Follow up regarding locked rotor current is practically independant of start cap.

Its difficult to get a reading fast enough to prove it before the internal circuit breaker opens, but this 4 ton 2004 era scroll compressor draws 126 amps locked rotor and 120 with a 50uf start cap. 40uf is stock. It may be that the additional resistance due to the heat produced in the winding is why it is lower with the capacitor. The internal cb trips in about 2 seconds at 126 amps. I repeated the test at 120v and the current was 55.4A reducing to 55.1 in 3 seconds. Same with and without the capacitor. Capacitor flowing 1.3 amps at 120vac locked rotor. I cut the accumulator out of the heat pump and found only 2 oz of oil in it. Adding that 2oz to the conpressor i find that it does sling oil up the rotor.. a little. submitted by /u/joestue [link] [comments]