Projects / Electrical / Electrical project 33

Capacitor-Start Motor Test Bench: Capacitor Value vs Starting Torque

Approx. component budget: Rs. 5,000 - 9,000

Objective

Find how the value of the starting or running capacitor changes starting torque, running current, speed and efficiency.

What you will build

A small capacitor-start or PSC fan motor, interchangeable capacitor values, a current and power sensor, a rope or spring-balance brake and a tachometer.

Results you can expect

• Starting torque vs capacitor value
• Running current and power factor
• Speed vs load
• Best capacitor value for the motor

What you will learn

Single-phase motor operation, phase shift using capacitors and practical motor testing.

Tools and notes

Capacitor bank (AC-rated), tachometer, spring balance, Arduino logger, Excel. Mains-powered, so use an enclosed set-up, a guard on the shaft and supervision.

Resume points from this project

• Built and tested Capacitor-Start Motor Test Bench: Capacitor Value vs Starting Torque; objective: find how the value of the starting or running capacitor changes starting torque, running current, speed and efficiency.
• Measured and analysed starting torque vs capacitor value and running current and power factor; wrote the report and presented the results in a viva. Add your own numbers: [x].

Replace [x] with your own measured results. Write only what you really did.

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