(OT) What does a capacitor do?

Some single-phase motors use capacitors to aid in motor starting and running efficiency. There are two kinds of electric motor capacitors, a run capacitor and a start capacitor. Both are wired in series with the start winding of the motor. The run capacitor stays in the start winding circuit continuously to aid in starting and running efficiency (this is why it is called a run capacitor even though it is wired into the start winding circuit) but the start capacitor must have a means of opening the circuit to the start winding such as a potential relay, a current relay, or centrifugal switch once the motor has started and reached about 75% of full speed.

Start capacitors usually have a round black plastic housing with two terminals at the top and run capacitors are usually an oval shaped aluminum metal housing with two terminals at the top. You must use the correct capacitor for the motor to work right. The data plate on the motor should state which capacitor to use. Capacitors are measured in voltage (usually above 300V) and microfarads (uf) which is the strength of the capacitor(could be 5uf to 50uf or more depending on the motor).

The capacitors create a phase shift in the AC sine wave that causes the start windings of the motor to have a better starting torque and more running efficiency. HTH. Rick H. Ga.

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My guess (emphasis on GUESS!) is the capacitor blew...

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