Re: How do you test a capacitor?


"Paul E. Schoen" <pstech@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"Wayne Lundberg" <Waynelund@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"Homer J Simpson" <nobody@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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"Wayne Lundberg" <Waynelund@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
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Just bought a generator and it failed within two hours of usage. Mfg.
say
maybe capacitor and will ship a new one. But am not sure. I have a
voltmeter
with capacitor readings. Know how to test for resistance and voltage
but
never tried to test a capacitor. I know the circuit should be open,
and
this
one is open, but don't know if it is being charged nor how to do that
procedure.

Does the meter show any reading when you test the cap?

I tested for continuity and it showed no short circuitry evident. I then
just connected the probes to both terminals and swithce the voltmeter
from
high to low.... all indications fell to zero after only a short time...
which tells me that my VM may have charged, then masured as power
dissipated... but I'm just guessing.

I think I need to charge the cap with a battery and then measure... but
don't want to blow my VM... so... advice?

The readings on the cap is 24 microfarads plus minus 5% 400 VAC 50/60 Hz

Wayne


One way to test it is to charge it up to 100 VDC (carefully), and then
discharge it through a 100K resistor. The time constant should be 24 x 0.1
= 2.4 seconds to reach 37 VDC. An even more thorough test would require
charging it to 600 VDC and making sure it is not breaking down or leaking.
Such testing can be dangerous or even lethal, but will be more conclusive
than a simple ohmmeter check.

Paul


Thanks!


.

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