What is this??

Barbershark · May 3, 2021

Hi All,
New here and wondering if anyone knows what this is and if I can potentially replace it. It has come from my father’s old tree mulcher. It was shorting out and when I opened it up, this thing, whatever it is, is fried. It looks like a converter or something. Wondering if I can replace it?

westward10 · May 3, 2021

It is a capacitor.

Barbershark · May 3, 2021

westward10 said:
It is a capacitor.

Thank you I’m glad to hear it is something I can replace easily.

westward10 · May 3, 2021

Yes it is easy to replace but it needs establishing as to why it failed or the failure may happen again.

Barbershark · May 3, 2021

westward10 said:
Yes it is easy to replace but it needs establishing as to why it failed or the failure may happen again.

Oh i was going on the premise that the capacitor was over 30 years old. It’s actually my grandfathers mulcher, seems pretty no frills but does the job, like all things back then.

Lucien Nunes · May 3, 2021

They do fail on their own but sometimes they damage the motor when they fail. Normally I would replace the capacitor on sight as they are not expensive. If the motor then still does not work it's usually a write-off. The replacement part must be a motor run cap, capacitance must be identical, voltage and protection class can be higher but not lower. E.g.

Motor Capacitors 450VAC Polypropylene with 6.3mm Terminals | Cricklewood Electronics

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Barbershark · May 3, 2021

Lucien Nunes said:
They do fail on their own but sometimes they damage the motor when they fail. Normally I would replace the capacitor on sight as they are not expensive. If the motor then still does not work it's usually a write-off. The replacement part must be a motor run cap, capacitance must be identical, voltage and protection class can be higher but not lower. E.g.

Motor Capacitors 450VAC Polypropylene with 6.3mm Terminals | Cricklewood Electronics

Visit Cricklewood Electronics for Professional CCTV Systems that give full security to the homeowner. We offer high quality Home Security CCTV Systems.

www.cricklewoodelectronics.com

Thank you, I think that is the best bet. I’m sure I’d be able to change a capacitor but if the motor is gone, then that will be that. It is over 30 years old at the end of the day, so we’ll see what happens. Appreciate the guidance.

DPG · May 3, 2021

Lucien Nunes said:
They do fail on their own but sometimes they damage the motor when they fail. Normally I would replace the capacitor on sight as they are not expensive. If the motor then still does not work it's usually a write-off. The replacement part must be a motor run cap, capacitance must be identical, voltage and protection class can be higher but not lower. E.g.

Motor Capacitors 450VAC Polypropylene with 6.3mm Terminals | Cricklewood Electronics

Visit Cricklewood Electronics for Professional CCTV Systems that give full security to the homeowner. We offer high quality Home Security CCTV Systems.

www.cricklewoodelectronics.com