What is the purpose of the capacitor within...

Question 1 of 2707066636eed28f7522a1c51d956

What is the purpose of the capacitor within component "5" of the circuit shown in figure "B" of the illustration? Illustration EL-0081

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Question 1 of 27070

What is the purpose of the capacitor within component "5" of the circuit shown in figure "B" of the illustration? Illustration EL-0081

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🔍 Key Concepts

• Note that component 6 in figure B is already labeled PFC (power factor correction) and is used to counteract inductive reactance in the ballast (3). • Component 5 is the glow starter: a small neon lamp with bimetal contacts and an internal capacitor. Think about what happens to the starter’s contacts each time the lamp starts. • Consider how a capacitor connected across a set of contacts in an AC circuit affects arcing, contact wear, and any small discharge path through a gas-filled bulb.

💭 Think About

• If power factor correction for the inductive ballast is already handled by another capacitor in the circuit, is component 5’s internal capacitor likely to have the same job or a more local function? • During starting, the contacts in component 5 repeatedly open and close. How could a capacitor help with the electrical stresses that occur at the moment the contacts open? • Would a relatively small capacitor in a starter realistically be able to "store power" for the whole circuit, or is it more suited to shaping the voltage/current around the starter itself?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify which component in the diagram is labeled as PFC and which is the starter (5) to avoid mixing their purposes. • Consider whether the internal capacitor is sized and located to affect the entire circuit’s power factor, or mainly the starter’s contacts and arc conditions. • Check each choice against the physical size and typical function of capacitors used inside glow starters for fluorescent lamps.