Paging TDKPE

[Herb G]

I sent you a PM, but I don't know if you got it or not.
Anyway, here goes. It might help someone else too.

I bought this grinder from HF. It has what they call a condenser in it for the motor to start. It's basically a plastic cube with wire hanging out of it. No markings on it at all.
I'd like to change it to a proper start capacitor. Do you know what voltage & size capacitor I'd need to do this?
There is no motor plate anywhere on this grinder.
Thanks for any help you might have.



HF Grinder

[TDKPE]

No little red blinking envelope to catch my eye.  I miss that from the old forum.  


Those grinders typically use shaded-pole or permanent split-capacitor motors with no separate start winding and centrifugal switch.  Of course, I have no idea what motor that one has.  Is it not working?  Or just starting slow?

[Herb G]

No, it runs well. But those little "condensers" usually burn up after awhile.
It does take awhile to get up to speed though.
The motor is listed as an induction motor & nothing more.
It's supposed to be a 3/4 hp motor.

I will check it out closer later tonite & get back to you.
Maybe I will post some pics & that might help you also.
Thanks for replying.
Herb G.

[TDKPE]

Condenser is an arcane term for capacitor. Which means you can measure the capacitance, and if you measure across the leads and from a lead to ground, the voltage. Get one with the same capacitance and minimum voltage. If you want a spare. Best to do it before it fries, of course.

And all the types of AC motors that don't have brushes are induction motors, since a current is induced in the rotor, which has no electrical connection to the stator or mains voltage. So even a shaded-pole motor, like in some (smaller, usually) grinders, bathroom exhaust fans, table fans, and so on, are induction motors. I'm guessing that one is a permanent split-capacitor motor with no centrifugal start switch or potential relay to disconnect the capacitor.