Lighting contactor with capacitor

[Bill avoider]

:welcome::conehead:Why are capacitor used across the contacts of lighting control contactors. I had some trouble with fluorescent lights blinking and found 48 volts coming thru the cap.277 volt circuit. Removed the cap and blinking stopped

 

[Darkwood]

Welcome to the forum

 

[davesparks]

Capacitors are used as a snubber to reduce arcing of the contactor contacts.
I think you might have a bit of a serious issue if the lights are flickering and you've got 277V on the circuit,

was that 277V L-E or L-N?

 

[Simonslimline]

:welcome::conehead:Why are capacitor used across the contacts of lighting control contactors. I had some trouble with fluorescent lights blinking and found 48 volts coming thru the cap.277 volt circuit. Removed the cap and blinking stopped

What country are you in? The US?

 

[Lucien Nunes]

He's in the US, 277V is used for commercial lighting. The suppression capacitor was probably passing enough reactive current to charge the capacitors in the ballast up to the point that the tube would strike and discharge them.

 

[Bill avoider]

yes usa 277 for most commercial lighting. so the capacitors are to help limit arching and have nothing to do with power factor correction? I was reading 48 volts passing thru, enough to flicker the lamps. any harm in removing the caps ? thanks for your help

 

[telectrix]

never mind the caps. as you're in Pa, can you get me a few zippos cheap? :rolleyes4:

 

[Pete999]

never mind the caps. as you're in Pa, can you get me a few zippos cheap? :rolleyes4:

Zippo lighters, you mean?

 

[telectrix]

yep.they're made in Bradford Pa.

 

[Bill avoider]

Sure thanks for the help . I'm in Philly so I will send some cheese steak . you should quit smoking.