Where to get capacitor for water blaster

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eph

187 posts

Master Geek

#228676 17-Jan-2018 07:57

Long story short, my Karcher water blaster capacitor blew (16uF). I've been looking for replacement for last few days but without much success. One of the problem seems to be that my blaster is a bit old (K2.98M) and the new capacitors got 4 terminals instead of 2 like mine one. Since I have to use socket + housing I wouldn't be able to use the 4 terminal one.

Tried few companies in NZ I could find on the internets, Argon seemed to be one of the perspective ones but they don't supply directly and I'm still waiting from response from JARussell (as their distributor).

Found one on eBay in UK but rather buy it here and have it much faster.

Any ideas where can I get one?

Cheers

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1941266 17-Jan-2018 08:19

Are you able to bend and snap off 2 of the terminals?

Otherwise I'm assuming that your plastic socket is just some kind of unit that the capacitor just plugs into. Can you remove it and just crimp some quick connect lugs to the wires instead, and manually connect the wires to the capacitor.

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eph

187 posts

Master Geek

#1941269 17-Jan-2018 08:23

Aredwood: Are you able to bend and snap off 2 of the terminals?

Otherwise I'm assuming that your plastic socket is just some kind of unit that the capacitor just plugs into. Can you remove it and just crimp some quick connect lugs to the wires instead, and manually connect the wires to the capacitor.

Well, I guess I could but the housing is supposed to protect the capacitor from water coming into the blaster (it's got a seal on it) so I'd rather keep it that way :)

MikeAqua

7611 posts

Uber Geek

#1941292 17-Jan-2018 09:13

Heat-shrink-adhesive crimp terminals followed by liquid electrical tape and plenty of it?

Mike

1101

3086 posts

Uber Geek

#1941548 17-Jan-2018 14:47

Try

rs components
Farnel
etc

get it wrong, you die . Probably not , but I wouldnt bodge something in there

eph

187 posts

Master Geek

#1941554 17-Jan-2018 14:59

1101:

Try

rs components
Farnel
etc

get it wrong, you die . Probably not , but I wouldnt bodge something in there

Yeah, I agree, I don't really want to play with it. Thanks for the advice Mike but I don't feel competent nor do I have all the bits necessary.

Was surprised that one of the distributor suggested the same! "Our run capacitors have 4 terminals but you could adapt it to fit by cutting off 2 terminals and bending the remaining 2."

I've looked at RS components and Element14 but didn't find the same type. Thanks for the suggestions though!

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#1941940 18-Jan-2018 11:53

eph:

1101:

Try

rs components
Farnel
etc

get it wrong, you die . Probably not , but I wouldnt bodge something in there

Yeah, I agree, I don't really want to play with it. Thanks for the advice Mike but I don't feel competent nor do I have all the bits necessary.

Was surprised that one of the distributor suggested the same! "Our run capacitors have 4 terminals but you could adapt it to fit by cutting off 2 terminals and bending the remaining 2."

I've looked at RS components and Element14 but didn't find the same type. Thanks for the suggestions though!

I think these capacitors have two terminals for single-phase, four for two phase... 6 for three phase AC.

I assume that the 4 terminal one (for 2 phase) would be larger than the single phase version of the same nominal capacitance and voltage rating - so an issue may be whether the thing would fit, but it should work fine as you were advised.

The Karcher website seems completely useless.

I'd probably give Karcher NZ a call though - but from their website it seems pretty clear that they don't really want to offer service support for the stuff they sell.

I've ordered parts ex UK for assorted appliances, with air-mail postage stuff has arrived within about a fortnight. This after talking to local agents who didn't have stock of parts, then wanted two weeks lead time for delivery then still charge double (or more) the UK price including postage.

I had a Karcher waterblaster that crapped out (pressure cut-off switch jammed). Disassembling it to get access to the switch was a nightmare, then a double nightmare to reassemble it. They really don't make these things to be serviceable - they are throw-away items. But that said, after I fixed it, I was given a new Karcher waterblaster from some trade promotion thing, it's still working fine after 5 years, and the old water blaster I fixed and gave away is still working fine.

If buying a new water blaster, you get what you pay for. Nilfisk is reportedly better - as reflected in the price.

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1942124 18-Jan-2018 18:44

Fred99: I think these capacitors have two terminals for single-phase, four for two phase... 6 for three phase AC.

I assume that the 4 terminal one (for 2 phase) would be larger than the single phase version of the same nominal capacitance and voltage rating - so an issue may be whether the thing would fit, but it should work fine as you were advised.

Sorry but that is completely wrong. 4 terminal capacitors are electrically the same as 2 terminal ones. The extra 2 terminals are wired in parallel with the first 2. The extra 2 terminals are provided simply for convenience. (connecting 2 wires to the same terminal of the capacitor) If you don't need them don't connect anything to them. Although it is a good idea to insulate them if you don't need them.

Same as a double power socket with only 1 cord plugged into it.

eph

187 posts

Master Geek

#1942127 18-Jan-2018 19:00

Aredwood:
Fred99: I think these capacitors have two terminals for single-phase, four for two phase... 6 for three phase AC.

I assume that the 4 terminal one (for 2 phase) would be larger than the single phase version of the same nominal capacitance and voltage rating - so an issue may be whether the thing would fit, but it should work fine as you were advised.

Sorry but that is completely wrong. 4 terminal capacitors are electrically the same as 2 terminal ones. The extra 2 terminals are wired in parallel with the first 2. The extra 2 terminals are provided simply for convenience. (connecting 2 wires to the same terminal of the capacitor) If you don't need them don't connect anything to them. Although it is a good idea to insulate them if you don't need them.

Same as a double power socket with only 1 cord plugged into it.

Yes, that's true. On some of them the connection is exposed and you can clearly see that the pair are connected.

Good news. After 4 days of emails and phone calls I finally managed to find one (in stock even) from Complete Services (http://waterblastersauckland.co.nz/). $19.55! Great.

Thanks everybody for your suggestions and help!

gregmcc

2092 posts

Uber Geek

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#1942144 18-Jan-2018 20:07

Fred99:

I think these capacitors have two terminals for single-phase, four for two phase... 6 for three phase AC.

I assume that the 4 terminal one (for 2 phase) would be larger than the single phase version of the same nominal capacitance and voltage rating - so an issue may be whether the thing would fit, but it should work fine as you were advised.

This answer is a good reason why you should not do your own electrical work.

The only reason why it would have 4 terminals is that more than 1 wire could go to the same terminal.

It is unlikely you will find one that will physically fit unless it's a genuine replacement part, but you could easily source an electrically correct part, but the problem would be making it fit correctly.

gumboot19

52 posts

Master Geek

#1942163 18-Jan-2018 20:47

4 terminal capacitors exist for single phase, replaced one 3 weeks ago.

we source ours from Mt Rewinds, Tauranga.

loceff13

986 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1942185 18-Jan-2018 21:43

How did it even fail, I mean whats to stop the replacement having the same issue?

Aredwood

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#1943210 19-Jan-2018 00:03

loceff13:
How did it even fail, I mean whats to stop the replacement having the same issue?

Capacitors can and do sometimes just fail. Good quality ones are designed to fail open circuit instead of short circuit. Sometimes they will part fail - less capacitance than what they should have, which causes low starting torque.

Designing capacitors is always a compromise. As thinner insulation means a smaller case size for a given value.