describing how close to the
rated capacitance value that the actual value may be. This will be usually +/- 5% to 10%. For most motors, as long as the
actual value is is within the 10% mark of the rated value, you're in good shape. If the capacitance drops outside of this
range, the capacitor should be replaced.

Causes of Failure

Depending on how close the run capacitor is to its design life, there may be multiple factors that determine why a run
capacitor has failed.

Time - All capacitors have a design life. Several factors may be interchanged or combined to increase or reduce the life of a
run capacitor, but once the design life is exceeded, the internals may begin to more rapidly decay and drop in performance.
Simply put, a failure may occur because the capacitor is "just old."

Heat - Exceeding the design limit of operating temperature can have a big effect on run capacitor life expectancy. In general,
motors that are operated in hot environments or with little ventilation will experience a dramatically reduced lifespan on their
run capacitor. The same can be caused by radiated heat from a generally hot running motor, causing the capacitor to run
hot. If you can keep your run capacitor cool, it will last a lot longer.

Current - Motor failure causes the capacitor to be overloaded. This scenario is less commonly noticed, as it would usually
be accompanied by a partial or complete failure of the motor. The motor is overloaded or has a failure in the windings,
causing the current to climb. This can have an effect on the capacitor.

Voltage - This single factor can have an exponential effect in shortening design life. A run capacitor will have a marked
voltage rating that should not be exceeded. Let's use 440 volts as an example. At 450 volts, the life may be reduced by 20%.
At 460 volts, the life may be reduced by 50%. At 470 volts, there is a 75% life reduction, and so on. The same can be
applied in reverse to help increase life by using a capacitor with a voltage rating significantly higher then needed, although to
a less dramatic degree.

What Capacitors Do
Almost every motor is furnished with either a start capacitor, a run capacitor, or both.

The start capacitor is connected into the motor’s electrical circuit at rest. It gives the motor an initial “push” on start -up,
briefly increasing its starting torque and allowing the motor to be cycled on and off quickly. A typical start ca pacitor rating
ranges from 25 µF up to 1,400 µF and 110 Vac to 330 Vac.

Once the motor reaches a specific speed, the start capacitor is disconnected from the winding circuit by a switch (or relay).
If the motor drops below that speed, the capacitor will be switched back into the electrical circuit to bring the motor to the
speed required.

Designed for continuous duty, the run capacitor always remains energized and connected in the motor’s electrical circuit. A
typical run capacitor rating ranges from 2 µF to 80 µF and is either rated at 370 Vac or 440 Vac.