Capacitors driving up amperage

kevbra · 12-21-2005, 08:05 AM

I have a bed that is on a 40 amp circuit and it also has a breaker on the bed the amp draw from this bed is 49 amps and it is tripping the breaker on the bed. I have been told that when capacitors start going bad they will drive the amp draw up so that leads me to beleive that it has a bad capacitor. Any sugestions on how to find the one that is bad?

caribbean tan man · 12-21-2005, 08:30 AM

now im no electrician but i would say you are going to need a voltage meter and check the capacitators for the difference in each.......thats what i would do untill guided the right way.......what bed is it most have tech support. im sure you will get answer from this site soon also. good luck

ps i have no idea if the capicitator statement is true or not!......just being honest

clubtan1 · 12-21-2005, 08:38 AM

USE CARE WHEN CHECKING CAPACITORS. Capacitors will hold a charge for sometime after power is turned off. Current (amperes) is inversely proportional to voltage. That is to say, with a constant Resistance, amperes will go up as voltage goes down. First thing I'd check would be the voltage at the bed at various times of the day. If you can, use a good digital voltmeter.

caribbean tan man · 12-21-2005, 08:45 AM

see its getting bettter /\

kevbra · 12-21-2005, 09:09 AM

The voltage at the bed is fine it is 230v. The amp draw to the fan is fine. What is the best way to check single capacitors? is there a way to narrow down what capacitor it may be? Yes I do know about discharging the capacitors before working on them but thanks for telling me.

Sarge · 12-21-2005, 02:10 PM

What type of bed is this? I can help you after I know the model of the unit. You can PM me if you would like.

JD · 12-21-2005, 08:02 PM

I had similar situation, it was a capacitor, I do not remember how tech support walked me thru the process. I think you may have more than one cap bad. Does anyone know how to test a capacitor to see if its functioning properly?

bsmart · 12-23-2005, 12:31 AM

If you have a really BAD capacitor, you can observe it bulging and possibly leaking fluid. If it's bad enough to cause that kind of load, I suspect you will see physical damage to it or them..

THESUNSHACK01 · 12-23-2005, 08:58 AM

get an amprobe and check the amperage going to each capacitor and you will see which one(s) is pulling the most amps.BTW Harbor Freight sells a digital model for something like 20.00 or if you know an electrician or HVAC person they will have one.

bronzeman11 · 12-24-2005, 09:39 AM

Usually bulges at the top, but why not just swap & then check to try and see if it's the cap ?

12-21-2005, 08:05 AM	#1 (permalink)
kevbra Join Date: Apr 20 2003 Location: GA Posts: 29 Rep Power: 0	Capacitors driving up amperage I have a bed that is on a 40 amp circuit and it also has a breaker on the bed the amp draw from this bed is 49 amps and it is tripping the breaker on the bed. I have been told that when capacitors start going bad they will drive the amp draw up so that leads me to beleive that it has a bad capacitor. Any sugestions on how to find the one that is bad?

12-21-2005, 08:30 AM	#2 (permalink)
caribbean tan man DERFTALK FBI AGENT Join Date: Jul 29 2003 Location: northeast Age: 32 Posts: 5,059 Rep Power: 30	Re: Capacitors driving up amperage now im no electrician but i would say you are going to need a voltage meter and check the capacitators for the difference in each.......thats what i would do untill guided the right way.......what bed is it most have tech support. im sure you will get answer from this site soon also. good luck ps i have no idea if the capicitator statement is true or not!......just being honest __________________ someone PM me when a good tanning topic is posted. :lol:

12-21-2005, 08:38 AM	#3 (permalink)
clubtan1 Join Date: Jan 31 2005 Posts: 3,317 Rep Power: 42	Re: Capacitors driving up amperage USE CARE WHEN CHECKING CAPACITORS. Capacitors will hold a charge for sometime after power is turned off. Current (amperes) is inversely proportional to voltage. That is to say, with a constant Resistance, amperes will go up as voltage goes down. First thing I'd check would be the voltage at the bed at various times of the day. If you can, use a good digital voltmeter.

12-21-2005, 08:45 AM	#4 (permalink)
caribbean tan man DERFTALK FBI AGENT Join Date: Jul 29 2003 Location: northeast Age: 32 Posts: 5,059 Rep Power: 30	Re: Capacitors driving up amperage see its getting bettter /\ __________________ someone PM me when a good tanning topic is posted. :lol:

12-21-2005, 09:09 AM	#5 (permalink)
kevbra Join Date: Apr 20 2003 Location: GA Posts: 29 Rep Power: 0	Re: Capacitors driving up amperage The voltage at the bed is fine it is 230v. The amp draw to the fan is fine. What is the best way to check single capacitors? is there a way to narrow down what capacitor it may be? Yes I do know about discharging the capacitors before working on them but thanks for telling me.

12-21-2005, 02:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
Sarge Join Date: Feb 22 2003 Location: Michigan Age: 44 Posts: 1,521 Rep Power: 9	Re: Capacitors driving up amperage What type of bed is this? I can help you after I know the model of the unit. You can PM me if you would like.

12-21-2005, 08:02 PM	#7 (permalink)
JD Join Date: Feb 22 2004 Posts: 18 Rep Power: 0	Re: Capacitors driving up amperage I had similar situation, it was a capacitor, I do not remember how tech support walked me thru the process. I think you may have more than one cap bad. Does anyone know how to test a capacitor to see if its functioning properly?

12-23-2005, 12:31 AM	#8 (permalink)
bsmart Join Date: May 2 2002 Location: 2621 W Main Suite 9 Posts: 765 Rep Power: 7	Re: Capacitors driving up amperage If you have a really BAD capacitor, you can observe it bulging and possibly leaking fluid. If it's bad enough to cause that kind of load, I suspect you will see physical damage to it or them..

12-23-2005, 08:58 AM	#9 (permalink)
THESUNSHACK01 Join Date: Apr 16 2005 Location: texas Age: 44 Posts: 28 Rep Power: 0	Re: Capacitors driving up amperage get an amprobe and check the amperage going to each capacitor and you will see which one(s) is pulling the most amps.BTW Harbor Freight sells a digital model for something like 20.00 or if you know an electrician or HVAC person they will have one.

12-24-2005, 09:39 AM	#10 (permalink)
bronzeman11 Join Date: Oct 9 2004 Location: South Brunswick,N.J. Age: 49 Posts: 2,139 Rep Power: 36	Re: Capacitors driving up amperage Usually bulges at the top, but why not just swap & then check to try and see if it's the cap ? __________________ Go Giants !!!!!!!!!!!!

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