Help on wiring Marathon motor run and start capacitor

[Jljude]

Well, I got a free electric SPL motor for my compressor, but the capacitors had been removed for another motor.

I purchased new run and start caps for this motor, but now have no clue which capacitor goes where on this Marathon SPL compressor motor. Two wires are black and the other set is black and purple. I searched online and couldn't find a definitive answer.

Anyone with a motor that could look at theirs or know which goes where?

 

[Dagny]

Do you own a clamp on ampmeter?

 

[Jljude]

No, I just have a regular meter. If I hook them up, and it is incorrect, would I do damage?

I was reading that the start cap circuit will open when it gets up to full speed, so I could leave the capacitor cap off and just test which one has current when it gets running?

 

[Terry D]

Your right, I tried searching the internet and came up with nothing. Those wire look to be all the same size. Try getting hold of marathon and ask them

 

[Meursault74]

did you try and measure the resistance through the wires for the capacitors to the winding and the common? I remember the start winding should be higher and there is a sum relationship between the start, run, and common. see link for a more detailed explanation. Hope it helps.

https://sparkyhelp.com/2017/11/21/finding-start-and-run-windings/

 

[Terry D]

did you try and measure the resistance through the wires for the capacitors to the winding and the common? I remember the start winding should be higher and there is a sum relationship between the start, run, and common. see link for a more detailed explanation. Hope it helps.

https://sparkyhelp.com/2017/11/21/finding-start-and-run-windings/

I believe this is the way to determine which winding is which when you have access to the winding wires. These wires are for the capacitors not the windings, which i believe both caps are parallel to each other. When the motor gets up to speed, the stationary switch opens and drops out the start capacitor. I would think you would get the same resistance reading on both sets.


Sent from my SM-G960U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Jljude]

Yes, I got the same resistance on both as they're in parallel.

I was able to remove the back panel to connect the power and manually activate the centrifugal switch. I then tested the resistance to see which set opened up when the switch was engaged (which means the motor was up to speed so the starter cap is no longer being used).

Thanks for the help.