[Prev][Next][Index][Thread]
Re: Power Factor Capacitor
> Original Poster: "Jon Lagler" <rockcrawl-at-netzero-dot-net>
>
> Hi all,
> I went out to my favorite electronic parts/junk shop to gather a few things
> last night. I picked up two Mallory electrolitics for PFC thinking they
> would work fine, and now I read all these posts saying they won't work. Each
> cap is rated 15uf, 440VAC, 60cycle. They are about 6 inches tall and 2-3
> inches oval. The case is galvanized steel. I paid $1 each, so no great loss
> if I can't use them, but with these ratings, I don't see any reason why they
> shouldn't work. I was planning to wire them in parrallel for 30 uf. The guy
> also had many other similar caps with ratings for 50/60 Hz and I remerber
> seeing three phase on some of them. Maybe these aren't electrolitics.
> Later,
> Jon
Jon, those are not electrolytic, they are right type. These oval all-metal
can caps for "Motor Run" or "Lighting" applications are the good ones.
Polar Electrolytics are usually in round aluminium can with black rubber or
phenolic board around the electrodes. Often, the cans are covered with grey
or blue heatshrink sleeving that indicates the (-) negative side. They also
have much higher uF ratings for the size than the polypropylene caps.
Motor-Start Electrolytics (also bad) are usually in cylindrical black
plastic cans, and often have a vague range uF rating like "21-25 MFD".
These also usually have brown phenolic board around the electrodes.
-Adam
adamsmith-at-mediaone-dot-net