If the circuit breaker trips when starting a capacitor motor, what may be the cause?

When starting a capacitor motor, if the circuit breaker trips, one potential cause is a faulty centrifugal switch. The centrifugal switch is designed to disconnect the starting capacitor from the circuit once the motor reaches a certain speed. If this switch fails, it may not disengage the starting capacitor, leading to excessive current draw. This can cause the circuit breaker to trip to protect the electrical system from damage.

While overvoltage, short circuits, and incorrect phase sequences can also cause circuit breakers to trip, their implications and mechanisms are different. Overvoltage typically arises from external electrical issues and can affect various electrical components but is not a direct outcome of a capacitor motor's normal operation. A short circuit involves a direct connection that bypasses the normal load, resulting in a sudden surge of current, but would not specifically relate to the performance of a capacitor motor in start-up conditions. Incorrect phase sequence pertains to three-phase systems and is not applicable to single-phase capacitor motors, which do not rely on phase sequencing for operation.