Kick Start Motor

Project Number: 59

Description: Some motors under a load are difficult to get started. A capacitor can be used to give the motor a little kick. In this project setting the slide switch (S5) to position C will charge the 470uF capacitor (C5), and then switching it to position B will give the motor a little kick. Since no other power is applied, the motor will not go very far on the small amount of power stored in the capacitor. This is still a good way to get the motor started as the power is supplied.

Snappy: When this technique is used, they call the capacitor a "Starting Capacitor". A capacitor start motor is a split-phase induction motor with a starting capacitor inserted in series with the startup winding, creating a much greater starting torque.