Safe-T-Mike Capacitor :confused:

[greasemonkey2275]

[quote="]

Please explain 'tweak'. Did they give you the original capacitor back?

Make sure the relay is disconnecting the start circuit after it 'fires' up.

There should be an ac voltage across relay terminals 1 and 2 when motor is running. Do not expect it to be 115v, but much greater than zero.[/quote]

Apparently after I cleaned the contacts for the capacitor portion of the relay they were not touching consistently for the start-up to happen so with some gentle work with the needle nose pliers I enabled the two contacts to make contact until the relay actuates disconnecting the capacitor contacts. Everything works like it is supposed to now. I did not keep the old capacitor; why do you ask?

[greasemonkey2275]

So I took the motor down the the local electrical motor repair shop and the capacitor was bad however once it was replaced the motor still didn't run. The guy rechecked the windings and everything seemed to be fine but he recommended replacing the relay/switch on the back. I brought everything back home and did a minor tweak here and there and now the motor fires off every time! So a $9 capacitor and a little tweak and I am back in business.

Please explain 'tweak'. Did they give you the original capacitor back?

Make sure the relay is disconnecting the start circuit after it 'fires' up.

There should be an ac voltage across relay terminals 1 and 2 when motor is running. Do not expect it to be 115v, but much greater than zero.

The "tweak" was getting the two contacts for the capacitor portion of the relay to touch completely since they were only partially touching. After a few operational checks everything is good to go with the motor and as of last night it is back in the headstock and working perfectly! As far as the capacitor goes, I did not keep it...why do you ask?

[JPG]

So I took the motor down the the local electrical motor repair shop and the capacitor was bad however once it was replaced the motor still didn't run. The guy rechecked the windings and everything seemed to be fine but he recommended replacing the relay/switch on the back. I brought everything back home and did a minor tweak here and there and now the motor fires off every time! So a $9 capacitor and a little tweak and I am back in business.

Please explain 'tweak'. Did they give you the original capacitor back?

Make sure the relay is disconnecting the start circuit after it 'fires' up.

There should be an ac voltage across relay terminals 1 and 2 when motor is running. Do not expect it to be 115v, but much greater than zero.

The "tweak" was getting the two contacts for the capacitor portion of the relay to touch completely since they were only partially touching. After a few operational checks everything is good to go with the motor and as of last night it is back in the headstock and working perfectly! As far as the capacitor goes, I did not keep it...why do you ask?

I doubt the 'original' capacitor was bad.

The 'new' one not fixing it is a clue.

Just make sure the start relay is disconnecting the start circuit.

[greasemonkey2275]

[/quote]

I doubt the 'original' capacitor was bad.

The 'new' one not fixing it is a clue.

Just make sure the start relay is disconnecting the start circuit.[/quote]


Actually when the technician hooked up the microfarad tester the capacitor failed miserably. I have a video so all can see the start relay disconnecting but I cannot seem to upload it.

[JPG]

A video can by linked from you tube.

More trouble than that be worth for this.

As long as you have verified proper operation, that is all that is needed.

I am curious what 'failed miserably' means. Open circuit?

[greasemonkey2275]

As long as you have verified proper operation, that is all that is needed.

I am curious what 'failed miserably' means. Open circuit?

The operation of the relay is spot-on now and as far as the capacitor goes, I'm not sure if it was a completely open circuit or not but I know that by watching the meter during the tests I could see the readings for each time he tested it. Each test resulted in different values to include: twice the values were at zero and on one of the tests it showed over 1300, considering the range was from 270-300, I think it qualified as being bad.

[JPG]

As long as you have verified proper operation, that is all that is needed.

I am curious what 'failed miserably' means. Open circuit?

The operation of the relay is spot-on now and as far as the capacitor goes, I'm not sure if it was a completely open circuit or not but I know that by watching the meter during the tests I could see the readings for each time he tested it. Each test resulted in different values to include: twice the values were at zero and on one of the tests it showed over 1300, considering the range was from 270-300, I think it qualified as being bad.

I doubt the '1300' was Mfd. An open circuit would measure infinity.

Oh well it is all over anyway.



Reason for all the ??? is that the capacitor is RARELY a cause of start failure.

Unfortunately it is also the easiest Easter egg hunt parts replacement.