Posted by John T on August 14, 2012 at 09:28:17 from (216.249.82.117):
Hey there George, instead of experimenting (but hey thats half the fun right, I'm an experimenter myself) and guessing as to how much capacitance needed to improve on a motors power factor, if you Google something like capacitors to improve AC motor power factor, you will get a gazillion hits of pages that actually have tables and formulas to compute the sizes needed, but that takes away all the fun grrrrrrrr lol
By the way, if you add too much capacitance it looks like theres a risk of damage YIKES !!! and I saw some figures that a goal of 95% is about all you want to go for.
A capacitor isnt any magic elixir or energy source, its a passive non 100% efficient series device that in itself has some losses (it cant produce any energy, it uses some). It can, if needed, improve power factor by counter acting some of the motors inductance by adding capacitance so the current comes back in phase with the voltage (just as if a pure resistive load with no L or C).
If the PF is lousy, the utility or genny must pump out the VECTOR SUM of the two currents, that in phase plus that out of phase, and many utilities charge you extra for that capacity. The motor uses only X amount of energy to do its actual work (spin the shaft under load) while all that out of phase ringing is wasted as heat mostly. Still if the PF is bad the utility or genny has to produce true work energy (to spin the shaft) plus that which gets wasted as heat.....
It would be fun if your experimented capacitance value corresponds to what the charts show is needed!!!!!!!!!
Have fun, keep safe, keep us posted, dont get hold of a charged up big capacitor OUCH lol
Mark in Michigan, you out there? Whatcha think??
John T (Remember Im rusty on this so no warranty and dont have a calf if this isnt perfect!!!)
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - 12-Volt Conversions for 4-Cylinder Ford 2000 & 4000 Tractors - by Tommy Duvall. After two summers of having to park my old 1964 model 4000 gas 4 cyl. on a hill just in case the 6 volt system, for whatever reason, would not crank her, I decided to try the 12 volt conversion. After some research of convert or not, I decided to go ahead, the main reason being that this tractor was a working tractor, not a show tractor (yet). I did keep everything I replaced for the day I do want to restore her to showroom condition.
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1964 I-H 140 tractor with cultivators and sidedresser. Starts and runs good. Asking 2650. CALL RON AT 502-319-1952
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
