Capacitors are funny things. I had one go out on my water pump after 8 years. Needing a quick replacement, I pulled one out of an old motor I had that was 12 years old at the time, and put it in. I bought a replacement, which I still have in my "junk" drawer at the house, but the 12 year old capacitor is still working, after 6 years!!!
That's a usage of which I was unaware, not being very mechanical. The condenser in non-electronic ignition systems is a capacitor, "condenser" being an old term for "capacitor".
Capacitors store a charge. When the AC compressor motor first starts, it needs a really big slug of current that the wiring of one's house can't handle. The capacitor,being close, with a good connection to the motor can supply that slug of current for the brief time it's needed. The rest of the time that capacitor corrects the power factor, which is another, important, thing altogether. Over time those slugs of current every time the compressor motor starts up break down connections inside the capacitor.
I wonder, regarding Tober's computer. Does he know enough to realize that the computer manufacturer's warnings not to block airflow to his computer by placing it tight in a corner and/or by putting junk right up against the computer is not a
techno-feng-shui suggestion.
