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weak capacitor

English translation: capacitor that is low in value

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
English term or phrase:weak capacitor
Selected answer:capacitor that is low in value
Entered by: Andrea Re

12:14 Sep 11, 2005
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Tech/Engineering - Electronics / Elect Eng / refrigerators
English term or phrase: weak capacitor
"With an open or weak capacitor, the compressor will start and run."

I don't think the context is terribly relevant.....

I am afraid I am not familiar with this expression and I have not managed to understand what it means from the few sites I looked up. I would be very grateful of someone can give me an idea of its meaning.

Suggestions so far for its translation into Italian: insufficient, inefficient, discharged, weak (literal translations, but no hits).

Thanks
Andrea Re
United Kingdom
Local time: 22:55
capacitor that is low in value
Explanation:
If the capacitor is open-circuit, there will be no capacitance at all.

If it is just weak, there will still be some capacitance, but not enough to do its job properly --- in your particular case, not enough current will pass to start the motor.

The kind of capacitors used for motor starting (usually high voltage and reasonably high capacitance) tend to suffer from loss of capacitance with age, as they may 'dry out'.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 hrs 49 mins (2005-09-12 08:03:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Normally, if the capacitor is open(-circuit) or weak, the compressor will NOT start...

Of the suggestions in your question, 'insufficient' is probably the closest synonym, and 'discharged' is INCORRECT in this context

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 5 hrs 24 mins (2005-09-12 17:39:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Note in reply to Nik On-Off's peer comment response:

With all due respect, I think my answer differs from your own in 2 crucial respects

1) You failed to address the key issue that this is an AC rather than a DC application

2) The key factor that may help Asker's translation is that 'weak' here effectively = 'low in value'
Selected response from:

Tony M
France
Local time: 23:55
Grading comment
Thank you for the detailed explenation!!!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +1condensador débil
Maria Luisa Duarte
5 +1capacitor that is low in value
Tony M
3bad capacitor
Nik-On/Off


Discussion entries: 1





  

Answers


11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
condensador débil


Explanation:
Bobina o condensador débil

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Note added at 48 mins (2005-09-11 13:02:42 GMT)
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http://www.leeric.lsu.edu/bgbb/7/ecep/hvac/d/d.htm

New capacitors don't have the layer of oxide: it's formed the first time the capacitor is charged. If it's done too quickly the layer won't form properly and you'll end up with a weak capacitor

http://www.harpamps.com/micKcaps/Forming-Capacitors.html

Maria Luisa Duarte
Spain
Local time: 23:55
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish, Native in PortuguesePortuguese

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Palíndromo
22 mins
  -> Thanks!MLD
neutral  Ivana UK: wrong language!! This is an EN>EN question
2 hrs
  -> Thank you Ivana! We Know!MLD
neutral  Michael Fratus: I get the impression this is a repair matter, so capacitor is formed already. Still a bad cap, in any language, though! :)
1 day 14 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
bad capacitor


Explanation:
a capacitor that is not charged to the necessary voltage or is charged very slowly
-------------------------

Capacitors can become weak, or they burn out completely becoming an open circuit. An open circuit can easily be detected by a typical multimeter, but a weak capacitor can only be tested out conclusively by a special tester for capacitors.
http://tinyurl.com/98pm6

...weak capacitors which are taking too long to charge up and pull up the D.C. voltage to...
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/archive/18/2005/04/3...

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 2 hrs 14 mins (2005-09-11 14:29:04 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

It's possible you have a weak cap that's taking to long to build up the correct charge.
http://tinyurl.com/c8jm9

Nik-On/Off
Ukraine
Local time: 00:55
Works in field
Native speaker of: Native in RussianRussian, Native in UkrainianUkrainian
PRO pts in category: 20

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Aleron
3 hrs
  -> thank you
agree  Raúl Waldman: Yes, a defective capacitor
8 hrs
  -> thank you
disagree  Tony M: With your initial comment, at least; not a question of a DC voltage or charge here...
18 hrs
  -> disagree with your disagree. Your answer is, in fact, rewords and extends mine. I also meant that the cap does not do its job properly because of the failure indicated above
disagree  Michael Fratus: answer right but explanation is for DC. This is an AC application.
1 day 13 hrs
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

19 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +1
capacitor that is low in value


Explanation:
If the capacitor is open-circuit, there will be no capacitance at all.

If it is just weak, there will still be some capacitance, but not enough to do its job properly --- in your particular case, not enough current will pass to start the motor.

The kind of capacitors used for motor starting (usually high voltage and reasonably high capacitance) tend to suffer from loss of capacitance with age, as they may 'dry out'.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 19 hrs 49 mins (2005-09-12 08:03:33 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Normally, if the capacitor is open(-circuit) or weak, the compressor will NOT start...

Of the suggestions in your question, 'insufficient' is probably the closest synonym, and 'discharged' is INCORRECT in this context

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 1 day 5 hrs 24 mins (2005-09-12 17:39:12 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Note in reply to Nik On-Off's peer comment response:

With all due respect, I think my answer differs from your own in 2 crucial respects

1) You failed to address the key issue that this is an AC rather than a DC application

2) The key factor that may help Asker's translation is that 'weak' here effectively = 'low in value'

Tony M
France
Local time: 23:55
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 304
Grading comment
Thank you for the detailed explenation!!!
Notes to answerer
Asker: Sorry.... explAnation....


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Michael Fratus: as a working electronic technician, I must agree fully. Bad capacitor = lower value than marked, usually from drying out with heat or age.
19 hrs
  -> Thanks a lot, mfratus! I'm a techie myself, so I think we're both talking the same language! ;-)
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