Ceiling Fans Hub

Home » How to Test a Ceiling Fan Capacitor

How to Test a Ceiling Fan Capacitor

by

In general, electrical and hardware investigating and fixing works, we face a regular issue with testing and checking a capacitor? Is it acceptable, awful (dead), short, or open?

Here, we can check a capacitor with a simple (AVO meter, i.e., Ampere, Voltage, Ohm meter) and an advanced multimeter either in great condition or supplanting it with another one.

To discover the estimation of Capacitance, you need a computerized meter with Capacitance estimating highlights.

The following are (6) strategies to check and test that a Capacitor is Good, Bad, Open, Dead, or Short.

Contents

Conventional Method to Test and Check a Capacitor

  1. Assume you need to check the Capacitor.
  2. Detach the presumed Capacitor from the force supply or ensure at any rate one lead of the Capacitor is separated.
  3. Ensure that the Capacitor is ultimately released.
  4. Associate two separate prompts with the capacitor terminals. (Discretionary)
  5. Presently securely associate these prompts 230 V AC Supply for a compact period (around 1-4 Sec) [or for a brief timeframe where the Voltage ascends to 63.2% of the Source Voltage].
  6. Eliminate wellbeing leads from the 230 V AC Supply.
  7. Presently short the capacitor terminals (Please try to remain cautious about doing that and ensuring that you have to wear wellbeing goggles)
  8. On the off chance that it makes a definite sparkle, at that point, the Capacitor is acceptable.
  9. The off chance that it makes a frail flash is an awful capacitor and changes it promptly with another one.

Test a Capacitor by Analog Multimeter: 

  1. To check a capacitor by AVO (Ampere, Voltage, Ohm Meter ), follow the accompanying advances.
  2. Ensure the presumed Capacitor is ultimately released.
  3. Take an AVO meter.
  4. Select simple Meter on OHM (Always, select the higher scope of Ohms).
  5. Interface the Meter prompts the Capacitor terminals.
  6. Note The perusing and Compare with the accompanying outcomes.

Short Capacitors: Shorted Capacitor will show pitiful Resistance.

Open Capacitors: An Open Capacitor won’t show any development (Deflection) on OHM meter Screen.

Excellent Capacitors: Initially, it will show low obstruction and afterward steadily increments toward the endless. It implies that the Capacitor is in Good Condition.

Check a Capacitor by a Digital Multimeter:

  1. To test a capacitor by DMM (Digital Multimeter), follow the means given underneath.
  2. Ensure the Capacitor is released.
  3. Set the Meter on the Ohm range (Set it in any event 1000Ohm = 1k).
  4. Associate the Meter prompts the capacitor terminals.
  5. The Digital meter will show a few numbers for a second. Note the perusing.
  6. And afterward, quickly, it will re-visitation of the OL (Open Line). Each endeavor of Step 2 will show a similar outcome as was in sync 4 and Step 5. It’s implied that the Capacitor is in Good Condition.
  7. If there is no change, at that point, the Capacitor is dead.

Checking the Capacitor by Multimeter in the capacitance Mode:

You can do this test with a multimeter if you have a Capacitance meter or you have a multimeter with an element to test the capacitance. Additionally, this strategy is acceptable to push the minuscule capacitors also. To this test, pivot the multimeter handle to the capacitance mode.

  1. Ensure the Capacitor is ultimately released.
  2. Eliminate the capacitors from the board or circuit.
  3. Presently Select “Capacitance” on your multimeter.
  4. Presently interface the capacitor terminal to the multimeter leads.
  5. If the perusing is close to the Capacitor’s genuine worth (i.e., the printed an incentive on the Capacitor holder box).
  6. At that point, the Capacitor is in acceptable condition. (Note that the perusing might not be precisely the Capacitor’s real worth (the printed an incentive on the Capacitor holder box).
  7. On the off chance that you read an altogether lower capacitance or none by any means, at that point, the Capacitor is dead, and you should transform it.

Testing a Capacitor by Simple Voltmeter:

  1. Make a point to separate a solitary lead (no concerns if Positive (long) or harmful (short)) of the Capacitor from the circuit (You may completely detach too when required)
  2. Check the capacitor voltage rating imprinted on it (As appeared in our beneath model where is the Voltage = 16V)
  3. Presently charge this Capacitor for a couple of moments to the appraised (not to the specific worth but rather not as much as that, i.e., accuse a 16V capacitor of 9V battery) Voltage. Try to interface the positive (red) lead of the voltage source to the positive lead (long) of the Capacitor and negative to negative. If you can’t discover it or not sure, here is the instructional exercise on finding a capacitor’s negative and positive terminal.
  4. Set the voltmeter’s incentive to DC and associate the Capacitor to the voltmeter by interfacing the battery’s positive wire to the Capacitor’s positive lead and negative to negative.
  5. Note the underlying Voltage is perusing in the voltmeter. If it is near the provided Voltage, you give the Capacitor in Good condition. If it shows far small perusing, Capacitor is dead at that point. Note that the voltmeter will show the perusing for a brief term as the Capacitor will release its volt in the voltmeter, and it is typical.

By Time Constant:

  1. We can discover a capacitor’s incentive by estimating the Time consistent (TC or τ = Tau) if the estimation of the capacitance of a capacitor is known in microfarad (represented µF) imprinted on it, i.e., the Capacitor isn’t blown and copied by any means.
  2. To sum things up, the Time is taken by a capacitor to charge about 63.2% of the applied Voltage when charges through a known estimation of the Resistor are called Time Constant of Capacitor (TC or τ = Tau) and can be determined by means of:

τ = RxC

Where:

  • R = Known Resistor
  • C = Value of Capacitance
  • τ = TC or τ = Tau (Time Constant)
  1. For example, on the off chance that the stock voltage is 9V, at that point, 63.2% of this is around 5.7V.
  2. Presently, let perceive how to discover the estimation of a capacitor by estimating the Time Constant.
  3. Try to separate as releasing the Capacitor from the board.
  4. Associate a known estimation of opposition (e.g., 5-10kω Resistor) in arrangement with the Capacitor.
  5. Apply the known estimation of the supply voltage. (e.g., 12V or 9V) to the Capacitor associated in arrangement with a 10kω resistor.
  6. Presently, measure the Capacitor’s an ideal opportunity to charge about 63.2% of the applied Voltage. For example, on the off chance that the stock voltage is 9V, at that point, 63.2% of this is around 5.7V.
  7. The estimation of the given Resistor and estimated Time compute the estimation of capacitance by Time Content recipe, i.e., τ = TC or τ = Tau (Time Constant).