Capacitors for Baldor 5hp single phase

[BoostedOne]

I have an IR T30 with a Baldor 5hp frame 184T motor run from a GE Spectra 700 starter box.
Every year or so it starts blowing the breaker and it's typically a failed capacitor.
I'm starting to wonder if I'm using caps that are too small? I have been putting in 240v, 270-340mfarads in there. The one metal cap is the only one that hasn't blown up yet.
Anyone know what should be in there farad wise? Is the 240 v rating too low?
Before it was just annoying but tonight it began blowing the breaker just as I began painting. Thankfully the tank had enough capacity to do the job but I need to get this resolved.

I know some of y'all have an amazing knowledge of the details of these things.

Thanks in advance!

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[Dagny]

Try 330 volt might have trouble fitting them under that cover.

 

[mikebaker1129]

I would first check all 3 capacitors and verify the micro farad ratings on each.
The Silver capacitor is a run cap and and it is a 35 micro farad 370 volt capacitor
The " uf" is the micro farad rating it should read 35 + or- 10%. The 2 black ones are start capacitors and th uf or microfarad rating is a range,in your case 270-324 again + or - 10%.
Measure them with a meter that reads capacitance or purchase a little Supco capacitor tester that will read the amount of capacitance (microfarads) in each capacitor.
It is kinda like testing a 9v battery to see if it has 9v or not.
I hope this makes sense !

 

[American Locomotive]

The voltage ratings and size of your capacitors seem about right. You could maybe try a different brand?

The two plastic bodied capacitors are your start capacitors, while the metal one is the run capacitor. What kills start capacitors is heat and being left engaged too long. If your motors centrifugal start switch is sticking (or the compressor takes too long to start up), you can blow your start caps out.

Does the compressor ever have trouble starting?

 

[BoostedOne]

Thanks everyone.
It doesn't even start to rotate. Just hums and blows the breaker.

Well bought new caps from the hardware store and no dice... turns out it's not the start caps this time but the stationary switch. :banghead: I wish I was able to troubleshoot this earlier but someone had to call a meeting at work late in the afternoon :banghead:

I managed to get hold of Baldor before they closed and got a part number SP5172A14 which only seems to come up on their site. I don't know what it means but when I click on it on their site there is an sub tab called "parts" and it says SP5172SP.. that part number seems commonly available but I can't seem to tell if that's a sub part of what I need, or if it's just a random association.

Guess I will call Baldor in the morning and ask.. hopefully SP5172SP is the same as mine without soldered leads.. and hopefully I can find someone local that has one or i will be paying 40 bucks to overnight one.. I got stuff to do here!! Lol


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