Ballast capacitor replacement?

AlphaPhase

AlphaPhase

Well-Known Member
I need to replace ur cap in my hps ballast. I ordered a replacement cap and was about to replace it but realized they look different. One is circular and the new one is oval..

Will this work or what? Also, the bracket to hold it in place obviously won't fit the new one, is there any problems if the cap isn't mounted down?

@Aeroknow if ur around let me know20150416_230942.jpg 20150416_230952.jpg .. Or anyone that would know let me know, thanks :p
 
nomofatum

nomofatum

Well-Known Member
You need to lock it into place, you can epoxy it in place if need be, but don't let it float, if somehow the contacts are shorted, they can explode. Also be very careful, you don't want a shock from a large capacitor, it can kill. If the specs are a match and you can mount it, you should be good.
 
AlphaPhase

AlphaPhase

Well-Known Member
Thanks so much for the reply. It is the same specs, but much larger than the oem cap (it's probably an old model or something as I couldn't find a round cap). I'll find some high heat epoxy of some sort to get it situated in the ballast or try to modify the bracket some how. Thanks again

nomofatum said:
You need to lock it into place, you can epoxy it in place if need be, but don't let it float, if somehow the contacts are shorted, they can explode. Also be very careful, you don't want a shock from a large capacitor, it can kill. If the specs are a match and you can mount it, you should be good.
Click to expand...
 
AlphaPhase

AlphaPhase

Well-Known Member
A little bit of bracket bending and a few dabs of hash and no weld, I think I got it figured out :p

I figure one bolt should hold the bracket/cap in place on the ballast (I can't get both brackets to line up with the bracket holes because of the shape of the cap)
20150416_235050.jpg
 
Grandpapy

Grandpapy

Well-Known Member
It's good to get in the habit of discharging capacitors after disconnecting.
Before removing from the mount carefully short the two terminals using two insulated screwdrivers. They can "store" power and surprise you when you can't afford it. I lost a fused Fluke checking it as well as getting a nice cut on the back of my arm from the jolt of energy that slapped my arm as if it was a rag doll.

Be safe!
 
AlphaPhase

AlphaPhase

Well-Known Member
Damn! Good top grandpapy! Didn't realize they had so much danger potential.

Hey, quick question if you're still here, do the caps have positive and negative terminals? Probably a dumb question, but I can't tell which is which and there isn't a +/- next to them? Just plug and play?
 
Aeroknow

Aeroknow

Well-Known Member
AlphaPhase said:
Damn! Good top grandpapy! Didn't realize they had so much danger potential.

Hey, quick question if you're still here, do the caps have positive and negative terminals? Probably a dumb question, but I can't tell which is which and there isn't a +/- next to them? Just plug and play?
Click to expand...
Check ur pm bro.
Epoxy? Ughhhhh, we usually use zipties lol. Oh well. :-D
And yeah, just remember what I had told you about how to handle them caps, and you'll be good.
These type of caps are non-polarized, no +/-
 
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Aeroknow

Aeroknow

Well-Known Member
Grandpapy said:
It's good to get in the habit of discharging capacitors after disconnecting.
Before removing from the mount carefully short the two terminals using two insulated screwdrivers. They can "store" power and surprise you when you can't afford it. I lost a fused Fluke checking it as well as getting a nice cut on the back of my arm from the jolt of energy that slapped my arm as if it was a rag doll.

Be safe!
Click to expand...
That sucks!
I've been replacing my own caps for more than 2 decades. Just 4-5 years ago I had my tin-knocker hvac cousin look at my central AC. Bad cap. He told me about the dangers of them. I guess I was always lucky:-)
Now, I've been bit many times welding. Sucks. But a friend of mine died from electrocution on the jobsite while we were building/adding onto Valley Med hospital in San Jose. Be careful out there guys! Electricity is no joke
 
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AlphaPhase

AlphaPhase

Well-Known Member
Great advice ttystikk, wise words to literally live by 8-)

I got the cap mounted and installed and plugged the ballast in and it's running great. Really need to start replacing these caps once a year or so, major light difference!

Thanks again for all the pointers and tips yall
 
R

ricardo84

New Member
alphaphase, this capacitor has the exact same specifications so I doubt there will be any issues regarding the electrical circuit, however there could be some mechanical concerns regarding the position of this capacitor since it’s clearly bigger in size. I’d strongly advise that you connect it to two different mechanical holding connectors so that it doesn’t get disturbed by mechanical vibrations from either side.
 
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