I hear when taking off a capacitor, that they store electricity. How do you prevent getting shocked? What is the procedure to removing one?

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Originally Posted by luvtheracquet

I hear when taking off a capacitor, that they store electricity. How do you prevent getting shocked? What is the procedure to removing one?

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You don't touch the part that will shock you. Like when replacing light bulbs, you don't stick your finger in the socket with the switch turned on.

Depending on the size and use of the capacitor.. it can be nothing to being enough to stop your heart and kill you. I'm not kidding.

Disconnect wires then use a metal screwdriver to short between the wire terminals on the capacitor you just removed the wires from. That discharges it.

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Originally Posted by smoothy

You don't touch the part that will shock you. Like when replacing light bulbs, you don't stick your finger in the socket with the switch turned on.

Depending on the size and use of the capacitor..it can be nothing to being enough to stop your heart and kill you. I'm not kidding.

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This capacitor is on a furnace blower motor. Everything seems to be working fine except the blower does not come on. I hear a loud humming noise instead of the blower kicking in. I was going to replace the capacitor first since it's cheaper then the motor.

So when I pull off the leads can I touch them? I haven't unscrewed it from the blower housing yet, so I'm not sure how they are connected. Truthfully, I didn't want to take it off until I knew it wasn't going to shock me.

I'm trying to figure out which size one I need.

Thanks for your help! It's 99 degrees here and this unit is in the attic, the main floor unit is working thank goodness!

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Originally Posted by hvac1000

Disconnect wires then use a metal screwdriver to short between the wire terminals on the capacitor you just removed the wires from. That discharges it.

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May be a silly question, but do I have to worry about touching anything while removing the capacitor?
Here are the my steps:
1) I'm going to remove the bracket that holds it on.
2) Then remove the wires attached. Do I use my hands or pliers? At that point what can I touch and not touch while disconnecting the wires?
3) Do I discharge while it's on the floor? What will happen when I discharge? Can any screwdriver work for this or does it have to be insulated?

I really appreciate your help! I'd like to get this fixed but don't want to hurt myself either.

OK... with that extra information... there is no fear of that capacitor zapping you that hard.. but if its bad... it would have shorted internally and likely not hold much if any charge. And do what HVAC1000 said.

Trust me... I've been zapped by very high voltage before 25,000 volts (functionally a capacitor while not technically one in my case when it drew a 12 inch arc). One does not make blanket statements on things like this.


Rule #1. Cut the power at the breakers
RULE #2. Use a Voltmeter to make sure you turned the right breakers off before you touch anything.
RULE #3. Do not grab anything grounded with one hand while working with the other.

WHat will happen... likely not much... its not a huge capacitor... in a dark space you might see a small spark. WAY less than you see on your lawnmower spark plug.

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Originally Posted by smoothy

OK....with that extra information....there is no fear of that capacitor zapping you that hard.. but if its bad...it would have shorted internally and likely not hold much if any charge. And do what HVAC1000 said.

Trust me...I've been zapped by very high voltage before 25,000 volts (functionally a capacitor while not technically one in my case when it drew a 12 inch arc). One does not make blanket statements on things like this.


RUlLE #1. Cut the power at the breakers
RULE #2. Use a Voltmeter to make sure you turned the right breakers off before you touch anything.

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Is turning off the switch on the side of the furnace enough?

No... follow all three rules... switches fail to turn off sometimes.. or turn some things off and not others... you always have to follow all the safeguards... because trust me... do this stuff long enough... you will find cases where it takes all three to save you from an electrocution.

Assumptions will get you into trouble faster than booze will.