Capacitors

Capacitors store a charge and pass it along to your motor or
compressor to get it started and keep it running. Most often
they are a chrome cylinder in oval or round shape. Some
capacitors have a plastic casing instead of metal.

There are two types of run capactitors used in air conditioning
units.

STANDARD RUN CAPACITOR - Standard caps have two
terminals on the top. These would run only one component
(compressor or fan motor) at a time. The terminals are not
labelled so either can be used, as long as the component wires
go on opposite terminals.

DUAL RUN CAPACITOR - Dual run caps have three terminals on
the top. These would run more than one component (usually
compressor AND fan motor) at a time. The terminals are labeled
"FAN", "HERM", and "C". "FAN" is for the fan motor, "HERM" is for
the compressor, and "C" is the common power for both
components.

When replacing capacitors there are a couple rules of thumb to
follow.

1. MICROFARADS - Stay within +/- 10% of the listed microfarad
(MFD or "uf") value. (For instance, a 40 MFD cap can NOT be
replaced by a 45 MFD, but a 50 MFD could be replaced by a 55
MFD.)

2. VOLTAGE - You can replace with a higher voltage capacitor
but you can NOT replace with a lower voltage capacitor. (If you
have a 370 VOLT cap you can replace with a 440 VOLT cap, but
not vice versa.)

3. FOR FAN MOTORS - Some fan motors use the "FAN" terminal
of a dual capacitor. When replacing a fan motor you can use a
new standard capacitor for just the fan motor and continue to
use the dual capacitor for your compressor. We highly
recommend doing this when buying a new fan motor.

CAPACITORS AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE STORE

STANDARD CAPACITORS

4 MFD 370 VOLT
5 MFD 370 VOLT
7.5 MFD 370 VOLT
10 MFD 370 VOLT
12.5 MFD 370 VOLT
15 MFD 370 VOLT
20 MFD 370 VOLT
25 MFD 370 VOLT
30 MFD 370 VOLT
35 MFD 370 VOLT
40 MFD 440 VOLT
45 MFD 440 VOLT
50 MFD 440 VOLT
60 MFD 440 VOLT
80 MFD 440 VOLT

DUAL CAPACITORS

35/5 MFD 440 VOLT
35/7.5 MFD 440 VOLT
40/5 MFD 440 VOLT
40/7.5 MFD 440 VOLT
45/5 MFD 440 VOLT
45/7.5 440 VOLT
50/5 MFD 440 VOLT
50/7.5 MFD 440 VOLT
55/5 MFD 440 VOLT
55/7.5 MFD 440 VOLT
60/5 MFD 440 VOLT
60/7.5 440 VOLT
80/5 370 VOLT
80/7.5 370 VOLT