What is an AC capacitor?

What is an AC capacitor?

Capacitors are a critical part of your air conditioner, but many homeowners don't know much about them. The capacitors in your unit work much like batteries, but instead of holding a constant charge, they store and absorb electricity to help your AC run efficiently and reliably.

The capacitor in your air conditioner sends a series of quick jolts of energy to your system's motors when it starts the cooling cycle. These jolts rev up your unit's motors to get them started, but once they're engaged, the capacitor reduces its output so that it can help the motors ramp down and provide a steady current of power until the cycle is complete.