[Scrambled1]

Hi all

I have an American Rotary Phase converter that is a 20 HP. It is 8 ish years old, and I use it almost every day.

Today while using my Do all saw, the saw stopped and the breaker to the phase converter tripped. When I reset the breaker, fire shot out of the phase converter panel box.

I opened up the panel box, and one of the 100uF capacitors was swollen and arched out on the cover.

any ideas why this would happen?

should I replace all the caps, or just the one that is bad. Grainger has them for $28.00



anything else I should check?



Steve

[Al_The_Man]

The capacitor used are usually AC motor run capacitors, so they are not generally open to shorting etc, however the start capacitor is usually a high value such as 100µf and is only rated momentary, if for some reason it is in circuit after the start it will overheat and blow.
The only thing I can think of is this is a start capacitor due to its large value?
Max.

[Scrambled1]

Al-The-Man

I got the new capacitor on Friday from Granger, and was too busy to install it on Friday. So today I had a few spare minutes. Installed the capacitor, added a chunk of 1/8 rubber sheet to the panel door cover to keep it from arcing out again if another capacitor did swell.

Presto Change-O everything is all good.

fired up the band saw and it is good also.


Steve

[Al_The_Man]

Glad it all worked out.
Al.