Atosa W0201829.03

CAPACITOR START COMPRESSOR

A critical component in restaurant equipment, a capacitor helps power an electric motor, such as those used to drive a compressor in a refrigeration unit. The capacitor stores electrical energy and then releases it as needed to help the compressor motor start and run smoothly. Capacitors are commonly used in all kinds of commercial kitchen appliances, such as fryers, ovens, dishwashers, ice machines, and more.

Compressors are used in all kinds of restaurant equipment from refrigerators and freezers to walk-ins, from merchandisers and display cabinets to condiment and frozen beverage dispensers and much more. A compressor is a mechanical device (a motor) that increases the pressure of a gas by reducing its volume to affect cooling via the transfer of heat.

Compressors used in refrigeration systems are often described as being either "hermetic" or "semi-hermetic". The difference between the hermetic and semi-hermetic types is their design and construction. A hermetic compressor has a one-piece welded steel casing that cannot be opened for repair -- if the hermetic unit fails, it is simply replaced with an entirely new one. A semi-hermetic compressor uses a large cast metal shell with gasketed covers and screws that can be opened in order to replace the motor and other internal components.